Roger Federer expression after winning final score against Andy Roddick in final of Wimbledon 2009

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.

Roger Federer winner of Wimbledon 2009

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.

Serena Williams celebrate after winning final match point of Wimbledon 2009 against Venus

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.

Serena Williams won Wimbledon 2009 Woman Championship

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

Serena Williams and Venus Williams is winner of woman's double in Wimbledon 2009

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.