It was going to be an historic day whatever happened at SW19 today but, for many, it didn't go quite as planned for the home crowd. Roger Federer matched Pete Sampras' record of seven Wimbledon titles in a great battle against Andy Murray, placing himself back as world number one.
Murray became the first Brit in a Wimbledon final since 1938 and also took his first set in a Grand Slam final. Murray booked his place in the final by beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-5. On the other side, Federer continued his record setting assault by beating the, now former, world number one Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 to make it into the final.
The day began in optimistic fashion when Murray broke the opening game of the match. He then managed to hold onto this break of serve by claiming the first 6-4. Murray then looked to be on the charge when was a break ahead in the second set. But Federer came back before the rain disrupted proceedings.
This would mean that Wimbledon would have a men's final completed under the roof for the first time. The five time US Open champion would always perhaps have the upper hand in the indoor conditions and ended up taking the second 7-5 to level the match.
Murray was then broken early on in the third set and the Swiss took full control of the set, and possibly the game, running out a 6-3 third set winner. Murray continued to show his heart and made sure Federer fought hard for his victory. But Federer again managed to break the Murray serve early on in the fourth set, leaving Murray with too much to do to comeback. Federer did have to serve his way to victory, taking the fourth set 6-4 to claim his seventh title.
The women's draw concluded yesterday with Serena Williams claiming her fifth Wimbledon victory against third seed Agnieszka Radwanska. It would ultimately be another final where history would be made regardless of the result.
The American looked in ominous form when she dismantled Radwanska 6-1 in the opening set. But the Pole rallied round to make a final of it, taking the second set 7-5. Unfortunately, the third set was as close as the second, relieving the crowd of any nervous tension. Williams took the third set 6-2 to reclaim her place amongst the elite of current ladies tennis, as well as the elite in the whole of ladies tennis.
It's not all bad news for the British tennis players. Jonathan Marray won the doubles title with his Danish team-mate, Frederik Nielsen. They faced fifth seeds, Robert Lindstedt of Sweden and Horia Tecau of Romania in an epic five set battle. The seeded pairing took the opening set 6-4 before Marray and Nielsen levelled the match via a 6-4 second set victory. They then took the lead with a 7-5 tie-break victory in the third before Lindstedt and Tecau equalised with a 7-5 tie-break win of their own. The fifth and final set finished 6-3 to Marray and Nielsen. Marray becomes the first Brit to win the doubles championship since Pat Hughes and Raymond Tuckey took the title in 1936.
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