Roger Federer Wins Record 15th Grand Slam Title at Wimbledon

(Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

London, England—Wimbledon

Die the way you live, don't drag it out. That's the way to go.

—John Dillinger

Perhaps never has a tennis match meant more than today. With a late arrival from the former King himself; Roger Federer and Andy Roddick contested one of the most memorable matches in grand slam history.

To the credit of each player, this was a tennis match by every definition of the word. There were no over-done fist pumps, or unusual mannerisms, no consent glances of approval towards the players box, and certainly no room for error.

When encapsulating such an event, it is first relevant to suggest the way in which each player imposed themselves on each other.

For the most part, Federer and Roddick could have mirrored two factory workers, on the same page of life, going through the motions, during a drawn out week full of nothing but headaches and smoking breaks.

There was never really a time during today's event when each player displayed any sort of connection towards one another. If anything, the two combatants could have bumped into one another and murmured, ya I know... it's hot in here today, can't wait for the week to end. But that is the utter beauty of what transpired on Center Court today, this cherished Sunday.

Never was there a time where Federer was playing against Roddick, or Andy was worried about a Federer forehand; it was more about trying to deal with history, and in some instances prevent it.

From the onset of the match, it was vivid what Roddick's tactics would be. Today would not be the run of the mill, ordinary Andy Roddick versus Roger Federer matchup: One full of sound shattering serves by Roddick, only to have them placed back with the effortless follow-through of the Swiss.

Today would be centered around sheer tactics, mano y mano, and it didn't need to be pretty.

Okay, let's admit it, there was some darn nice looking tennis out there today.

With Andy storming through the first set, on the strength of spin placed serving, Federer was surprisingly down one-set-to-love—come back mode. No more praying for 15 aces to win a set for Roddick.

The evident words of coach Stefanki were resonating through the hook forehands and compact backhands of Roddick—Andy has never hit his backhand as well.

With the second set destined for a shoot-out tie-breaker, Federer's aura of calmness had evaporated. Credit goes to Roddick for spontaneously deciding to play with precision rather than power.

Then the unthinkable happened. Just when it seemed like Roddick was ready to take a two-sets-to-love lead and put his stamp on his first ever Wimbledon crown, an errant high backhand miss not only cost him the set, but perhaps many insomnia driven nights.

They always said that high backhand volley was a tough one.

At one set a piece, Federer and Roddick remained coerced in the demise of potential history—two more sets would have to be one by each.

Although the second set was a once in a lifetime for Andy, the proceedings of set three still had him holding the mental edge. Simply put, he had not lost his serve at all; with Federer looking surprising flat off of the ground.

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