FANFARE

Federer needs long match for records

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — From his front row seat in the Royal Box, Pete Sampras watched as Roger Federer broke his record for most Grand Slam singles titles in men’s tennis history.
After Federer overcame Andy Roddick in a marathon, five-set serving duel Sunday for his sixth Wimbledon title and 15th Grand Slam championship, Sampras was left with no doubt about who is the greatest male player of all time.
“I have to give it to him,” said Sampras, a seven-time Wimbledon champion who never thought his record of 14 major titles would be surpassed so soon. “He’s won all the majors. He’s won 15 now. He’s going to win a few more here. So in my book he is (the greatest).”
The issue will always generate debate and argument, especially in trying to compare players of different generations, such as Rod Laver and Bill Tilden. But there is no denying that Federer has firmly cemented himself as the finest player of the generation and, at age 27, the favorite for other major titles to come.
“It’s not really one of those goals you set as a little boy, but, man, it’s been quite a career and quite a month,” said Federer, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning his first French Open a month ago. “It feels amazing, but this is not why I’m playing tennis to break all sort of different records. But it’s definitely one of the greatest ones to have.”
It took 4 hours, 16 minutes, five sets and 77 games for Federer to secure the record Sunday in another epic Wimbledon final. Federer served a career-high 50 aces and overcame the resilient Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 — the longest match and longest fifth set in Grand Slam final history in terms of games.