Novak Djokovic sweeps to third Wimbledon crown
Serb shatters Roger Federer's hopes for a record eighth All England title
Defending champion Novak Djokovic won a third Wimbledon title and a ninth grand slam crown, ruthlessly shattering Roger Federer's bid for a record eighth All England Club triumph.
World number one Djokovic won 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (10-12), 6-4, 6-3 to add the Wimbledon title to the Australian Open he captured in January.
It's always a great privilege playing Roger. It's probably the biggest challenge I can have. Roger has done so much for tennis
It was a cathartic moment for Djokovic just a month after his heartbreaking French Open final defeat by Stan Wawrinka.
"It's always a great privilege playing Roger. It's probably the biggest challenge I can have. Roger has done so much for tennis," said Djokovic.
"He makes you work hard for every point. For this particular match you work all your life."
Said Federer: "Novak not only played great but he played great last two weeks and the year before that. He deserved that."
For 33-year-old Federer, it was a bitterly disappointing end to his bid to become the oldest Wimbledon champion of the Open Era.