Can Roger Federer make it nine Wimbledon titles?
Roger Federer is without doubt one of the greatest players this generation has ever seen. On grass, he is simply unplayable, which is demonstrated with his record eight Wimbledon titles. At the age of 37, you’d be forgiven for expecting him to ease up, however, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Swiss Maestro, it’s that as long as he can continue to play at the highest level, he will do.
Such is his ability to keep himself in the upper echelons of tennis, he is second favourite in Wimbledon men’s winner betting on Betfair, with a price of 3/1. Novak Djokovic is the current favourite, but with Federer returning to his preferred surface – grass – after a good season on his least favourite – clay – it takes some bravery to not back him once again.
King of grass
In 107 matches at Wimbledon, Roger Federer has only been taken to five sets on ten occasions. He has the third best win/loss record at SW19, having won 95 games and lost 12. Only Björn Borg and Pete Sampras have a better win percentage at Wimbledon than Federer, but Federer has won more matches at SW19.
Watch any game with Federer on the grass court and you’ll understand exactly why he is considered to be the “King of grass”. His ability to judge the flight and speed of the ball and produce the best return shot is what has helped him secure so many titles. He’s had some fantastic battles with players like Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Djokovic on the grass courts, and most of the time, he comes out on top.
Record-breaker
Federer doesn’t just hold the record for the most Wimbledon titles, as he jointly holds the record for most consecutive titles – five – with Swedish legend Borg. Another record he shares with Borg is to
have won Wimbledon without losing a set, something Borg achieved in 1976, matched 41 years later by Federer.
He has the chance to break his own record for being the oldest champion, which he broke with his 2017 win. He was 35 years and 11 months old at the time, and he could make that 37 years and 11 months old with a title win in SW19 this year.
Having first won Wimbledon back in 2003, he holds the record for the biggest gap between his first and last Wimbledon title, which currently stands at 14 years. Other Wimbledon records include featuring in the most finals (11), most consecutive finals (7), most matches won (95), most matches played (107), longest final by duration (2008 vs Rafael Nadal) and most consecutive sets won (34).
2019 and number nine?
If you had asked two years ago, prior to Wimbledon, whether or not Roger Federer could win another title, most people would have probably had their doubts. He was 35 when he won title number eight and it was a somewhat surprising result. Players don’t usually win Grand Slam titles at that age, and especially don’t win without dropping a single set.
Age might not be on his side, but his talent has continued to shine through. Federer struggled at the Australian Open earlier this year, losing to up-and-coming Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in four sets. He bounced back on the clay courts at the French Open – his least favourite court surface – reaching the semi-final before being knocked out by eventual winner and “King of clay” Nadal. He has hit form just at the right time and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see title number nine come his way.
