Wimbledon 2017: Federer breezes past Cilic to clinch record 8th title
London: Roger Federer broke the record books, to be crowned men's single's champion of Wimbledon for a record eighth time, after achieving a straight sets victory against Marin Cilic, on Sunday.
In doing so, Federer became the first player to win 19 men's singles Grand Slam title, the first man to win eight Wimbledon titles, and the second man after Bjorn Borg (1976), to win Wimbledon without dropping a single set.
While both players started off with great intensity, Cilic soon lost steam, as Federer surged forward to take the break, and the first set comfortably.
With Cilic struggling with an injury, Federer stamped his authority in the second set, which he clinched 6-1.
Cilic, after a medical timeout, seemed to have come out all guns blazing; however, that was only restricted to his big serves. Federer pretty much aced everything else.
The Swiss maestro managed to get yet another break, thanks to unforced errors by Cilic, as he held on to the rest of his serves to clinch the third set, the match, the trophy, and his record eighth title.
Roger Federer defeats Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4
3rd set:
Roger Federer 6-4 Marin Cilic
It has just been one of those days. 35-years-old, and still going strong. Roger Federer has come back to win the record 8th Wimbledon and record 19th Grand Slam title. He brought up the title in style, with a swerving serve to which Cilic had no answer.
Roger Federer* 5-4 Marin Cilic
All Cilic can do at this point is to hold his serve and hope for the best in the next game. And he does just that with the help of his big serves.
One more game away from victory. Federer breezes through his service game yet again, to surge into a 5-3 lead.
Roger Federer 4-3 Marin Cilic
This seems to be a match full of big serves. One is reminded of the 2009 men's singles final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. Cilic has a long way to go, though, for any such comparison to be seriously made. Federer comes back brilliantly to take the first break of the third set as well.
Federer starts off his game with a clear indication that he is not intimidated by Cilic's big serves. He craftily starts with a swerving ace, before wrapping up the game quickly.
Roger Federer 2-3 Marin Cilic
Cilic is trying to keep his footwork going, as he takes Federer to deuce in the latter's service game. However, Federer holds on, by virtue of yet another unforced error by Cilic.
Big serves are what are keeping Cilic in the game. While Federer has not found an answer to that, Cilic is making the odd mistake. This time however, the Croat holds on.
Roger Federer 1-2 Marin Cilic
Federer seems to be in no mood to take his foot off the gas, as he sends in some powerful serves of his own, to make it 1-1.
And the frustration comes pouring into Cilic, as Federer gains an advantage after an unforced error by the Croat. However Cilic came back with three big serves to hold his serve.
Roger Federer 0-1 Marin Cilic
Marin Cilic is currently taking a medical time-out.
Cilic seems to have come shaken some of that rustiness off not, as sends in a few big serve to take the first point of the third set.
2nd Set:
Roger Federer 6-1 Marin Cilic
The Federer Express is on a roll, and Cilic seems to have none of the answers. However, his injury seems to be a bit of concern, as the medical team rushes out onto the court after Federer clinches the second set 6-1.
Federer 4-1 Marin Cilic
Cilic seems to have hurt himself, as the delay was extended to allow the medical team to inspect the Croat. However, he soon got back to his feet after the umpire called "time", and came back with a big serve against Federer. The Croat plays with great gusto to hold on to his serve.
However, Federer is on another level right now, and easily holds his serve to keep the three-point lead.
Roger Federer 3-0 Marin Cilic
Federer makes short work of Cilic, breezing through his service game.
Cilic seems to have lost his game completely. Silly unforced errors mean that he gives Federer the first break in the second set as well, which he backs up by holding another service game in a straightforward manner.
1st set:
Roger Federer 6-3 Marin Cilic
Roger Federer cannot put a single step wrong, since he got that break. Completely blew Cilic away in his service game.
Cilic seems to be shrinking in confidence, as Federer got break points thwice in the Croat's service game. Under pressure, Cilic finally committed the double fault, to hand Federer the first set 6-3.
Roger Federer 4-3 Marin Cilic
Federer has smelt blood now. That break seems to have calmed his nerves, as he found solace in his first serves once again. He breezed through his service game to take a 4-2 lead.
This seems to have drained some of the initial gusto that Cilic had come in with. Federer fought back from 0-40 down to bring it to duce, but Cilic managed to hold on to his serve.
Roger Federer 3-2 Marin Cilic
That poor bit of serving seems to have woken Federer up. Produces a brilliant bit of play to get three break points, and clinch the first service break of the day.
Roger Federer 2-2 Marin Cilic
And the two players hold on to their serves yet again. Federer has been prone to a lower 1st serve rate, but has done enough to hold on to his serve.
Roger Federer 1-1 Marin Cilic
Its getting intense out there, in Centre Court. Having won the opening game, Marin Cilic put great pressure on Roger Federer's serve. The Swiss master, however, came out with flying colours, getting a challenge on an ace right by the breadth of a hair.
Preview: Roger Federer not aged well. He has aged like fine wine. At the age of 35, he stands on the brink of a record 19th Grand Slam title.
However, that is not the only thing at stake here for the man, who is arguably the greatest men’s singles player the sport has seen.
Ahead of the Wimbledon final, Federer also stands on the threshold of an unprecedented eighth Wimbledon title, a record 102 appearances at the Wimbledon drawing level with Jimmy Connors, and become the second player ever to win a Wimbledon title without dropping a single set, joining the legendary Bjorn Borg’s feat in 1976 (should he manage to attain a straight sets victory over Marin Cilic).
Perhaps the least important of the records is that a victory in the All England final would propel Federer into the top three of the ATP Men’s singles rankings for the first time in almost a year. Taking all of this into account, it seems business as usual for the Swiss maestro, who has a 6-1 head-to-head record against his Croatian counterpart, who is chasing only the second Grand Slam title of his career.
For Federer’s 28-year-old opponent however, the 2017 Wimbledon men’s singles final marks an opportunity to enter the top five spots of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career.
Cilic has been around the tennis scene for a while now, and has impressed in bits and patches, like his memorable 2014 US Open victory. Cilic’s only victory against Federer came in the form of a five-set win in the semifinals of that fateful tournament.
Cilic, considered to be one of the best tennis players from his country, will be aiming to become the second Croat to lift the Wimbledon men’s singles title since Goran Ivanisevic (2001).
He would also become the man to have had the second highest number of attempts (11) before winning the Wimbledon title; his compatriot Ivanisevic leads the charts in that respect as well, winning the men’s singles title after 14 attempts.
