The debate has ended. On Sunday, the greatest tennis player to have ever lived has taken his rightful place at the top if the Grand Slam leaderboard. In a fiercely competitive 5 set battle with the most improved player on the professional tour, Roger Federer captured his 15th Grand Slam Championship with a come-from-behind 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14 triumph over Andy Roddick.

The match was a serving clinic as Federer blasted a personal best 50 aces while Roddick powered 27. Both players had 4 double faults. As well as Federer served, he lost serve twice while Roddick’s only lost service game came in the last game of the match.

The contest between two seasoned tour veterans had all the suspense and dramatic quality that has come to symbolize the game’s oldest and most prestigious tournament. Both players performed with a lack of on-court nervousness and an abundance of focus.

Over their careers, the two finalists have now met 21 times. Roger has won 19 of those matches. This was the first match to go five sets.

Since retaining coach Larry Stefanki near the end of 2008, Roddick has changed his style and shaped up his frame. Since his recent marriage, the pieces have come together for the one-time serve and volley master. Roddick is playing with newfound confidence. Always a flamboyant server, he has now developed weapons to compliment his 140 mph serve.

All those weapons were on display from the outset on Sunday. In the 12th game, the six seed sent a message to his opponent and to the crowd by breaking Federer with two down-the-line backhands that could not be handled. Roddick seemed to be working Roger’s backhand. Meanwhile, his re-tooled backhand kept Federer on the baseline and away from the sharp angles the champion likes.

The second set will long be on Roddick’s mind as the one that got away and, in reality, cost him the tournament title. The players held serve throughout reaching the 6-6 tiebreaker. Federer’s record in tiebreakers is 29-4 just slightly better than Roddick’s 26-4 mark. Something had to give.

The old Roddick played quickly and sometimes lacked strategy. The new Roddick took his time between serves and seemed on top of his court management. Through the second set, Andy was landing 77% of his first serves. He was especially effective serving into Roger’s body.

In the tiebreaker, Roddick broke Roger’s first attempt and then held to go up 4-1. He then smoked a backhand down the line to go up 5-1. Roger aced to hold at 5-2. Andy hit a first serve winner to get set point at 6-2. Roger powered a beautiful backhand return to pull within 6-3. He then held his two serves to close to 6-5. Andy missed the first serve and Roger drove a forehand to Roddick’s backhand. Andy tried his down-the-line special but just missed the tape. 6-6. The champion then followed with another backhand winner and held his own serve to capture the set.

That tiebreaker swayed the match and would have crumbled the old Roddick. Roger Federer had changed the mood of the match and seized the momentum. Most of the 15,000 fans expected the challenger to fold, claim his second place trophy and be satisfied with a good fortnight’s work.

The new Andy Roddick put aside the tiebreaker and resumed power serving. Federer continued to build aces and had the air of a winner. He began to lure Roddick to midcourt, where the American was helpless. In the third set tiebreaker, Roger scored the only break he would need in the third point when Roddick missed yet another backhand slice from no man’s land. With the 7-5 tiebreaker in hand, the inevitable appeared on the near horizon.

Roger Federer has not won 15 Grand Slam titles and more than $42 million by allowing opponents back in matches. Roger Federer closes matches. In fact, there is no more efficient closer in the game.

But, Roddick cashed another break with Roger serving at 1-2 in the fourth. Federer overcame two break points at 15-40 to pull to deuce but this time Andy lured Roger into mid court and passed him down the line before executing a perfect half court pickup. That was the only break Roddick would need to square the match at two sets apiece.

Roddick had lost two sets without losing his serve. After four sets, the players had been on the court for three hours. Set five would take more than 90 minutes. Fans began to wonder how long any player could be on the court with Roger Federer and not lose their serve.

Gradually, Roger began to strike first on Roddick’s serve. Finally at 14-15, he won the first two points and the pressure finally showed. When Andy missed the last forehand, the Champion had attained his goal and logged his major accomplishment.

Both players were complimentary in closing remarks. The twosome will meet again and Roddick has reason for confidence heading into the U.S. Open, where friendly crowds will be vocal in his support. He will have a little more than a month to forget the devastating second set tiebreaker.

In the meantime, accolades to a deserving champion. He repelled everything that all comers threw at him. The game now has a new Grand Slam record holder and a wonderful ambassador of the game that loves him.

