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Roger Federer with Pete Sampras on the video board behind him.
© 2009 Getty Images
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Roger Federer wins the 2009 Wimbledon Men's Final.
© 2009 Getty Images
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WIMBLEDON, England (AP)—Roger Federer won his record 15th Grand Slam title Sunday, outlasting Andy Roddick for his sixth Wimbledon championship in a marathon match that went to 16-14 in the fifth set.
Federer served 50 aces and overcame the resilient American 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 to break the record of major titles he shared with Pete Sampras and enhance his reputation as perhaps the greatest player in history.
The 30 games in the fifth set established a record for the most games played in any set in a Wimbledon singles final. The previous overall record for games in a set was 24, and 16 games for a decisive fifth set.
The match finally ended when Federer broke for the first time in the match, with Roddick hitting an errant forehand.
Watching from the front row of the Royal Box was Sampras, a seven-time Wimbledon champion who flew in from California in his first appearance at the All England Club since playing on this court for the last time in 2002. Also on hand were Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver.
Federer also reclaimed the No. 1 ranking he lost last year to Rafael Nadal, the man who beat him in the epic 2008 final but missed this year’s tournament because of knee problems.