Andy Roddick Gives Roger Federer His 15th Record Slam

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.

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.