WIMBLEDON MEN'S SINGLES FINAL
Date: 5 July Start: 1400 BST
Coverage: 1200 BST - Live text commentary; 1150 BST - Red Button and website streaming (UK only); 1200 BST - 5 Live; 1330 BST - BBC One, BBC HD; 1740 BST - BBC Two, BBC HD
Tennis on the BBC
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By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Wimbledon |
World number two Roger Federer will try to set a new landmark for men's tennis when he takes on American Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Swiss hopes to win a sixth Wimbledon title and so break Pete Sampras's all-time Grand Slam mark with a record 15th major victory.
Roddick, 26, ended British hopes with his semi-final win over Andy Murray and hopes to add to his 2003 US Open title.
But Federer goes into the match with an 18-2 lead in meetings between the pair.
And the five-time champion knows that a victory will also see him regain the number one ranking from Rafael Nadal, who was unable to defend his Wimbledon title because of injury.
It would cap a magnificent few weeks for Federer after he finally completed his set of Grand Slam titles with victory in the French Open last month.
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I didn't know if I was going to get to play a final of Wimbledon again. I'm certainly thankful to have that opportunity
Andy Roddick
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"Tension always comes back for any Grand Slam final," he said. "Knowing you only have one match to go definitely changes your mindset. Records are part of this great match so it's obviously an incentive to try really hard."
Federer and Roddick meet in the final at the All England Club for the third time, with Federer having won in straight sets in 2004 and in four sets the following year.
The American finally ended an 11-match losing streak that had lasted five years when he beat Federer at the Miami Masters last year, but the Swiss has since beaten Roddick three more times.
"We've played so many times against each other, we're almost the same age," said Federer. "He's improved his game again, which was important for him and necessary too, so it's going to be a good test for me."
Roddick's hopes centre on his huge serve, which proved too much for Murray with 21 aces and a first-serve percentage of 75% in their semi-final.
"I always said that serve makes him so dangerous," said Federer. "No matter what surface you play him on, no matter where you play him and how bad the record is for him, he'll always have that shot just because he can serve so great.
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FEDERER FACTS
Age: 27
Ranking: 2
Titles: 59
Grand Slam titles: 14
Earnings: $48m
SW19 record: 50-5
2009 record: 39-6
2009 tie-breaks: 17-5
RODDICK FACTS
Age: 26
Ranking: 6
Titles: 27
Grand Slam titles: 1
Earnings: $15.8m
SW19 record: 34-8
2009 record: 39-8
2009 tie-breaks: 26-4
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"It's hard to get a read on it. I've had times when I read it incredibly well - I couldn't believe how well I did read it - and I had days when I didn't read it.
"That's the strength of a great server, he doesn't only have a great first serve but he probably has the best second serve in the game as well. That what makes it hard to break him, and he's good enough off the baseline that he can always make it a really tough match."
Federer has continued adding to his incredible list of records over the last fortnight, reaching his 21st consecutive Grand Slam semi-final, his 16th out of the last 17 Grand Slam finals, and a seventh straight Wimbledon final.
But despite expecting a first child with his new wife, Mirka, he does not expect his motivation to lessen should he win the 15th Grand Slam title on Sunday.
"It might be a completely different situation at the US Open but right now I'm just excited that Mirka's feeling great, and waiting for our first child is quite something on a personal note," said Federer.
"And I'm also playing wonderful tennis at the moment, so I'm not really worried about my motivation. I love this game too much and I'd like to stick around for a long time."
Roddick brought the clamour for a home winner of tennis's oldest major title to a halt for this year with a brilliant win over Murray on Friday.
And he believes that the manner of his victory over the world number three gives him hope for the final.
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606: DEBATE
Fletcher
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"I think maybe now more than ever I can vary it and maybe have some confidence playing out of my element a little bit," he said. "I was able to come in, I think it was 68 times. It wasn't kind of all in on a pair of twos.
"I felt like I was doing the right things and picking the right shots, so that's an encouraging sign."
And the American, recently married to Brooklyn Decker, believes his first Grand Slam final appearance since the 2006 US Open final - which he lost to Federer - is the result of some hard work following the appointment of new coach Larry Stefanki.
"Last year after I played here, Brook and I had a lot of talks on where I thought I could play and at least be towards the top of the game. I definitely openly questioned it at that point. You know, the rest of the year I was kind of hurt.
"So this off-season we said, 'You know what, if you're not going to be up there, let's at least not wonder. Let's prepare yourself and give yourself every opportunity.'
"I did work real hard and was committed, from everything to diet to sleep. So I certainly gave myself every opportunity to succeed."
And Roddick insists that the two previous Wimbledon final defeats by Federer have not damaged his confidence ahead of Sunday.
"I don't look back on them negatively at all," he said. "I've never made any apologies for making a Grand Slam final before. I certainly don't look back on those like that.
"I know how tough it is but I'm excited about this one. I didn't know if I was going to get to play a final of Wimbledon again. I'm certainly thankful to have that opportunity."
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