While most of men’s tennis’ top echelon appears to be in disarray, Roger Federer marches on to more record Grand Slam titles.
This Wimbledon men’s final wasn’t pretty at all, not even for Federer. It appeared to be more about what Marin Cilic couldn’t do than what Federer could do.
But regardless of the circumstances, Federer has a record eighth Wimbledon title and 19 Grand Slam crown championships as a result of his 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 romp past Marin Cilic on Sunday on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
PRESSURE OR PAIN
The titles and career successes are in the record books for all current and future generations to marvel at. That’s all that counts as far as Federer’s tennis career. His children will take their father’s accomplishments throughout their lives.
Cilic simply didn’t have it in this final, whether it was the pressure or the pain in his right foot that humbled the tall Croatian. Only Cilic knows the true roles the pressure and pain played in his performance.
A former U.S. Open champion, Cilic is no newcomer to center stage. He will have a difficult time forgetting what happened at the All-England Club on Sunday.
He banged his racket into his chair between games. He had no answers for the moment, especially against a player as great as Federer.
CRYING DIDN’T HELP
Cilic flung his racket at balls time after time, sending shots far off the court, as he appeared to struggle with his footwork, perhaps trying to avoid firmly planting his right foot. Of course, Federer had something to do with that with his marvelous ground strokes and their placement.
The 28-year-old Cilic even cried when he was down 3-0 in the second set, whether from pain or embarrassment that he showed up for this magical moment of career so unprepared for the challenge.
Cilic looked normal only during the first three or four games of the match and part of the third set after having his foot rewrapped with taped between the last two sets.
ONLY A FEW CRITICAL MOMENTS IN MATCH
Federer had to play only a few critical points, and he seemed to survive all of them. His serve was working as well as ever. When Federer serves well, he is almost impossible to beat.
Yes, Federer is loose these days. And why not? He is less than a month from his 36th birthday. He has rewritten the record books. He has nothing to lose.
No one can take all of his memories of winning 19 Grand Slam championships. It’s a perfect world for Roger Federer.
WHERE ARE DJOKOVIC AND MURRAY?
Where have Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray gone? Their tennis worlds have come apart. Maybe, they’ll be back. Maybe, they won’t.
Do Djokovic and Murray have the willpower and motivation of Federer and Rafa Nadal? The next few years will tell that story.
And no one else has stepped up to play the type of tennis Djokovic and Murray have played over the years. Except Federer. And Nadal, until Wimbledon.
Maybe, it’s just the heat of summer.
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James Beck is the long-time tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspaper. He can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com. See his Post and Courier columns at
