Wimbledon men’s final: Djokovic defeats Federer again in four sets

Pre-tournament favourite Novak Djokovic completed a successful defence of the Wimbledon men’s singles title to take a third SW19 crown against seven-time champion and all-time Grand Slam great Roger Federer in four sets.

Deadly Djokovic becomes the first man to win consecutive Wimbledon titles since his opponent in 2006 and 2007, running out a 7-6 (6-1) 6-7 (10-12) 6-4 6-3 winner on Centre Court at the All-England club.

Serbia star Djokovic moves onto nine Grand Slam titles, but is still some way behind 33-year-old Federer, who remains on 17 major tennis honours, despite digging deep and pegging the ATP world number one back in a dramatic second set tiebreak after losing the opener in similar fashion.

Federer’s serve and volley tactics served him well early on, breaking Djokovic to lead the first set 4-2, but the world number one broke back. The Serb nonetheless saved two set points on his serve at 5-6 down with a pair of gusty 122mph strikes to force a tiebreak.

In this early decider, Swiss sensation Federer crumbled with first serves deserting him. Djokovic took the opening set 7-6 (6-1), and remained in control of the second. He couldn’t take seven set points throughout it, however, and Federer came from 6-3 down in another tiebreak, winning 12-10 to level the match at one set apiece.

This was tennis of the highest quality, but a rain delay at 16:21 BST occurred shortly after the Federer serve was broken early in set three. The seven-time SW19 champion and current title holder were taken off with Djokovic leading 3-2.

Kept off court by the elements for a mere 15 minutes, play resumed after a warm-up, but the destiny of the set did not change as Djokovic restored his lead to 2-1, taking the third set 6-4.

Federer found himself broken in game five of the fourth and, although the darling of Centre Court, succumbed again as Djokovic wrapped up the title 6-3 with a three sets to one win.

Unlike WTA counterpart Serena Williams, there is no chance of a calendar Grand Slam for Djokovic, who also won the Australian Open, as he fell in the French Open final to Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros.

Djokovic is a short-price 5/4 favourite with Coral to be US Open champion, and take three of the four majors in 2015.