By Randy Walker
Roger Federer is looking to continue to re-write the tennis history books.
The Swiss advanced into the Wimbledon final for the eighth time – and his first since 2009 – defeating world No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 under a closed roof on Centre Court.
He is now one match away from carving his name deeper into tennis history.
If he wins Sunday’s final, he will join Pete Sampras and Willie Renshaw from the 1880s as the only men to win seven Wimbledon titles. He and Renshaw will share the distinction of being the only men to play in eight Wimbledon men’s singles finals. With a Wimbledon title, Federer will also overtake Djokovic in the No. 1 ranking and equal and eventually break Sampras’ record of 286 weeks as the top-ranked player. A title on Sunday will also be his 17th major singles title, extending his record when he won his 15th major singles title at Wimbledon in 2009, moving past Sampras, who won 14 major singles titles.
”There’s obviously a lot on the line for me in terms of winning here, the all-time Grand Slam record, world No. 1,” Federer said to the BBC following his win over Djokovic.. ”I’m also going into that match with some pressure, but I’m excited about it. That’s what I play for.”
Here’s how the match unfolded on Twitter, via my Twitter handle/profile @TennisPublisher that lays out how the match unfolded via the powerful social network, with New York times associated with each tweet.
6:46 am Djokovic, Federer’s matches with Nadal featured in “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” by Steve Flink http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094… #Wimbledon
7:03 am “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” the book by Rene Stauffer, who has cover Roger since he was 15 years old http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …
7:03 am Hannah Storm on ESPN calls Jo-Wilfried Tsonga “the forgotten man”#Wimbledon
7:04 am “This is goosebump city. This era of tennis has been off the charts.” Patrick McEnroe on ESPN on today’s Wimbledon semifinals
7:06 am “Never underestimate the greatness of Roger Federer.” Patrick McEnroe on ESPN www.RogerFedererBook.com
7:08 am “He (Roger Federer) needs a little extra to win this match today.” Patrick McEnroe on Federer-Djokovic #Wimbledon
7:16 am Last Brit to reach the Wimby men’s final was Bunny Austin in 1938. He got crushed by Don Budge 61 60 63. “Never played better” said Budge
7:31 am “Novak Djokovic has the best return of serve I have ever seen,” says Brad Gilbert. High praise from a guy who coached Agassi, played Connors
7:40 am The Novak Djokovic return of serve rated No. 3 all time by Steve Flink “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&ref_=sr_1_1&keywords=The%20Greatest%20Tennis%20Matches%20of%20all%20time&qid=1341574733&sr=8-1
7:45 am “A cameraman actually bumped him,” Hannah Storm says on ESPN, just after showing scene of Andy Murray arriving at AELTC
7:48 am ESPN’s PMcEnroe says indoor conditions on Centre Court will favor Murray, he is used to those conditions, atmosphere, crowd will be into it.
7:49 am RT @alex_willis Because of the drizzle, Murray and Tsonga are warming up indoors. #Wimbledon
8:02 am I believe that was Prince Andrew they showed in Royal Box as Federer and Djokovic took the court….
8:01 am “This is Federer’s house…this is his greatest oppt.” – @darren_cahill#Wimbledon #ESPN10s
8:02 am Federer wins the coin toss, elects to serve
8:10 am RT @crosscourt1 Royal Box: Prince Andrew, Laver, Sedgman, Patty, Santana, Taylor, Woodforde, Forget, Ivanisevic,David Frost, Kylie Minogue
8:14 am 1st Wimbledon/grass meeting btwn Djokovic, Federer “That’s sort of the unknown” says ESPNs Fowler. “That’s the X-factor,” says Pat McEnroe
8:16 am McEnroe saying on ESPN that court seems slippery, perhaps because of humidity, would favor Federer since Nole relies on his movement.
