Djokovic Beats Federer in the Longest Final in Wimbledon History

July 14, 2019 will possibly be remembered in history as a day when sports triumphed in all its might. Just like the ICC Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand, the men’s singles Wimbledon final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer also turned about to be a thrilling nail-biting finish, with both the matches stretching to their respective tie-breakers. Both the matches took place in London.

Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in a classic battle that lasted nearly five hours.

The clash between the two tennis superstars lasted nearly five hours. After five powerful sets of excellent tennis, Federer's attempt to become the oldest Grand Slam champion was shattered by the World Number 1 Serbian hero, who saved two match points to finalize his fifth Wimbledon title and 16th major. With this emphatic victory, Novak Djokovic became the first player in the Open Era to win the Wimbledon men's singles final after being down match point since 1948.

Before yesterday, America's Robert Falkenburg was the only player to win the Wimbledon men's singles final after being down match point. Falkenburg had saved three match points and had defeated Australia's John Bromwich in the men's singles final in 1948.

The Novak Djokovic - Roger Federer competition is so extreme it is at times easy to overlook the fact that the age gap between the two is five years, which is quite significant in tennis, unlike other sports. But Roger Federer opposed that age barrier to produce the longest ever men's singles final in Wimbledon’s history. Even after yesterday’s loss, Roger Federer is still the only player to have beaten Novak Djokovic at all four Grand Slams, and Novak too remains the only competitor to have defeated Roger at all four Grand Slams. That alone sums up how intense the rivalry between the two has been.
​
After the match, he compared this loss to 2008's loss against Rafael Nadal (coincidentally, Roger Federer had beaten Rafael Nadal this year to reach the finale):

You try to forget, try to take the good things out of this match. There's just tons of it. Like similar to '08 maybe, I will look back at it and think, Well, it's not that bad after all. For now it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon. I think it's a mindset. I'm very strong at being able to move on because I don't want to be depressed about actually an amazing tennis match. My children won't be excited with the plate, they would be more excited with that golden thing. But it is all good, back to being a dad and a husband.

Following his heartbreaking loss to the former World Number 1, the Swiss sensation revealed his schedule until this year’s US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York City. The US Open will be an opportunity for him to win his 21st Grand Slam. Before the US Open, he will play just in the Cincinnati Masters, coincidently it is where he was beaten by Novak in the last year’s final. For the consecutive year, the Olympic Champion is set to miss the Rogers Cup.

You can also read this article here, at SportsKeeda.com. Please take a moment to drop by my blog there.