Preview: Wimbledon men's final

Roger Federer

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Order of play, Sunday July 5
Centre Court, 2pm start
Andy Roddick (USA) V Roger Federer (SWI)

Betting
Federer 1-8 / Roddick 5-1

In the past, the Federer-Roddick match up has been…well, not close, to put it bluntly. Federer holds an 18-2 head-to-head record against the American, including three Grand Slam final victories, two of which came at Wimbledon.

But the Swiss, who would regain his world No.1 spot with victory in the final, faces a very different Andy Roddick to the one that was rolled over in straight sets back in 2005. The American looks to be in the best shape of his life, playing better tennis than he has at any other time in his career.

A year ago, he reached a crossroads following a third-round defeat to Janko Tipsarevic, where he openly questioned his ability to compete at the top of the game. Steeling himself to work his way back to the top, he recruited Larry Stefanki and looked at his game through fresh eyes. And the coach has equipped Roddick with the tactical nous and mentality of a top player – and there was no better example of this new Roddick than against Andy Murray. Roddick outhit, outmanoeuvred and outthought the British No.1 – and volleyed better than he ever has, bringing a whole new dimension to his game. And with a serve like that, you have to give him a puncher’s chance.

But Federer is bidding to cement his status as the best tennis player of all time, and Wimbledon has been his back yard for the past seven years, regardless of last year’s heartache. This will be Federer’s 20th Grand Slam final appearance, and Roddick’s 5th. And while history beckons with the prospect of a record 15th Slam on the line, Federer exorcised his real demons in Paris last month, and is playing with the freedom of his 2004-05 heyday.

There is no question Federer is in the driving seat going into the final, but the match may be closer than many people think.

Coaching editor Dave Sammel says

Sorry Murray and Roddick fans – the juggernaut of history making will not be stopped on Sunday. A-Rod will give it his all and it will be a good final with three or possibly four good sets of tennis, but in the end the FedExpress will toast another record, the ultimate one of 15 Grand Slams and seal his place as the target for future champions. Andy Murray should watch closely, as winning a Slam means taking calculated risks of aggression – and no one has done it better than Roger. AR did it on Friday to beat “the Brit” and will do so again in the final, but Roger will make a few big returns, a few key passes and win a few more of the telling points.