Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer: Key Stats and Reaction from Wimbledon Final

Novak Djokovic blunted the majesty of Roger Federer on Sunday to win the Wimbledon final, etching his name increasingly deeper into the rich annals of the iconic All England Club.

The top seed was too diligent and too industrious for the Swiss star in the end, coming through 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 in just short of three hours of pulsating action. Here’s a look at the moment Djokovic secured his third Wimbledon title and ninth Grand Slam crown overall:

This final was precariously poised throughout, though, and looking into the minutiae of matters makes for intriguing reading.

So here’s a recap of the key statistics from the SW19 showpiece and the best reaction after another absorbing final between these two great champions.

Djokovic Grinds Down Federer

Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press

After putting on a serving masterclass in his semi-final against Andy Murray, the key to Federer getting the better of Djokovic was always going to be whether he could repeat the trick against the world's best.

Sadly for this Swiss, although he was extremely competitive when points settled down, his work with the ball in hand wasn’t quite as ruthless.

As noted by Stuart Fraser of the Daily Mail, the seven-time Wimbledon champion’s numbers were down compared to his semi-final win over the Scotsman:

Credit, of course, must go to Djokovic for this statistic. The Serb’s ability to get balls back in play on return is one of the key facets of his game, meaning many serves that would have been aces against Murray were returned deep in the court. It made Federer work hard.

Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press

Indeed, although the first two sets were shared and pretty even, as the match wore on, the Swiss began to look increasingly jaded.

As we can see here, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Info, Djokovic was making Federer do most of the running:

Djokovic was in the ascendancy too. No player in the world relishes these kinds of physical battles more than the top seed, and as the points started to string out, there was only going to be one winner.

On reflection, the Serb was much stronger in the big moments too. Throughout this tournament, players found it extremely difficult to get the better of the Federer serve, so Djokovic was aware of just how ruthless he needed to be. He stepped up not only when returning but also when he was under pressure on his own serve.

Jonathan Brady/Associated Press

As noted by Matthew Syed of the Times, the Serb made massive shots at crucial points in the contest:

The win goes a long way in cementing Djokovic’s reputation as one of the best players of all time. Winning nine Grand Slam titles in an era in which Federer, Murray and Rafael Nadal are each plying their trade at an extraordinary level is a stunning achievement.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

This latest iconic win puts the Serb in elite company when it comes to Wimbledon titles, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Federer knows exactly what’s required to win this competition in successive years, having won five in a row between 2003 and 2007. He was quick to pay tribute to the unerring will of Djokovic.

"I had my chances in the first set. I got lucky to win the second, had chances in the third," said the 33-year-old, per Piers Newbery of BBC Sport. "But he was better on the bigger points. He was rock solid, I didn't play badly myself. That's how it goes."

Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press

Djokovic may not be the aesthetic delight Federer is, nor has he forged a following quite as substantial or effusive as the Swiss or Nadal. But he’s a remarkable player, an admirable champion and, at this point, comfortably the best player in the world.

Tactically, the Serb got his game plan right, and while that’s easy enough in practice, to execute it with such distinction on Centre Court takes a steely temperament.

Djokovic has those mental qualities in spades, and while that may not earn him an affectionate backing, it’ll certainly bring him plenty more titles moving forward.