(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
At times even Federer looked stunned at the tennis the man across the net was playing, and in front of legends like Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg, Roger wanted no more than to win that 15th.
He just needed to figure out Roddick's serve, something he used to do better than many players on the tour.
This Sunday though, Roddick played the role of chameleon as his game looked intelligently different than what Federer was used to.
In Wimbledon, there's no tiebreak in the fifth and final set, and that set the stage for the most games ever played in a Wimbledon final.
In an absolutely beautiful fifth set, both players pressed on, making ridiculous baseline shots, chasing shots all over the court and Smokin' Aces like Ray Liotta.
Unfortunately, as the match went on further, it was clear to see that the challenger with the spirit and fight of a wild animal was down.
There would be no James Buster Douglas or Hasim Rahman moments here. The champion would reign supreme this day, as Roddick hit another error to give Federer a 16-14 victory in the final set.
As Roddick fought back painful tears, he had to live with what may have and should have been.
Showing obvious frustration, when Federer was actually praising him, Roddick exclaimed, "you have five titles already!" Although it was said in jest, the pain was obvious in Andy and rightfully so.
Who wouldn't cry their heart out after that kind of loss?
In what felt like a fit of bad taste to me and what is becoming a trend in professional sports, Nike and Net Jets just had to congratulate Federer in the first commercial break after the match ended.
Federer even had "15" on the back of his signature RF track jacket.
Reminds me of the failed Kobe Bryant-LeBron James commercials before Cleveland lost, and Lakers coach Phil Jackson having a "X" hat in Roman numerals for 10 after the Lakers won the NBA title.
Oh how Andy Roddick could have changed the course of history with one overhead smash. Who knows if Federer will ever win another one?
Roddick had this match in Brooklyn Decker's handbag, and he simply couldn't deliver. Sad for a man who's talents were always there, but never fully maximized.
This win would have made us all forget about his previous failures in other Grand Slams. But for now, we the fans and Roddick have to be content with being runner up to Federer, again.
As Roddick looks in the mirror once he gets to his locker room, he only can salivate over what could've and should've been.
As it stands, he's just the runner-up to Roger Federer's record-breaking Wimbledon victory.
Besides, you know what they say about "what-if's." They just make the wound heal better. Try getting Roddick to believe that.
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