July 16, 2019 at 02:07PM
■ The voice of tennis writes for Metro
NOVAK DJOKOVIC and Roger Federer produced a spectacular climax to Wimbledon.
After a short and one-sided women's final we needed the men's showcase to entertain and it did that in spades. The first set lasted longer than Simona Halep's victory over Serena Williams. At three minutes short of five hours, this was the longest men's final in history and also the first to end on a tie-break.
The fifth set is the reason why men's matches at grand slams should stay best-of-five, and calls for best-of-three should be resisted. Five sets remain the true test of physical and mental stamina. And although some matches may be dull, this one was not.
In the deciding set Djokovic was up a break of serve, Federer broke back and at 8-7 on his own serve had two match points. Both of these points stole some of my sleep last night, so goodness knows how long Roger lay awake thinking about them.
His post-match interview with Sue Barker showed him shocked and deflated. He managed to get through it and Sue did her normal professional job but Federer (above) looked emotionally shattered, his charm for once hidden by the grey visage of defeat.
Tennis players always forget matches where they saved match points and won, but they never forget matches where they had match points and lost. This will torment him.
To have beaten Rafa Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back to win the title may have been enough to confirm him as the Greatest Of All Time, one point the margin between first and possibly third best. Djokovic still has a lot left in the tank and he has been the best player of the last eight years. Of these three champions, it is Djokovic who is pre-emininent in my opinion.
He has now won four of the last five grand slams, has beaten Federer (inset) in each of their three Wimbledon finals and, of the trio, only he has held all four of the sport's major titles simultaneously.
He may wish to be loved by the crowd but I am sure he can live with slightly less adoration than his rivals as long as he is understood to be the finest player of his generation. His greatest achievement on Sunday may have been that he resisted the crowd's willing for Roger to cross the winning line. Frankly, even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked a little subdued at his victory!
On a personal note I am grieving slightly as I always do at the end of the Championships. I love the tournament and feel so privileged to commentate from the best seat in the house. On Saturday in the senior doubles, the referees' office scheduled us on No.1 Court.
Playing with Jeremy Bates against Chris Wilkinson and the fabulous Mansour Bahrami we walked the 150 yards underground to the court. Emerging into the sunshine, we must have had 4,000 people welcome us.
By the time the match finished this beautiful stadium was full, 12,345 watching an old man dubs. It was one of the most thrilling and unexpected experiences of my life.
From the bottom of my heart, if you were in the crowd that day thank you — you have made this senior very happy. What joy to play the sport you love with friends at Wimbledon.
Serena needs to enjoy it to catch Court
Joyless exercise: Williams PICTURE: GETTY DURING the final game of Andy Murray's victory over Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final, I made a passing comment that sporting immortality doesn't come easy.
Serena Williams must understand this. Despite her phenomenal story and massive achievement she just has not found a way to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slams. On three occasions she has had the chance to win one more slam and on three occasions she has come up short. Angelique Kerber outplayed her at Wimbledon last year, there was the embarrassing meltdown against Naomi Osaka at the US Open and now a drubbing at the hands of an inspired Simona Halep on Saturday.
I assume she will continue to put herself through the ordeal of playing at this level, for that is how I see it for her presently. She really does not look like she is having any fun, which is a shame. I may be wrong but the whole exercise seems so joyless.
But if she does manage to win No.24, then watch out everyone else because she is still by far the best woman's player in the world when she plays with freedom and without mental restriction.
There's much Murr to come but hard tests await Andy
NO WORD yet on Andy Murray's plans after a highly successful return to the competitive arena.
He may well play some more doubles on the punishing hard courts of North America in the lead-up to the US Open.
Singles may have to wait a few more months as his muscles knit together and recover fully after the trauma of the hip operation.
By winter he should regain full strength and there is no reason why he can't come into contention in the major championships.
He will have tests this week and in consultation with his team, decide his short-term future. Long term I wouldn't be surprised to see him challenge for the Wimbledon trophy again because he is no ordinary tennis player.
