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Page last updated at 21:03 GMT, Sunday, 5 July 2009 22:03 UK

BBC pundits on gripping Wimbledon final

Tim Henman
By Tim Henman
Former British number one

Andy roddick and Roger Federer
Roger was living off all his experience and that is why he is such a great champion

The final between Andy Roddick and Roger Federer had everything.

They were absolutely two class acts out there on Centre Court.

The quality of serving from both players was fantastic throughout. You have to really feel for Andy though.

He gave that match absolutely everything and he will be so disappointed that he came up short in the end.

It is just so amazing. Roger is only 27 and is still seeing himself playing for a good number of years yet. Who knows what else he can achieve?

Boris Becker
By Boris Becker
Three-time Wimbledon champion

I don't think Federer would have come back if he lost that second set and gone two sets down.

We saw in the third and fourth set that Andy was still very much part of the game, and Roger was hanging on by his teeth.

He was living off all his experience and that is why he is such a great champion.

606: DEBATE
nisreenmiller

Roger actually played a lot less tennis on his way to the final, whereas Andy had to grind through some of his matches.

Andy had five sets against Lleyton Hewitt and then a tough four sets with Andy Murray. Eventually you pay the price.

During that final though, wherever he was, Federer just seemed to be always there.

Pete Sampras said Federer plays so effortlessly and it's true. And he just rarely drops sets. Physically he was still looking very fresh at the end. He was even sprinting up the stairs after the match.

And physically he could on go for another three or four years. More titles to come I think.

John Lloyd
By John Lloyd
Former British number one

That was quite magnificent from Roger, considering what he has gone through in the last six weeks.

He's had the pressure of winning the French Open and then coming here. You could see the emotion at the end - he was almost muted.

I thought he would have gone a little more berserk but he must have been exhausted. What an achievement though to break Pete Sampras' record of 14 major titles.

It has been quite a year for Roger. To win the French and now to break the record in front of all those champions. And to win the final against Andy and his serving ability was quite a thing to do.

Federer hails 'unbelievable' moment

Breaking Sampras' record was a massive amount of baggage for him. Winning the French made him relax. And then Pete walks in on Centre Court and Roger's suddenly thinking 'I'm about to beat his record'.

He didn't play his best tennis but a lot of that was down to Andy. Roger missed quite a few groundstrokes. And at last, Roger was made to look human.

The pressure he was under - in what he was about to achieve - made him more nervous, but he came through it all.

I felt so sorry for Andy. We all wanted to see history made but to see him put that amount of effort in, he deserves to win one day.

He played so well in the final and he really went after him, but Roger was just a little bit too good.

Greg Rusedski
By Greg Rusedski
Former British number one

Andy Roddick plays the best match of his life and he still loses.

You have to give credit to Roger - that is why he is the world's greatest player.

He had to dig so deep. Andy threw the kitchen sink at him and should have been leading by two sets.

It wasn't pretty but he got the job done. I really feel for Andy and I'm really surprised he didn't win the match.

Defeated Roddick hopes for Wimbledon title

After losing the tie-break in the second set Andy kept going. That is what has impressed me about Andy at these Championships - in the semis against Andy Murray and especially the final.

He could have easily hung his head down after losing the second set and then the third but he kept fighting and kept coming forward.

Usually fortune favours the brave but unfortunately Roger had too much. If Andy continues to play like this he will be one of the world's top four players.

All pundits were talking on BBC One's live Wimbledon coverage



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see also
Federer win breaks Sampras record
05 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Roddick rues 'worst' SW19 defeat
05 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Federer v Roddick as it happened
05 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Serena shocked to stay number two
04 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Williams sisters secure doubles
04 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Murray urged to change mentality
04 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Serena powers to Wimbledon title
04 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Nestor & Zimonjic retain doubles
04 Jul 09 |  Tennis
McEnroe and Henman on Murray
01 Jul 09 |  Tennis
Wimbledon: Live map
22 Jun 09 |  Tennis


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