8:20 am “Good news for Federer fans is that he is moving well early here. He’s going to have to,” John McEnroe on ESPN
8:22 am RT @PaulFMcNamee Novak slipped again…not used to being in green areas behind baseline!
8:24 am 50 YEARS AGO TODAY Rod Laver wins #Wimbledon in 53-minute, 62 62 61 win over Marty Mulligan, captures third leg of his first Grand Slam
8:25 am Rod Laver’s memoir available here: “The Education of a Tennis Player” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 … via @amazon
8:26 am “On This Day in Tennis History: A Day-by-Day Anthology” by Randy Walker http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …
8:27 am Federer breaks serve for 4-2 as Djokovic seems to have trouble with his footing.
8:27 am RT @NeilHarmanTimes Djoko compounds the slip by netting a relatively routine backhand. The Fed takes a 4-2 lead. So needs to win this set
8:29 am “It’s feeling a bit like an old school grass court match” quick points, easy service games says Patrick McEnroe on ESPN. Federer leads 5-2
8:31 am “This has been bang bang tennis so far,” say Patrick McEnroe. Djokovic serves with new balls, down 2-5.
8: 32 am Patrick McEnroe hinting on ESPN that more royalty may attend the tennis later today. The Queen perhaps? Federer now serves for set at 5-3.
8:34 am “23 minutes, 3 set points. Just what the doctor ordered for Federer,” says John McEnroe. Federer hits forehand winner, wins first set 6-3.
8:37 am “I think he needs to change the tempo of how this match is being played,” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe says of Novak Djokovic.
8:38 am Patrick McEnroe suggests that Djokovic take something off his first serve and get into some rallies and change the rhythm of match.
8:40 am RT @Wimbledon Tense atmosphere on Centre just broken with one of the crowd declaring their undying love for Roger #Wimbledon
8:44 am Djokovic breaks Federer for 2-0 in second set, after long baseline exchange. Novak stretches his lead to 3-0 after holding serve.
8:45 am RT @Dougrobson Djokovic really stepped it up those last two games, more urgency, purpose in in play. Leads 3-0. #wimbledon
8:47 am Glad that @Federer_Swiss likes my tweets! You should also follow @DaveESPNPR as well
8:49 am “He’s got it going now with the return,” says JMcEnroe of Nole “Strength vs. Strength” says ESPN’s Fowler, Federer serve vs. Djokovic return
8:50 am RT @rolandgarros Fed leads 14-12 in their head-to-heads. 5-5 in Grand Slams. The player winning the 1st set won 22 times out of 26
8:50 am RT @Ringham7 Big momentum swing with Djoko’s ace giving him 4-1 in second set. One set down
8:51 am RT @Mike_Dickson_DM Murray currently warming up indoors across the road, Tsonga on next court. Drier weather expected after 3pm. Important.
8:54 am Luke Donald, the No 1 golfer in the world who curiously has never won a major title, in the Royal Box. #Wimbledon
9:02 am “How did Mansour Bahrami and Henri Leconte get invited to the Royal Box and not you?” Patrick McEnroe asks brother John on ESPN
9:03 am John McEnroe then answers Chris Fowler and says he has never sat in the Royal Box
9:04 am RT @darren_cahill Conditions are significantly quicker with the roof closed. Federer & Djokovic 6/3 3/6 in 54 minutes. Turbo tennis #ESPN10s
9:08 am 50 yrs ago today, Laver needs 53 minutes to beat Mulligan in Wimbledon final with no TV sitdown changeovers. 54 min for 2 sets w/ Fed, Nole
9:10 RT @bgtennisnation I picked Djoker in 4 to start the match was not feeling to confy after 1st set though about my pick
9:14 am “Right there he could taste the break,” says John McEnroe as Federer goes for winner, but misses forehand wide on break point at 0-1
9:16 am “That’s a good hold.” says John McEnroe as Novak holds for 1-1, saying he expects pace of play to slow down as magnitude of match grows.