■ The voice of tennis writes for Metro
NOVAK DJOKOVIC and Roger Federer produced a spectacular climax to Wimbledon.
After a short and one-sided women's final we needed the men's showcase to entertain and it did that in spades. The first set lasted longer than Simona Halep's victory over Serena Williams. At three minutes short of five hours, this was the longest men's final in history and also the first to end on a tie-break.
The fifth set is the reason why men's matches at grand slams should stay best-of-five, and calls for best-of-three should be resisted. Five sets remain the true test of physical and mental stamina. And although some matches may be dull, this one was not.
In the deciding set Djokovic was up a break of serve, Federer broke back and at 8-7 on his own serve had two match points. Both of these points stole some of my sleep last night, so goodness knows how long Roger lay awake thinking about them.
His post-match interview with Sue Barker showed him shocked and deflated. He managed to get through it and Sue did her normal professional job but Federer (above) looked emotionally shattered, his charm for once hidden by the grey visage of defeat.
Tennis players always forget matches where they saved match points and won, but they never forget matches where they had match points and lost. This will torment him.
To have beaten Rafa Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back to win the title may have been enough to confirm him as the Greatest Of All Time, one point the margin between first and possibly third best. Djokovic still has a lot left in the tank and he has been the best player of the last eight years. Of these three champions, it is Djokovic who is pre-emininent in my opinion.
He has now won four of the last five grand slams, has beaten Federer (inset) in each of their three Wimbledon finals and, of the trio, only he has held all four of the sport's major titles simultaneously.
He may wish to be loved by the crowd but I am sure he can live with slightly less adoration than his rivals as long as he is understood to be the finest player of his generation. His greatest achievement on Sunday may have been that he resisted the crowd's willing for Roger to cross the winning line. Frankly, even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked a little subdued at his victory!
On a personal note I am grieving slightly as I always do at the end of the Championships. I love the tournament and feel so privileged to commentate from the best seat in the house. On Saturday in the senior doubles, the referees' office scheduled us on No.1 Court.
Playing with Jeremy Bates against Chris Wilkinson and the fabulous Mansour Bahrami we walked the 150 yards underground to the court. Emerging into the sunshine, we must have had 4,000 people welcome us.
By the time the match finished this beautiful stadium was full, 12,345 watching an old man dubs. It was one of the most thrilling and unexpected experiences of my life.
From the bottom of my heart, if you were in the crowd that day thank you — you have made this senior very happy. What joy to play the sport you love with friends at Wimbledon.
Serena needs to enjoy it to catch Court
Joyless exercise: Williams PICTURE: GETTY DURING the final game of Andy Murray's victory over Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final, I made a passing comment that sporting immortality doesn't come easy.
Serena Williams must understand this. Despite her phenomenal story and massive achievement she just has not found a way to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slams. On three occasions she has had the chance to win one more slam and on three occasions she has come up short. Angelique Kerber outplayed her at Wimbledon last year, there was the embarrassing meltdown against Naomi Osaka at the US Open and now a drubbing at the hands of an inspired Simona Halep on Saturday.
I assume she will continue to put herself through the ordeal of playing at this level, for that is how I see it for her presently. She really does not look like she is having any fun, which is a shame. I may be wrong but the whole exercise seems so joyless.
But if she does manage to win No.24, then watch out everyone else because she is still by far the best woman's player in the world when she plays with freedom and without mental restriction.
There's much Murr to come but hard tests await Andy
NO WORD yet on Andy Murray's plans after a highly successful return to the competitive arena.
He may well play some more doubles on the punishing hard courts of North America in the lead-up to the US Open.
Singles may have to wait a few more months as his muscles knit together and recover fully after the trauma of the hip operation.
By winter he should regain full strength and there is no reason why he can't come into contention in the major championships.
He will have tests this week and in consultation with his team, decide his short-term future. Long term I wouldn't be surprised to see him challenge for the Wimbledon trophy again because he is no ordinary tennis player.
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