Roger Federer is favored to defeat Andy Roddick
WIMBLEDON, England – As American Andy Roddick plotted and perspired over the years to get back to the place and the round where he once belonged, the opponent he visualized across the net in the Wimbledon final was always Roger Federer of Switzerland.
“It’s the only thing I’ve known in a Wimbledon final,” Roddick said. “It’s expected that it’s Roger. Pretty much, if you want to win a Slam, it’s got to go through him.”
Roddick was surprisingly measured, even mellow Friday evening after experiencing the high of defeating Andy Murray of Scotland at the All England Club in the semifinals.
“You spend the better part of three hours stressing out, high drama and the whole deal,” Roddick said. “I think afterward you’re just kind of trying to maybe calm down a little bit.”
Calm down and come up with a good plan, which is what will presumably be required if Roddick is finally to beat Federer on a big occasion. Federer comes into today’s Wimbledon final with an 18-2 lead over Roddick.
“It’s clear that it helps me to have this record against him,” Federer said after his practice Saturday. “But if I don’t win, it’s not going to help me. So I have to remain concentrated and, above all, not underestimate him, because things can go quickly.”
Federer beat Roddick in the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals.
Federer is seeking his 15th major title, which would snap a tie with American Pete Sampras for the most of all time.
Federer is seeking his sixth Wimbledon title and a victory in the final would vault him over Rafael Nadal of Spain for the No. 1 ranking in the world.
“Records are part of this great match right now,” Federer said, “so it’s obviously even more of an incentive to try really hard.”