Novak Djokovic battles past Roger Federer to lift Wimbledon trophy

Two tennis legends served up a Wimbledon final to remember as Novak Djokovic retained the Wimbledon title.

The Serbian was taken all the way by Roger Federer but eventually prevailed in a fifth-set tie break 7-6 1-6 7-6 4-6 13-12.

Set one went to serve all the way to the tie-break but Djokovic had to hold off the challenge of Federer in game four to save break point and come through a lengthy game to hold.

In the tie-break, Federer won four points in a row to take a 5-3 lead but Djokovic hit back to win 7-5.

It was a bizarre capitulation by Djokovic in the second set, though, and Federer needed just 26 minutes to level. The Serbian scored just 12 points in the whole set as Federer broke twice in a row on the way to a 4-0 lead.

Djokovic eventually got on the board but Federer broke to love to claim the set 6-1.

The world number one was able to reset in the third set though and, again, it went to serve all the way to the tie-break. It was Djokovic who took control to win the opening three points as he eventually prevailed 7-4.

Federer hit back in the fourth. A break for 3-2 was followed by a love hold.

The pair then traded breaks before another Federer love hold forced the match into a decider.

In the fifth, Federer needed to save three break points in the fourth game. The Swiss was broken though with his next service game – 4-2 Djokovic.

That looked to have given Djokovic control of the final set, but a double fault in the next game and a shot sent long let Federer level.

The set moved to 5-5, with a superb ace and drop shot seeing Federer hold when serving to stay in the match and Djokovic took a 6-5 lead after a diving volley at 15-30.

At 40-30 up, Federer sent a driving volley long and it went to another deuce when Djokovic responded to a forehand winner with a smash. An ace down the line and a return long, another crucial hold for Federer.

There was finally a breakthrough at 7-7 when Federer went from 30-0 down to 30-40 up. A superb cross-court passing shot gave Federer the lead and a chance to serve for the match.

Two aces gave Federer a 40-15 lead and two championship points. The first was saved when Federer hit wide and a gorgeous forehand winner brought up deuce. Federer then failed to deal with a deep forehand to give Djokovic break point and a shot into the net ensured the match would go on.

Djokovic took the lead again but Federer hit back as the match moved closer to a fifth-set tie break.

A series of holds saw the match move to 11-10. Once again, Federer serving to stay in the match. A shot wide gave Djokovic a 0-15 lead as the tension in Centre Court ramped up even further. Federer did hold though, a shot wide and a shot into the net was followed by a superb Federer volley.

One more hold each and the match would reach a fifth-set tie break. Federer did brilliantly to peg Djokovic from 40-0 to deuce, and a cross-court shot was then called out. Federer challenged and Hawk Eye gave it in. Break point, Federer. That was saved when Federer sliced the ball wide and it was advantage to Djokovic when the next return went long.

It was break point again though when a beautiful drop-volley was followed by a deep shot which Djokovic challenged. In. Point to Federer. Again, Djokovic saved and finally took the game with the next two points.

Federer was serving for the match once again, and an imperious hold to love took the match towards a tie break.

Djokovic finally took it in the tie break, with a series of pounding groundstrokes on the way to a 4-1 lead.

Federer pulled a point back with a drop shot before a return into the net made it 4-3.

Djokovic won both his service points to bring up three championship points. The first Championship point came, and a cross-court shot was called out. A successful challenge came from Djokovic. Replay the point.

This time, there was no doubt. A shot towards the feet of Federer was returned high into the Centre Court stands to bring down the curtain on one of the most memorable finals of all time.

Cover Photo: IMG_3821 by Marianne Bevis used under license by CC BY-ND 2.0.