Roger Federer won a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title and 17th Grand Slam crown Sunday, shattering tearful Andy Murray’s dream of ending Britain’s 76-year wait for an All England Club men’s champion.
Federer, playing in his eighth Wimbledon final and 24th Grand Slam championship match, won 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to join Pete Sampras and William Renshaw as a seven-time champion.
The Swiss great, who has also regained the world number one ranking, is just the third man over 30 to win Wimbledon following Rod Laver in 1969 and Arthur Ashe in 1975.
Murray, 25, bidding to be the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win Wimbledon, has now lost all four Grand Slam finals in which he has appeared.
“It equals me with Pete Sampras, who’s my hero, so it feels amazing,” said Federer, whose last Wimbledon title was in 2009 and was without a major since the 2010 Australian Open.
“It feels great being back here as the winner. It feels like it’s never left me. I think I played some of my best tennis in the last couple of matches. I couldn’t be more happy.”
On getting back to the world number one, Federer, who now has 75 titles, added: “I never stopped believing.”
Murray, the first British man to reach a Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin in 1938, broke down in tears at the closing ceremony, delivering his speech but faltering on numerous occasions.
“I’m getting closer,” said an emotional Murray, who had to gather himself before continuing. I’m going to try this but it won’t be easy. Firstly I’d like to congratulate Roger. I was asked the other day if this is my best chance? Roger’s 30. He’s not bad for a 30-year-old.”
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