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 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.

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!

The legions of Murray fans are packing their lunch baskets, sun blocking their shoulders, laying out their best outfits and preparing for Friday’s carnival, and then, of course, the finals.

The semifinal match with Andy Roddick is a mere formality, a tune-up before the main event. Despite the past and future heroic efforts of German Tommy Haas, All England knows who will be waiting in the wings. They are counting on it. Do we really need these semifinals? Why not play on? Destiny lies around the bend.

As wonderful as that Swiss gentleman is, this is not his tournament. He will have other chances. There is only one Wimbledon. There is only one Andy Murray. It has been 73 years. It will not be 74. The time is now, the place is here and the stars have aligned perfectly.

When all is said and done, Andy Roddick is not Rafa Nadal, bad knees and all. Murray fans could never have tolerated Nadal and then Federer. This is better. It has a sense of balance.

Murray-Roddick, Federer-Haas, two well-balanced preps for, excuse the basketball analogy, “the big dance.” So, 22 year young Scotsman, Andy Murray, is it to be or not to be? That is the question.

Andy Murray turned professional in 2005. Since his second place finish at the U.S. Open in 2008, he has been on the cusp. He was favored to win The Australian Open before inexplicably tapping out in the 4th round. He was heavily favored to reach the semis in Paris before stumbling in the quarters. Andy Murray has 195 career wins. His 2009 won-lost record is an amazing 40-6. Andy Murray is a championship-waiting-to-happen.

The time is now, the place is here!

Andy Murray is 22 years young. He is 4 years younger than his Friday opponent, Andy Roddick whom is 26 years-not-so-young. While his 195 career wins are admirable, Andy Murray does not possess half as many tour wins as Tommy Haas (445) or Andy Roddick (492). He possesses less than one third the number of wins as King Roger (best-to-ever-play-the-game) Federer (650). Where I come from, we see numbers like those and we want to know more before we slide our dough across the window.

Let’s make something clear. The time is now, the place is here and Andy Murray is Centre Court, center stage.

No Brit since Freddy Perry has ever been in a better place at Wimbledon. After Roddick, the Scot plays a man he has beaten four consecutive times, a man against who he holds a 6-2 lifetime record. That’s a finals? Sounds like a duck shoot!

Andy Murray has been carrying the flag since the end of round one. He has been on every front page, every back page and as one commentator aptly stated, “will never have to buy a pint again.”

The Wimbledon faithful were out in force for Hewitt – Roddick. It was a “carnival atmosphere” with Aussie Crazies and Hewitt’s links to the Commonwealth acting in bizarre tennis fashion. But Andy Roddick has played in New York. Heck, he won in New York. It does not get any crazier than that.

Andy Roddick knows how to play through this atmosphere. In his 9 year career, Andy Roddick has learned to beware of the player with nothing to lose. Andy Murray has not.

Murray’s inability to deal with those kinds of players has been his demise in Grand Slam events, and in the British press. Fernando Verdasco came at him in Melbourne, prevailing in five sets. In Paris, Murray was rudely ousted by Fernando Gonzalez in four sets. Verdasco? Gonzalez? Grand Slam?

Aberrations, perhaps? Cause for hope for Andy Roddick? Definitely! Look at it another way. 4th round in Melbourne, out. Quarterfinal in Paris, out. Semifinal in London? We shall see.

When I look at Murray’s 2009 Wimbledon, I see a few problems. Blessed with an easy draw, he struggled in the very first round against American serving ace Robert Kendrick, 7-5, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. Robert Kendrick is a nice player with a future. Robert Kendrick is not Andy Roddick.

Murray then blew past Ernests Gulbis and Viktor Troicki, but what would one expect? Against the only player that should have been where he was, Stanislaus Wawrinka, Murray put the fear of God into the crazed Wimbledon gallery. They even had to enclose the place to get this one done. They didn’t do that for Tommy Haas. But, it was an outdoor tournament then. Mr. Murray could not be stretched into a second day, could he?

Wawrinka’s five set man-test ended with Murray on top, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. While a wonderful win? This was a match that should have ended in three hours, not closer to five. If Andy Murray loses focus or blinks against Andy Roddick, he is in trouble. Stanislaus Wawrinka is not Andy Roddick.

So, while Murray should get to the finals, and frankly, do the unthinkable and deny the greatest player to ever play the game his 15th Grand Slam title, he had better keep his eye on the ball and his mind off the gallery. You will not see Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas or the King looking to their corners for help. No sir. You will see Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas and Roger focused on the moment, in the game, where they belong.

This is Andy Murray’s moment. This is Andy Murray’s destiny. He will never be 22 again. It will be a long time before Andy Murray plays another Grand Slam without Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in his path for successive matches. It will be a long time before the stars are so perfectly aligned and London so ready, so willing so eager.

This is it Andy. So, will it be, or not to be? You decide.

Don’t you worry about it, little Melanie. As of today, you are the only professional tennis player at Wimbledon who has won six singles matches on the storied grass. While Jelena, Ana and Maria are aching, limping and soaking, you will be out hitting practice balls. That tells me something.

I know that you have seen it Melanie. Throughout your junior career, when your 5 foot 5 inch self had to play two matches a day, you saw those other competitors who were happy just to be there. The ones who would reach a certain level and then forget why they wanted it so much.

You were not one of those players at Wimbledon 2009. Thank you, Melanie. Your fourth round match was a little disappointing. But, Aggie Radwanska is a professional tennis player. She was unperturbed by the media glare surrounding you. She had a job to do and she did it. From Wimbledon 2009, that is the lesson you should learn.

Ms. Radwanska was not worried about losing to your little self. She focused on winning. She took that puny little serve of hers and made it hold up. Hey little Melanie, Aggie’s been around.

I watched every interview you took. I saw you on ESPN. I saw you acquit yourself beautifully, with sincerity, integrity and honesty, just like the way you play tennis. I like it. Your home schooling has gone well. As my mother would say, “proud to know you.” And, she would be!

I knew it would be difficult to get all that attention and then go out here on Monday and not be exhausted. It takes some players a lifetime to get comfortable with the interaction of media and tennis. I guess what I am saying is that you now need to learn how to be a superstar. Because, that is just what you are. And, we do not want any flash-in-the-pans here. We want the real deal. And, you are it.

If I were you, little Melanie, I would spend a little time with the Williams girls, especially Venus. Watch how she handles the media. Flawlessly, that’s how. Calm, low voice. Slow delivery. Somehow all the focus, all the poise comes through. Venus Williams knows how to handle the press and not be distracted. She knows how to deliver her message and keep the vultures at a distance.

You will need to learn that. And, yes, oh yes, work on the serve. So when we see you at the Open, you will have the media thing worked out and the serve a little crispier.

Melanie Oudin, you made Wimbledon us. We will enjoy watching Victoria fend off the likes of Serena, Venus, Dinara and Elena, but we’d rather you were still in it. Thank you for every qualifier, every point, every match. You have the heart of a lioness and champion. And, you may only lose it to my son.

By the way, he’s tall, handsome and has a good job. I’ll talk to him about your tennis career. We shall see you at the U.S. Open, where you will no longer have to qualify. Just show up with the lessons of Wimbledon under you belt and play tennis, very passionately. As long as you do that, the whole world is your oyster.

Melanie you arrived a 17-year old qualifier and you leave a tennis superstar. What more could anyone ask for? Hats off to you, Miss Oudin.