Eight times champion Roger Federer (2) was attempting to dethrone defending champion Novak Djokovic (1), the player who led 25-22 in a classic rivalry. Djokovic had won the past three contests, two of those in 2018.
This final would be the third at Wimbledon between the two, Djokovic having won in 2014 and 2015.
Federer won the toss and chose to serve. He began with an ace. Another ace and a forehand winner formed a solid start. Djokovic replied with a love game, based largely on Federer errors. The first problems were those for Djokovic in the fourth game. He led 40-15, but wasted those two game points. Two later game points also disappeared, and Federer even gained a break point. Djokovic steadied to hold, and no more drama on serve until the tie break. Both players were taken to deuce though in games ten and eleven.
The first three points in the tie break went to serve. Djokovic took the early advantage by winning the fourth point, on Federer’s serve. Serving at 3-2, Djokovic lost both points, one through a Federer backhand winner, the next via a Federer forehand winner.
Federer moved to 5-3 with a service winner, but a forehand miss gave Djokovic hope. Another Federer forehand failure and 5-5. A netted Swiss forehand gave Djokovic set point. A wide backhand and the set was done. 7-6(5).
Federer could have, probably should have, won the first set, and he sought to make up for it in set two by blowing Djokovic off the court. He broke the Serb twice and continued his run of service games without facing a break point, to lead 4-0. Djokovic was able to stretch Federer to 40-30 each of the three times the Swiss ace went to the line, but that was where the hurdle proved too high.
Federer broke for a third time to take the set 6-1 and tie up the match.
Federer had the momentum and used it to his advantage in set three. Djokovic was playing catch up throughout, and successfully for eight games. Federer drew clear again to 5-4, and was making it near impossible for Djokovic to place pressure on his serve. 20 of 24 points won on serve is evidence enough. At 4-5, Djokovic faced a set point, but negotiated it successfully, and the pair progressed to a second tie break.
Djokovic gained the initiative by winning points off two of the Federer serves and taking a 4-1 edge. Federer retrieved one of the mini breaks as he strung together three points, but Djokovic at 5-4 served out the set 7-6(4).
At 1-2 in the fourth set, Federer was taken to deuce before holding serve. He then put the heat on Djokovic. A Federer forehand cross court pass started the fire. Djokovic responded with a drop shot winner. However, a double fault turned up the temperature, and a marginally long forehand put him in boiling water, facing two break points. A wide backhand from Djokovic gave Federer the break and a 3-2 lead.
A love game on serve, and a second break of the Serb delivery put Federer within a game of squaring the match and requiring a fifth set.
Djokovic at last found a way to break the Swiss serve, converting the second of two break opportunities. It mattered little as Federer had an insurance break, and he used this to serve out the set 6-4.
Set five was a marathon. Neither player looked secure when at the line. Federer saved three break points in the fourth game, and in the sixth he could only save one of the two created for Djokovic. At 4-2, the finish line suddenly appeared close for the defending champion. Not so fast thought Federer, who with a double fault from Djokovic had break back point in the seventh game. It was saved, but Federer hit a forehand winner to create a second chance. Djokovic struck a long forehand and it was back on serve.
At 5-6 Federer survived two visits to deuce and made it 6-6.
Serving at 7-7 and 30-0, Djokovic lost four points in succession. Federer hit a winning forehand, Djokovic missed with two forehands, one long, one wide, and Federer passed Djokovic with a forehand to confirm the break.
Serving at 8-7 for the championship, Federer hit two aces to reach 40-15 and two match points. Then it was the turn of Djokovic to reel off four straight points. A wide Federer forehand saved the first match point, then a superlative Djokovic forehand cross court winner saved the second. A Serb forehand forced a Swiss error and brought up break back point. When Federer hit the net with a forehand it was 8-8.
Six more games went by without serve being threatened and Djokovic went to the line at 11-11.
From 40-0, the world number one found a way into danger, losing four straight points. The break point for Federer was saved with a Federer miss. A second break chance was snuffed out with courageous play at the net from Djokovic.
Serve was held and Federer followed up with a love game for 12-12 and a match deciding tie break.(unnecessary rule introduced by Wimbledon - this match should have been allowed to go to advantage in the decider)
Djokovic gained the early advantage, striking a forehand at the feet of Federer who couldn’t handle it adequately. 2-1 with serves to come. The next six points went to serve, leaving Federer to serve at 3-6, facing three match points.
Djokovic returned a Federer second serve and a complete mishit ended the match.
Novak Djokovic successfully defended his Wimbledon crown in the longest Gentlemen’s Singles final in Wimbledon history. He defeated Roger Federer 7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12(3) in one of the most thrilling battles ever witnessed, certainly in the modern era.
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