Record-breaking tennis final
July 8, 2012
Whoever wins the men's final at Wimbledon the record books will be rewritten.
Roger Federer has already won the Wimbledon men's singles title six times. By equalling American Pete Sampras with seven Wimbledon wins Federer would regain the world number one ranking for the first time in more than two years.
Two months short of his 31st birthday, Federer would join the only two men - Rod Laver in 1969 and Arthur Ashe in 1975 - to have won Wimbledon aged 30 and above.
Federer would equal the record Sampras holds of 286 weeks at the top of the tennis tree. "Everybody knows what a hero he is to me and how much I admire what he's been able to achieve in tennis," Federer said.
"I don't think he ever lost a grand slam final here at Wimbledon. He won seven out of seven, which is just incredible, particularly in the times he played against all these big servers, when things were a bit more unpredictable. So I'm very proud to have a shot of equaling Pete." Federer commented.
Federer broke Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles when he won Wimbledon three years ago.
Should Scotsman Andy Murray win, it would be a simpler entry into the record books. Fred Perry was the last British man to win Wimbledon 76 years ago, in 1936. Bunny Austin reached the final two years later but lost to American Don Budge. Virginia Wade won the women's title in 1977.
If Murray beats Federer today, he will also be the first Scot to win since Edinburgh-born Harold Mahony beat Wilfred Baddeley 116 years ago.
"It will be one of the biggest matches of my life," Murray said after his semi-final. "It's a great challenge. One where I'm probably not expected to win the match, but one that, you know, if I play well, I'm capable of winning."
The 25 year old Murray has beaten Federer in eight of their 15 previous matches. Bookmaker Ladbrokes has made Federer the 1/2 favorite, offering 13/8 odds on a Murray victory.
Murray's coach is former tennis champion Ivan Lendl. "Andy has been very focused and determined during the tournament," Lendl said on Saturday. "Federer has won 16 majors, more than anybody else in the history of the game. You don't necessarily look at his age."
Guests of honor
Tickets for the match are being offered online at £32,187 a pair (40,575 euros) - almost 150 times the £120 (150 euro) face value. Prime Minister David Cameron, The Duchess of Cambridge and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond are all expected to attend the final. Prime Minister Cameron said: "I'll be watching the final on Sunday and, like the rest of the country, will be getting right behind Andy Murray - I wish him the best of luck." Some 20 million are expected to watch on television in the UK alone.
Another 76 year run was ended on Saturday when Jonathan Marray of Britain and Frederik Nielsen of Denmark beat Robert Lindstedt of Sweden and Horia Tecau of Romania in a five-set final for the men's doubles on Centre Court.
Marray became the first British man to win a men's doubles title at Wimbledon since 1936. Nielsen's grandfather, Kurt, reached the Wimbledon singles final in 1953 and 1955.
jm/rc (Reuters, AP)