The Williams sisters took Centre Court in the 2009 Wimbledon finals to determine the grass court champion and conclude some serious family business. So serious that their father could not bear to watch.

The elder Williams declared his intention to mow the lawn during the finals and boarded a plane for Florida the night before the sisters faced off in the finals. In another dominating Grand Slam finals performance, Serena captured the tournament that slipped away last year and hoisted the Venus Rosewater Dish on Independence Day. The little sister had accomplished her goal and avenged her 2008 loss to Venus.

With a devastating serve and an overpowering disposition, 27-year old Serena overcame her big sister 7-6 (3), 6-2 in a near flawless performance before a packed house at London’s All England Club. With the win, Serena stopped Venus’s run of five straight Wimbledon titles and became the first player to win a title after a six-year lapse.

Venus had been the more dominant performer entering the finals. Her 120 mph serve and graceful, though bandaged, court coverage, along with her calm, steady personality appeared to have the elegant defending champ poised for victory. But, her younger sister and doubles partner would have none of it.

Today, there were no “nice shot,” no “good try,” exchanges between the two sisters who often drill with each other. Today was business, all business. Today, two partners, great friends and sisters went on the court to play by themselves and for themselves.

The setting is the favorite for Venus, who has only lost five matches in her career at Wimbledon. Serena had won the tournament in 2002 and 2003 before Venus began her run of titles and has been on a roll since capturing the U.S. Open in 2008. This year she has added the Australian Open and now Wimbledon to attain the lofty level of 11 time Grand Slam champion.

In the first set, both players played well and served especially well. With first serves approaching 120 mph, neither player could manage a break although Serena threatened on two occasions and Venus had two break points at 4-4.

Serena had asserted her serve early. Venus had no answers. At the conclusion of the match, Venus was only able to win 8 points off her sister’s serve and her inability to pressure the serve spelled doom for the tiebreaker as well as for the second set.

Early in the opening set, Venus displayed her winning form. She moved well to the ball, held her position through impact and showed near perfect form. Serena played the power game that overcame Victoria Azarenka and the talented Elena Dementieva. Serena tends to move aggressively into her groundstrokes and occasionally comes up and off the ball. In the finals, an unusually relaxed and comfortable Serena stayed down and blistered forehands and backhand at her sister.

The Williams sisters play the way they conduct themselves. Venus is quiet, serene, poised even reserved while Serena is gregarious, powerful and a bit higher strung. With more than 930 tour wins between them, these ladies have the experience and championship know-how to intimidate the younger pretenders to the throne.

While Dinara Safina remains the top ranked player on the tour, tennis fans and other competitors acknowledge Venus, Serena and Elena Dementieva as the three best players and competitors.

In the tiebreaker, Serena broke early and held all her serves to go up 6-2. Venus held one serve but Serena executed a perfect lob to seal the set.

The first set toll wore on Venus. She began to press her serve and faulted at key times. Serena was zeroed in on the second serve, moving forcefully into the returns. Unable to land first serves, Venus was powerless to defend the onslaught. After breaking at 2-2, Serena ran of four straight games, winning the second set with ease.

Serena raised her impressive Grand Slam final match record to 11 wins opposed by just 3 losses.

In post match interviews, Serena said it was the first time in her career that she “did not expect to win.” She walked on to Centre Court with nothing to lose and felt no pressure.

Serena Doubles her Pleasure

Still feeling like they had something to prove, Serena and Venus Williams mended their emotional fences and paired up on the same side of the net to overcome third seeded Australians Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs in a well played 7-6 (4), 6-4 final. The one hour thirty minute triumph completed a most successful day for America’s Williams sisters who dominated both the singles and doubles events.

Featuring two of the game’s best services, the winners chalked up 9 aces compared to 2 from the Aussies. The Americans scored a sterling 45 outright winners and were relentless on the attack.

The win was the pair’s eight Grand Slam title and third Wimbledon Doubles trophy. In the last match of the day, the fourth seeded ladies put an American stamp on both ladies tournaments and paved the way for the USA’s best performance at Wimbledon in years.

Andy! Andy! Andy! And More Andy!

The engine that could chalked up a big one on Friday on Centre Court in front of 15,000 unappreciative fans. Prior to the match Andy Roddick quipped that he would pretend every time he heard the crowd scream “Come on Andy,” he would pretend it was for him, not for Andy Murray. Andy Roddick stood alone on Centre Court surrounded by Brits pleading for an end to the 73-year drought that has plagued the nation.

