Andy Roddick Gives Roger Federer His 15th Record Slam

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Okay, now that I've calmed down from that tremendous, unbelievable breath-taking Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, I can vent my frustrations about what I just witnessed.

I won't call it a choke job simply because of the way Roddick responded, but it was, well, I guess a choke job.

Few believed Roddick realistically had a chance against the most celebrated, decorated tennis player of all-time.

Few believed that Roddick had what it took to compete with Federer for five sets, and what was the equivalent to over seven.

What nobody could have guessed is that Roddick actually had this match won. Okay, maybe not won, but in a very winnable position being up two sets.

This championship immediately had the makings of what would end up another classic following in the footsteps of Federer and Rafael Nadal from last year.

Both men stood under the famous words of Rudyard Kipling, looking focused and ready to battle.

Roddick looking very warrior-like wearing nothing fancy over his typical Lacoste shirt. Federer looking like a fancy champion with a great looking RF Nike coat stunningly white. It was game on.

Roddick exploded from the first point, consistently smashing serve after serve all over Fed's half, sometimes nearly going right through Federer's body with 140 MPH bombs.

We expect that from Roddick, but what many haven't gotten used to yet is Roddick's much expanded court game and mental focus.

Andy Murray got an energy shot of Roddick's new found persistence and versatility, as he beat the Scot at his own game infused with power.

Both Federer and Roddick went through the first set trading held service games until Roddick broke Federer and stunned the world. Just like that, Roddick had fought out the first set 7-5.

Amazing as that seemed, Andy wasn't done yet.

The second set took on the same personality as the first, as both players continued to hold service games and trade points. That was until a 6-6 tiebreak in which Roddick had already squandered a 5-1 lead.

It was now 6-5 Roddick, serving for a two-set lead. Federer cranked a shot across court after a great Roddick forehand in which Andy was in a perfect position for.

Roddick had a backhand overhead smash that Federer wouldn't have gotten to. As Roddick raised for a shot he could make, his career defining moment was waiting for just one swing of the arm.

That swing looked to be tainted by nerves, as Roddick mis-hit the shot and watched the ball and his Wimbledon upset chance fly out of play.

Just like that, his lead was gone. Federer held on his service games and won the second set. I'm sure everyone was thinking what I was at the time. Roddick is done.

Period.

As John McEnroe eluded to several times, Roddick needed to get that fail out of his head and come back ready to fight in the third set.

Stunningly, Roddick did and even though he lost another tiebreak set to the king of tennis, he showed Roger that he wasn't going anywhere, and suddenly we all believed in Roddick.

Despite being down two sets to one, Roddick imposed every inch of his battered will and played his best set of the match, breaking Federer on his way to a 6-3 win and date with a fifth and deciding set.

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