The Serbian, winner of the longest final in history at Wimbledon (7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12), earned a 16th Grand Slam title and the 5th in London.

It was therefore necessary to wait for the final of the men's table to attend the first tie-break in history in a fifth set at 12-12 at Wimbledon. Otherwise, unable to separate, the two sacred monsters may have played this crazy final until the end of the night. But Djokovic, more realistic, was each time the master of the three tie-breaks of this already legendary final. He obviously did not derogate from his cute sin. Since his first coronation in London in 2011, the Serb nibbles a bit of grass after each title. Shaken as ever by an incredible Roger Federer, still green, the Serb has still prevail his Grand Slam law against the legend of soon 38 years, after a fight of nearly 5 hours (4 hours 57), of a tennis quality sometimes uneven but of an incredible intensity, in particular in a fifth set of anthology. In miraculously since he had to save two match points in the fifth set while Federer was serving for the match at 9-7. He did not exult on his victorious match ball. Perhaps annoyed at having evolved alone against the entire audience of the Center Court.

Djokovic never lost in the fifth set against Federer

Winner of their 48th duel (26 wins to 22 for the Serbian), he now leads 10-6 in Grand Slam against the Basel, has won five of their six finals in Major, including three played at the All England Club, and has always beat Federer in a fifth set in this event. The last success of the Helvetian on the Serb dates back to 2015, in the pool match of the Masters of London (7-5, 6-2). Since then, Djokovic has chained six victories. And this one has a very special flavor. With a new title at Wimbledon after 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2018, and now rich in 16 Majors, the Serb, who has just won four of the last five Grand Slams, has more than ever the record of Federer in the viewfinder ( 20). If his body is willing, the "Djoker", 32, still has a few years of tennis in front of him to mark the history of his sport. Holding the title in London, the world No. 1 had seen the main seeds of his part of the table fall like flies. Before the final, he did not have to face a top 20. He suffered martyrdom in the final against the eternal Federer. But the last word came back (again) to the Djoker who won 33 of his last 34 Grand Slam matches and which equals Björn Borg in London (5 kings).

The regrets of Federer

Federer was able to feed regrets in the first act of exceptional intensity. He did not convert the only break point in the 5th game and in the decisive game, he led 5-3, before tugging and losing the last four points (7-5). It was thought that the Djokovic rocket was launched. We were wrong. Less accurate on his legs and in his strikes, the Serb has experienced an air gap in the second set of much worse bill. The Swiss made the double break and the world number 1, resigned, then let slip the set, lost 6-1 in 25 minutes!

Djokovic, regaining his senses, the debates have rebalanced in a third act rather disjointed. The two champions easily won their stake until Helveti gets a break and set (5-4, 30-40), cleared by Djokovic with a solid first serve. The level of play is then raised a notch on the Center Court. But the Maestro has scuttled in the decisive game by multiplying false notes in reverse. Having emerged victorious from the tie-break (7-4), Djokovic showed a cold realism by pocketing two sets without getting any break points on the opponent's throw ...

The audience of the Center Court thoroughly behind Federer

But the slight domination in the Swiss game paid off in the fourth set. More airy than ever on the Center Court, Federer was able to provoke a fifth act. The mood rising considerably. The Swiss playing at home on his Center Court. The public, shameless, applauding every fault of the Serb. Led 4-2, the incredible Federer has reapplied, also taking advantage of the excitement of Djokovic. And in an atmosphere gone crazy, the Swiss has cracked the world number 1 in the fifteenth game of the 5th set on a passing cross in forehand to seek the break. Back to the wall, the Serb saved two match points at 8-7 Federer service and two break points at 11-11. Before imposing his law in the ultimate tie-break (7-3). Cruel for Federer, sublime for Djokovic.

Djokovic retains his throne

There will have been several chapters in this finale. In the first, the two players engaged an intense battle, sometimes tutling the perfection in their exchanges. If Roger Federer seemed to be a bit above, as evidenced by the only break point of the inaugural round that he got in the fourth game, it is indeed Novak Djokovic who took the lead of this meeting at the tie -break (7-6 in 1 hour). A small hold-up. The Serb actually turned the tide in the decisive game by winning the last four points, while he was led 5-3.