Perhaps, it will happen next year, but for now, the Brits will have to wait one more time. Andy Murray is a wonderful tennis player. At 22 years young, there is little doubt that his day will come.

In an unexpected twist, Andy Murray out-aced the sultan of serve 25-21. However, Murray chose to play Roddick’s serve from 12 feet behind the baseline. Next time around, the Scotsman may re-think that strategy.

The match started as expected. When the twosome settled into points, Murray inevitably won. Roddick dominated the shorter points. Both players sported robust serves. The crowd was in the game and part of the contest and very much in Murray’s corner. It was a field day, the day the All England Club had awaited for 12 months.

In addition to the 15,000 fans around Centre Court, Henman’s Hill had thousands more passionate Murray fans. This was unsafe terrain for Roddick fans.

After a devastating setback in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2007,  Roddick began to question himself, his ability and his future. In that fateful quarter match, he jumped out to a 2 set lead over controversial Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Inexplicably, the play turned. Roddick could not execute. He was out of gas and soon out of the tournament.

More questions arose in 2008. He was ousted in the third round at Melbourne, did not enter Paris and out in the second round at Wimbledon before reaching the quarters at the U.S. Open. Andy Roddick’s career was headed the wrong way down a one-way street. Roddick stared at the “this way only” sign and made a bold commitment to a coaching change.

In November 2008, Roddick hired accomplished coach Larry Stefanki. Larry had some ideas. They all began with a more dedicated work ethic and recognition that the sultan of serve needed more diversity in his game. The twosome went to work in the off-season.

Roddick and Stefanki were rewarded at Melbourne with a semifinal appearance. They were pleasantly surprised in Paris reaching the fourth round on clay, a surface with which Roddick has struggled all his career. There were other signs of a comeback. His 2009 won lost record stood at a very respectable 33-8.

Andy Murray’s 2009 record is 40-6. He championed the Queen’s Cup. He is the best tennis player Britain has put forth in a very long time. He is a heavyweight contender. He is in need of a big win. Once he gets that win, the sky is the limit.

In the first set of the match that was to launch a weekend of celebration culminating with the home country’s first Wimbledon title in 74 years, Andy Murray was serving at 4-5, deuce.

Andy Roddick disguised a forehand and went with a show-stopping drop shot. Silence! Advantage Roddick, set point.

At set point, Roddick drove a deep forehand crosscourt. Murray nets the sideline drive. Set over.

Silence on Centre Court. A magnificent set of tennis was observed by a cheerless audience; just what Andy Roddick wanted.

Andy Roddick had silenced the crowd, temporarily taken them out of the match. The pressure was squarely on The Scotsman. Commentators reported that Murray stood to gain $100 million pounds in endorsements with a Wimbledon title. That is a fair amount of pressure, maybe more than anyone should bear.

Much like Elena Dementieva the day before, Andy Roddick took the first set, went to the service line and blinked. Murray jumped at the opportunity and broke, then held to go up 2-0. Murray served brilliantly through the set, winning 6-4. Match on! Crowd back.

This match had everything; spectacular shotmaking, an abundance of athleticism, courageous serving, daring net play and two highly gifted professionals.

Andy Murray leads the tour in games broken in 2009. He has broken more serves than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Roddick. He is the king of the break. He has speed, incredible touch and power, power and more power.

Andy Roddick is known as a server extraordinaire. That is the old Andy Roddick. The new Andy Roddick has dimension. He makes players play to his strength. He has patience, but he is not waiting. He is forcing, pressing. He comes up, cuts of shots, takes angles, hits deep crosscourt forehands and sharp down-the-line backhands.

Hey, this Andy Roddick is better than the old Andy Roddick, plus he knows more. He has been there; to the top of the mountain and to the bottom of the well.

There was no way Andy Roddick was caving in. If Andy Murray wanted this match, he was going to have to play better, play like someone who could challenge Roger Federer, not like someone who was ordained a title. Andy Murray was going to have to take this match away from Andy Roddick and it was not going to be easy.

Admit it or not, everyone around Centre Court could sense it. This was going to be a dogfight.

Roddick cast aside childish things. He did not dispute calls, he did not argue with the chair umpire. He stared Andy Murray down, then drew from the holster and shot from the hip.

