Djokovic beats Federer to win third Wimbledon title

Top-seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic lifted his third Wimbledon title with a four-set win over seven-time winner Roger Federer.

Djokovic, who beat Federer in the final last year as well, won his ninth Grand Slam with a 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 win over the former world number one.

As a result, the Serbian world number one also became the first man since 2007 to retain the Wimbledon men’s title.

The opening two sets were decided by tiebreaks with Djokovic running away with the first and Federer, chasing a record eighth Wimbledon title, coming through a marathon second.

Djokovic then broke early in the third and served out comfortably after the players were forced off court following a brief rain delay.

Things were a bit more one-sided in the third set and just as Djokovic seemed to pull away in the fourth, Federer managed to pull the match back.

However, Federer’s hopes of taking the match into a deciding set faded when Djokovic held his serve to go 5-3 up.

A forehand crosscourt winner after two hours and 56 minutes handed Djokovic victory and drew him level on three Wimbledon titles with his coach Boris Becker.

The 28-year-old Serb then knelt down and plucked up some of the cherished grass and put it in his mouth.

“He [Federer] makes you push your limits, work hard and win every single point,” 28-year-old Djokovic said on court.

“I have to say it’s a big challenge playing against Roger. A lot of players of my generation have looked up to him and followed his lead.”

Two in two for Hingis

Martina Hingis completed the doubles-double at Wimbledon after she and Leander Paes walloped Alexander Peya and Timea Babos 6-1 6-1 to win the mixed doubles trophy at the All England Club.

Twenty four hours after partnering another Indian, Sania Mirza, to the women’s doubles crown, the 34-year-old combined with Paes to scoop their second mixed title of the year after also triumphing at the Australian Open.

Hingis, the 1997 Wimbledon singles champion, claimed her third mixed title and her overall grand slam doubles tally now stands at 13.

Paes now has eight mixed doubles titles to go with eight men’s doubles trophies he has won at the majors.