9:17 am RT @Ringham7 @TennisPublisher Laver only needed 59 mins to beat Roche in 1968 final. Remember seeing it on clock
9:19 am RT @JeffSalzenstein Wimbledon: Federer vs Djokovic in marquee semi-final http://awe.sm/k0JSV #Tennis #Sports #News
9:23 am Heard recently that the founder of New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com ) actually once fired Anna Wintour from a job
9:24 am New Chapter Press is the publisher of the Roger Federer book “Quest for Perfection” available at www.RogerFedererBook.com
9:25 am RT @ValerieDavid Easy hold for Rog, up 3-2. Djokovic does not look completely settled, so he needs to keep pushing. #federer #Wimbledon #djokovic
9:29 am Point of the match. Fed misses another forehand wide on break point after ridiculous baseline rally, that included a squash shot from Fed.
9:30 am 23-stroke rally says Chris Fowler on ESPN of the break point that Djokovic just escaped from. Remember that, he says.
9:33 am “Backhand to backhand duel…gives Federer another break point,” says Fowler on ESPN
9:34 am Federer misses backhand on break point. “Game on” Patrick McEnroe says what both Federer-Djokovic are sensing.
9:36 am “Djokovic escapes.The best game of the match so far,” – Fowler “That was a fantastic game. Wow. This is what we came to see.” says JMcEnroe
9:38 RT @Tennisfan24 Federer holds comfortably, up 4-3! Getting to the tighter stages of the set now. Allez Roger!!
9:43 am New York Sportimes World Team Tennis action starts Tuesday, July 10 at Randall’s Island www.NYSportimes.com for tickets. Come see me there!
9:44 am “How big is this point” says PMcEnroe. 4-4, 30-30. Federer loses it. Break point for Nole
9:46 am Federer saves break point as Nole misses chipped forward return. Anticipated backhand return. Two service winners, Fed holds for 5-4.
9:47 RT @cwsesno Stat check: Federer has lost just seven points on serve in 3rd set.
9:51 am Nole saves set point with forehand up-the-line winner. Fed then hits overhead winner to seize third set 6-4, leads two sets to one.
9:53 am RT @rennaestubbs wow Fed up 2 sets to 1. Awesome set point! no mistakes from Fed on his over head! @DjokerNole might regret the one he missed.#lookinggood
9:54 am RT @christophclarey Great to see overheads decide a set on grass: Djokovic missed his in retreat. Federer made his. Old school over new #Wimbledon
9:55 am Roger Federer has No. 4 rated overhead of all time by Steve Flink in “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …
9:56 am RT @Barry_FlatmanST Only 1 hr 44 mins played. So Djoko has plenty of gas left in tank if its a matter of endurance. Remember Fed lost from 2 sets up last year
9:58 am Nole-Fed contrasts. Steve Flink rates Federer forehand, serve among best ever and Djokovic backhand, serve return among best ever
9:59 am Djokovic with bad backhand cross court error and Federer has 0-40 edge up 1-0 in fourth
10:00 am “That’s a terrible game from Djokovic…four errors,” says Fowler on ESPN. Federer breaks for 2-0 in the fourth set
10:02 am Nole-Fed contrasts. Steve Flink rates Federer forehand, serve among best ever and Djokovic backhand, serve return among best ever
10:03 am Federer holds for 3-0 in 4th set. Close to getting more ink in this book “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257707?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257707&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&keywords=The%20Bud%20Collins%20history%20of%20tennis&qid=1341583367&sr=1-1 #Wimbledon
10:05 am July 6, 2003: Roger Federer wins a major tournament for the first time, defeating Mark Philippoussis 76(5) 62 76(3) www.TennisHistoryBook.com
10:07 am RT @bgtennisnation Djoker in a world of trouble and Fedfan in such a great rythem ,also the court does look quicker indoors @ESPN10s
10:07 am RT @BenRothenberg Good stat from Patrick McEnroe: the men’s Wimbledon champion has ended the year at No. 1 each of the last eight years. #Wimbledon
10:08 am RT @Wimbledon If Federer wins 17th Slam title Sunday he’ll regain No. 1 ranking. He’s only 1 week off leveling Sampras’ 286 week all-time record. #FedDjo
10:09 am Federer has won 73 percent of his second serve points, says Patrick McEnroe on ESPN, says it is most amazing stat of match
10:10 am RT @darren_cahill Never seen Federer hit his backhand this confidently. Needs to make the most of this dip in intensity from Novak. Roger 22/30 2nd serve key
10:11 am RT @NovakFanClub RT @Wimbledon: Federer cruising. Holds to love to lead Djokovic 6-3 3-6 6-4 4-1. #FedDjo #Wimbledon
10:12 am “He doesn’t seem like he has the energy he normally does,” says John McEnroe of Djokovic.