He broke Murray to go up 3-1. He served a love game to go 4-1. At 5-3, Murray took charge, dominating the game. Roddick absorbed the loss. Murray pulled even and they held serve to get to 6-6.

Andy Murray may have the most breaks on the tour but Andy Roddick is a gunfighter. Roddick possesses the best tiebreaker record on the tour. Prior to today his tiebreaker record in 2009 stood at 25-4.

At 6-6, Roddick scored a break to go up 2-1. Murray answered to go 2-2. They went back and forth. At 4-5, Murray pitched two aces. Roddick would not go away.

He scored a 138 mph ace to go up 7-6. Murray hit a winner. 7-7. Roddick went crosscourt, Murray missed a forehand. Set point with Roddick up 8-7. Another crosscourt forehand by Roddick, another net ball from Murray. Set over!

The stunned crowd put their hand son their laps. Who is this new Roddick?

Set three had a similar feel. The spreading shadows foretold a dark day for the Brits. Murray served and played well. He appeared more athletic. Roddick was amazingly fit. He continued to press play, forcing shots, drop-shotting, slicing forehands, being annoying, totally uncompromising.

At 6-6, the tiebreaker began. The American jumped ahead when Murray missed a backhand at 1-2. Roddick followed with two big serves for 4-2. Murray barely caught the baseline to pull to 4-5. Roddick blistered a service winner.

At 6-4, Murray came up with a critical save passing Roddick at net. 5-6 Murray serving. Roddick thunders a return across the court. Roddick nets the retrieve. Match over.

Hail Andy Roddick, the sultan of serve, the master of pressure, the consummate underdog. Roger Federer will have to earn this championship. Andy Roddick does not go away easily.

What a day Saturday will be for the Williams family. The world’s two best female grass court players will begin the day on opposite sides of the net contending for the cherished Wimbledon singles title. In a rare occurrence, they will end the day on same side of the net as doubles partners vying for yet another doubles crown.

In women’s doubles, all four of the top seeds reached the semifinals. Top seeded Cara Black (Zimbawe) and Liezel Huber (USA) are probably wondering what top single’s seed Dinara Safina must be wondering; “What can you do?”

In Friday’s semifinal, the doubles specialists Black and Huber had absolutely no answers for the fourth seeded Williams sisters. In fact, the Williams’ decisive 6-1, 6-2, sixty-one minute win raised a serious question about how Women’s seeding is tabulated as opposed to how it should be figured.

Around Wimbledon, the answer is pretty clear. The current seeding system is broken from the start. To begin future Wimbledon seeding, let’s simply acknowledge that the Williams sisters are unparalleled, especially on grass.

With eight Wimbledon singles crowns between them and with 3 doubles titles in their pocket, what more does anyone need to know? In doubles, the Venus and Serena are the best. In singles, Venus and Serena are the best. Forget the ridiculous, laughable tour ranking craziness and get to the beef.

If the tournament organizers at the U.S. Open have any questions, call Dinara Safina first and then Lisa Huber or Cara Black. Tournament organizers need to show some judgment here. It is getting embarrassing allowing the likes of unproven talents like Dinara Safina ride the computer to further steamrolling humiliation.

It is better for the tournament and better for the fans to show some common sense. Better yet, ask the players whom they do not want to play and follow that path to the seedings. Now, there’s a sensible solution.

It would be quite surprising if anyone volunteered to play either of the Williams ladies in singles or doubles. I mean really, who needs it?

Against Cara and Lisa, the match was over as quickly as it started. Before a full house on Court One, the Williams hit 34 winners in two sets. They won 59 points compared to 31 for their opponents. They brought aboard their 120 mph serves and left the top seeds in awe. This was not a doubles match, this was a doubles clinic.

In the finals, the Williams women will take on the accomplished Samantha Stosur and her fellow Australian partner Rennae Stubbs, who overcame the second seeded Anabel Medina Garriques and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain in three sets, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-2. This was a competitive march before a packed gallery.

Stosur, who has been steadily improving since her return to the tour, was the difference. Long regarded as a serious doubles player, Stosur has brought her singles toughness to the doubles arena.

The more than two hour match featured terrific net play and aggressive movements by both teams. In the long run, it was Stosur’s ability to see the court and take advantage of openings that decided the match.

