No sleep for Federer as Wimbledon champion relives making history

Published on Monday 6 July 2009 22:55

ROGER Federer displayed his incredible stamina on Sunday to defeat Andy Roddick in a Wimbledon final which lasted more than four and a quarter hours – and he had to display it all over again yesterday in order to fulfil a round of engagements after only two hours' sleep.

Newly installed as world No1 again thanks to his five-set victory over Roddick, Federer eventually went to bed at seven o'clock yesterday morning. Two hours later his alarm went off and he was up and about again.

"I had about two hours' sleep, but it doesn't matter," he said on the BBC. "I slept enough to last three weeks and I still feel great."

Victory over the American No6 seed was the 15th Grand Slam title of Federer's career – a total which put him out on his own, one ahead of Pete Sampras with whom he previously shared the record. He had broken down in tears after previous Wimbledon wins, but on Sunday he just looked stunned at the end. Yesterday, too, he was still finding it hard to come to terms with what he had achieved.

"I'm still processing the whole thing because a lot has happened in the last few weeks," the 27-year-old added. "It was such a historic day in tennis and me being the main character in this. I have so many pictures going through my mind. It's hard to switch off. I want to see the match point again, I want to read something about what the fans saw, how the media saw it."

Federer explained that one reason his celebrations were less exuberant than they had been in the past – and than what might have been expected given he had just set an all-time record – was sympathy for Roddick, whom he has now beaten in three of his six Wimbledon triumphs.

"It was a combination of being maybe a little bit sad for Andy after seeing Rafa was sad for me at Wimbledon last year," he said, referring to his defeat by former world No1 Rafael Nadal in 2008.

"I felt like it was such a gruelling match. Everybody was tired and felt for Andy, so I didn't want to make a drama about it, but I knew the importance and that it was one of the greatest moments in my tennis career.

"Of course I always feel people should be happy for the guy who won and not for the guy who lost. I just kept it together after being so close to victory for so long. It was just a big explosion, and then after that it was all over and it sunk in after a while."

For much of Sunday's fifth set – which the Swiss player eventually took 16-14 – it was hard to see how the deadlock might be broken as both men were serving so well. "It's hard to change things, because the one who's serving is in control," Federer acknowledged. "We saw a classic example. He was unbreakable for such a long time.

"I didn't think I was going to win that (second-set tiebreak] being down 6-2, but then at the same time I could have been up a break in the first set when I missed that forehand by very little. In a four-hour match you're always going to go through good times and bad times and those were the bad times, but you have to be able to turn those around."

Federer has insisted he does not think of himself as a sporting legend, and believes the term should be reserved for those who have retired. He might just make an exception, all the same, for Tiger Woods, one of the three men he singled out for the inspiring effect they have on him.

"I get inspiration from Tiger, and from Michael Jordan who was one of my childhood heroes," he said. "Also Michael Schumacher as well – he was at the top for so long. I always get inspired by guys who did something at the highest of levels for such a long time and who are true champions and great ambassadors for their sport."