10:13 am John McEnroe says on ESPN he thinks Nole’s still thinking about missed return on break point at 4-4 in third set.
10:14 am “He has just been ruthless off that wing today,” says Patrick McEnroe of the Federer forehand www.RogerFedererBook.com
10:17 am “Talking about the greatest individual shots of all time, the Serena serve. Federer forehand,” says JMcEnroe, echoing exact Flink ratings
10:18 am Djokovic digs out of 0-40 hole, holds serve for 2-4. Federer now serving with new balls.
10:19 am 16 years ago today, Todd Martin lost from 5-1 up in the fifth set vs. Mal Washington in Wimbledon semis, so you never know what can happen
10:21 am July 6, 2001: Two points from defeat, Patrick Rafter defeats Andre Agassi 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 in the semifinals of #Wimbledon.
10:22 am RT @jon_wertheim Federer a game from the final. Andy Murray and Tsonga inserting mouthpieces as we speak…
10:26 am RT @christophclarey Roger Federer, ladies and gentlemen, is serving for a place in the#Wimbledon final & one of his biggest victories
10:30 am RT @TennisReporters Djokovic forced return forehand error & Fed upsets Djokovic 63 36 64 63 to reach 8th Wimby final. Impressive, comprehensive win
10:31 RT @WeAreTennis 8th! Majestic Roger #Federer beats #Djokovic 6/3 3/6 6/4 6/3 to reach his 8th #Wimbledon final. #Tennis
10:31 RT @SunSportNow Roger Federer beats No1 seed Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 to reach Wimbledon final. #Wimbledon
10:31 RT @AdamBatesSport 106th career final, a record 24th Grand Slam final, a record 8th#Wimbledon final. Roger Federer: the best of the best.
10:31 RT @CrossCourt1 Roger Federer has become the first man in history to reach an 8th Wimbledon final. He defeated titleholder Novak Djokovic 63 36 64 63
10:34RT @FedererLive Roger is one match away from his 17th Grand Slam title, and he is 725 points away from the World #1 ranking.
10:36 am Read about Roger Federer’s Wimbledon finals now by downloading “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” on KINDLE now http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00 …
10:36 “I don’t know why anything that Roger Federer does surprises me,“ John McEnroe on ESPN #Wimbledon
10:37 am “(Federer) wanted it more than Djokovic,” ESPN’s John McEnroe, sounding like Skip Bayless. Did Mark Cuban watch the match?
10:38 am “I have a tough task ahead of me. There’s a lot on the line for me. …That’s what I play for.” Federer to the BBC on the final
10:39 am “Obviously, I am estatic. I was playing some fantastic tennis today. The third set was obviously the key to the match,” Federer to the BBC
10:40 am “Of course it feels great..This is what you want to playing for… the Wimbledon trophy.” Roger Federer post-match to the BBC
10:49 am “From that point on, (Novak) was not the same player” ESPN’s Brad Gilbert of the missed chipped forehand return at 4-4, break point, 3rd set