Stosur has two Grand Slam doubles titles on her resume and was the runnerup here last year as well as at the U.S. Open. For Stosur and Stubbs to prevail on Saturday, they will have to hope the Ladies Championship goes three long sets and that the Williams girls lose a little interest. In any case, that is highly unlikely. The Williams know a big payday when they see one and it appears the twosome has had their eye on Wimbledon for some time. On Saturday, the Williams will put their stamp on the grass courts once and for all. Bank it!

I mean really? Imagine reaching 21 consecutive Grand Slam semifinal rounds. Imagine that! Roger Federer will someday win his 15th Grand Slam and then some. He may even accomplish it this week and become the player to have won the most Grand Slam Titles ever.

Once he sets a new standard for Grand Slam titles that will most likely never be topped, his legacy will be established. However, since tennis went to open play, it is almost inconceivable that one player could reach 21 straight Grand Slam semifinal rounds. To reach the semis, a player must now defeat five opponents.

Defeating five opponents does not do the accomplishment justice. That is 5 of the best tennis players in the world. That means that not only has Roger Federer won 105 consecutive matches against stellar competition, he has never had a bad day, never felt ill, never felt down. Roger Federer has been on his game 105 times since Wimbledon 2004 when he claimed his second of five Wimbledon titles.

What may be more astounding is what the 27 year old Swiss star does when he reaches the semifinal round. Players who reach the semis of a major have won five matches. They are on their game. They are grass court experts, clay specialists, hard court masters. They are the best at what they do.

At Wimbledon, he has reached the semifinals seven times since 2003. When Roger has reached those seven consecutive semis, his record is even more phenomenal. He has never lost a set once reaching the esteemed round against the best grass court players on the planet. You really need to digest that.

After Roger’s semifinal appearance against courageous Tommy Haas of Germany, the record stayed in tact. Haas played brilliantly. He did not shrink from the moment. He embraced it. Tommy brought his game to the highest level. Tommy Haas is a tour player who will win many more matches. On this day, he would have beaten most of the players in the field. He would have triumphed in many matches anywhere, anyplace. But, not against the game’s most accomplished player; not on this day.

Federer’s 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3 triumph was more precise than surgical, so athletic it appeared effortless and so strategic it seemed simple. It was a perfect demonstration by a man so superior in his career that it seems doubtful any player, including the enigmatic Murray or the forceful Roddick, will meet success in the finals.

Haas and Federer are unique in that they both continue with one-handed backhands. There was speculation that Haas may have the superior backhand. Roger must have taken that critique personally because on this day every backhand was flawless.

In fact, every extended rally went to the winner. That is the way Roger plays. His skill pressures players to attempt shots they do not have. They must hit deeper, harder and with more spin than possible. Roger Federer’s mistakes can be counted on your fingers and toes. Against Haas, he had 15.

But, bring a calculator to total his outright winners (49 today). In a close match, Roger won 112 points to Haas’ 81. The three sets took just over two hours.

Prior to the match, Haas suggested his success would depend on his ability to “stay the court.” He did. He held his position, gave no quarter. He challenged, pressed the play, charged the net. Tommy Haas did the things that helped him earn the semis.

His second serve won points. Often clocked at 115 mph, it was an effective weapon. Sure enough, when the first set tiebreaker came down to crunch time and knowing that he could not persevere in long points, he pressed two forehands. Suddenly the hole was too deep. The set ended.

In the second set, Haas played even better. He held serve five times to reach 5-4. Roger held for 5-5. You knew what was coming. Roger breaks and serves for the 7-5 set.

Now, the pressure was really on. Tommy Haas had to be wondering “what do I have to do?” Many players have wondered the same thing for many a year.

It was too late. At 3-4, Haas gamely staved off 4 break points before netting a half court backhand. The gentlemen changed ends and Haas dug in his heels.

Roger Federer rarely shows emotion. He rarely seeks advice, questions calls or has temper outbursts. He is precise. So, with the score 5-3 and serving for the match Roger does what he does best. He closed the deal. At 5-3 in the third, Roger closed this deal at love.

At the post match net-side handshake, you saw two time-tested gifted athletes exchange courtesies. What you may have noticed was Tommy’s private acknowledgement that he had just lost to the best player to ever hold a tennis racket. Long live the King of Tennis, Roger Federer!