Wimbledon wrap-up

July 8, 2:18 AMPro Tennis ExaminerGrayson Blakeley

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Pro Tennis Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

AP Photo/Julian Finney - Wimbledon 2009

It was an exciting two weeks at the All-English Club, and Sunday's Men's Final did not cease to thrill the world. The incredible record breaking thirty game fifth set kept every fan on the edge of their seat, and when it ended, left us all begging for more. Through the two weeks on the lawn, the 123rd Wimbledon did not disappoint.

The hype surrounding Brit Andy Murray was the talk at Wimbledon for the first week. It was hoped that Andy Murray would become the first Briton to win Wimbledon in over 70 years, since Fred Perry in 1936. Murray rolled through the opening rounds, only to fall short in the semifinals to American Andy Roddick.

Another story of the Championships was the old-timers. Lleyton Hewitt, age 28, made his way to the quarterfinals, defeating fifth ranked Juan Del Potro and 23rd ranked Radek Stepanek. He was tripped up in the quarterfinals by finalist Andy Roddick, but he made a surprising and exciting run at Wimby.

The other over-the-hill surprise player was 31 year old German Tommy Haas. Haas has delt with injuries and setbacks his whole career, but at Wimbledon he played like he had never played before. Haas defeated 13th ranked Marin Cilic and fourth ranked Novak Djokovic at Wimby, and was not taken down until he faced off against the Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in the semifinals.

And of course there was Andy Roddick. The Andy Roddick who has always been there, but has always come up short because legends like Federer and Nadal have stood in his way. Roddick, 26 years old now, and recently married, claims to be in the best shape of his life. At Wimbledon, he played the best tennis of his life. Roddick was phenomenal at the All-English club, serving well as always, and effectively using a newfound net game. Roddick took down Lleyton Hewitt in the quarterfinals, and Andy Murray in the semis. Roddick seemed unstoppable. But Roddick ran into Roger Federer.

Roger Federer had cruised through the tournament, not seeing a five set match until the final. But the final was a five set match that Federer will never forget. Federer faced American Andy Roddick in the final for the third time at Wimbledon. Federer was 2-0 in those matches, and 18-2 in all matches they had played. No one expected Roddick to put up a fight. But Andy Roddick shocked the world. After a gut-renching four hour and twenty minute final, Federer finished the match by winning the fifth set 16-14.

Federer won his 6th Wimbledon and his record-breaking 15th Grand Slam on Sunday, taking his place as the greatest tennis player of all time.