Federer wins epic battle for his 15th title

Roger Federer pulled off an impressive 4 hour win over a valiant Andy Roddick in 5 sets.

After holding serve for the entire match - including 14 games in the fifth set, Andy Roddick finally succumbed to Roger Federer 14-16 in the fifth set.

For Federer, the win means a record 15 Grand Slams, one more than Pete Sampras who previously held the record. The Swiss man had a far more difficult time than usual handling the Roddick serve. Throughout the first set, Roddick held with ease. At 5-6 with Federer serving to force a first set tie-break, the Swiss man threw in a shaky service game to give Roddick the break of serve and the first set.

The two men went toe-to-toe for the next two sets. Roddick continued to serve beautifully; he held serve in every game in both sets - and he only relinquished the lead in the tiebreakers. In the second set tiebreak, Roddick squandered a shocking 4 set points with suspect net play. Federer finally earned a set point when the American made another ill-timed foray into the net.

Impressively, Roddick was able to shake off the disappointment of his terrible misses in the tail-end of the tiebreaker. It was back to business for the American. His first serve percentage dropped from 79% in the second set to 55% in the third. Still, he was able to continue to hold serve throughout the set to force another tiebreaker.

Federer raced out to a 5-1 lead in the breaker, but Roddick found purchase with his serve and forehand. The American clawed back to 5-6, but Federer was able to serve out the set on his 4th set point for 7-5 and the two sets to one lead.

Once again showing uncharacteristic composure, Roddick continued to stay focused in the fourth set. At 2-1, Federer donated a couple of slice backhand errors, then fell victim to a blistering backhand down the line on break point to give the American the early break of serve. That small lapse of concentration cost Federer the set as Roddick held for 6-3.

The fifth set seemed to go on and on with no end in sight. At 6-6, with no deciding set tiebreaker to look forward to, both men were just getting into their serving groove. Finally, with Roddick serving to stay alive at 14-15, he got in a 0-30 hole with a couple of tired-looking groundstrokes. Three big serves drew the American to 40-30, but a backhand winner from Federer took him to deuce again. With the crowd roaring, Roddick made one unforced error for Championship point for Federer, then another to give the Swiss man his record 15th slam.

Federer beats Haas, reaches Wimbledon final

Roger Federer defeats Tommy Haas in straight sets on Friday afternoon at the All-England Club. Federer is through to his seventh straight Wimbledon final.

Roger Federer is one win away from the all-time Grand Slam men's singles record.

Federer, who is tied with Pete Sampras at 14 slam titles, dispatched Tommy Haas 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-3 on Friday afternoon in the Wimbledon semifinals. The world No. 2 needed just two hours and two minutes to book a spot in his seventh consecutive Wimbledon title match.

Having taken Federer to five sets at last month's French Open, Haas showed early signs of making this one equally competitive. Haas struggled to win any points at all against Federer's serve, but neither man earned a single break point throughout the first set. As he often is, however, Federer was too tough in the tiebreaker and took it seven points to three.

One break of serve was enough for Federer in each of the next two sets. The Swiss struck with his opponent serving at 5-6 in the second, and it was routine the rest of the way after he had two-set advantage in hand.

Federer broke midway through the third and closed out the proceedings with one final service hold at 5-3. The five-time Wimbledon champion served at 75 percent on the afternoon while firing 11 aces and only one double-fault. He won almost 90 percent of his first-serve points and even won an incredible 81 percent when forced to toss in a second delivery.

Either Andy Murray or Andy Roddick will face Federer in Sunday's Wimbledon final. Federer has lost four in-a-row to Murray and is 2-6 against the Scot overall. At the other end of the spectrum, Federer is a well-documented 18-2 against Roddick--including 3-0 at the All-England Club (2-0 in Wimbledon finals).

Federer makes quick work of Karlovic.........

Roger Federer defeats Ivo Karlovic in straight sets at Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon. Federer will meet Tommy Haas in the semis.

Roger Federer is through to an incredible 21st consecutive Grand Slam semifinal after beating Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(3) on Wednesday. Federer needed just one hour and 43 minutes to set up a Friday encounter against Tommy Haas.

Federer lost only 11 points on serve the entire day and never faced a break point. The world No. 2 came up with a single break in each of the first two sets to take a commanding lead.

Karlovic managed to force a tiebreaker in the third, but the 6'10'' Croat could not come up with the goods as he had in previous wins over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Fernando Verdasco. Federer took the 'breaker seven points to three to finish off Karlovic in style. The Swiss wrapped up his afternoon with an impressive 39 winners to a mere seven unforced errors.

Federer is 9-2 lifetime against Haas, including 3-0 on grass. They most recently met in the fourth round of the French Open, where Federer came back from two sets down to win in five. Federer, of course, went on to win his first title at Roland Garros.