Roger Federer stands alone in tennis history after downing Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in the longest fifth set in Grand Slam history to claim his record 15th major.
The win — Federer's sixth in seven years at SW19 — propels the Swiss past Pete Sampras' tally of 14 majors. Sampras, along with his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, made a last-minute trip across the pond from California to watch the historic win. "I have to give it to him," Sampras said afterwards. "He's won all the majors. He's won 15 now. He's going to win a few more here. So in my book he is [the greatest]."
Relive all the tennis action from this year's Wimbledon
In a four-hour, 18-minute epic, Federer registered a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 win over a new and improved Roddick, who also lost the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals and the 2006 U.S. Open final to Federer. In terms of games, it was the ...
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Wimbledon
7 am/ET ESPN2
Whether it's the fun and heat of Melbourne, the style and clay of Paris, the grass and rain of London or the tough crowds and bright lights of New York, each of tennis's Grand Slams has a unique identity. Get ready for a new, drier era of Wimbledon, however, as the long-awaited retractable roof on Centre Court debuts for the upcoming fortnight (an answered prayer for ESPN, Tennis Channel and NBC). Rafael Nadal's withdrawal due to knee tendinitis allows Britain's Andy Murray and history-chasing five-time champ Roger Federer to hog the men's spotlight, while top-seeded Dinara Safina, the Williams sisters and the comebacking Maria Sharapova loom large for the ladies.
Read on for previews of The Closer, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Make It or Break It, Weeds and Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.
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Wimbledon — aka the classiest two weeks in tennis — begins Monday morning with opening round play in London. ESPN2 will have weekday coverage at 7 am/ET throughout the tournament. NBC adds coverage next weekend (June 28 and 29, noon/ET) and then adds weekday broadcasts at 10 am/ET starting Monday, June 30.Roger Federer, regrouping after being slaughtered by Rafael Nadal at the French Open two weeks ago, will be looking for his sixth straight title at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, which would be a modern-era record. The Swiss star is, of course, the No. 1 seed. He begins play on Centre Court, against Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, Monday at 1 pm London time (8 am/ET).Venus Williams is the defending women's champion, after completing an improbable run at the 2007 title as the No. 23 seed. This year she's seeded seventh, with Serbian Ana Ivanovic earning the top rank following her big win at the French Open. She begins her quest for her first Wimbledon title on...
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