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Roger Federer races to Wimbledon milestone
His eighth Wimbledon win makes him the most decorated player in the open era
Roger Federer was at his ruthless best as he crushed a tearful Marin Cilic to claim an historic eighth Wimbledon title.
Federer showed no mercy against his out-of-sorts opponent as he raced to a 6-3 6-1 6-4 victory on Centre Court.
In the process, he eclipsed Pete Sampras and William Renshaw as the most decorated player in men's singles history at Wimbledon - and also replaced Arthur Ashe as the oldest winner in the open era at just a month before his 36th birthday.
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Cilic began the contest brightly but crumpled after being broken in the fifth game of the first set and twice had to call the trainer due to a foot problem.
Federer took full advantage of the Croat's vulnerability in both mind and body as he claimed a 19th Grand Slam title before also shedding a tear as the enormity of what he had achieved sunk in.
The Swiss said: "I guess it is disbelief that I can achieve such heights. I was not sure if I was ever going to be here again in another final after last year. It is magical really."
A much closer contest looked on the cards in the early stages of the first set as Federer was forced to save a break point in his second service game.
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That proved a turning point, however, as Federer won seven of the next eight games to claim the first set at a canter and open up a 3-0 lead in the second.
Cilic was clearly distressed as he called the trainer for the first time and then had a medical time-out for treatment to his left foot having conceded the second set 6-1.
Federer was made to work harder in the third set as Cilic rallied but with the Croat's movement clearly restricted and his serve – his most potent weapon en route to the final – failing him the Swiss was able to wrap up what had been an anti-climactic final in just one hour and 41 minutes.
"It was a memorable milestone for Roger Federer but it was not a memorable final," says Simon Briggs of the Daily Telegraph. "What we will remember is the despair of Marin Cilic, who came in carrying a damaged left foot and then seemed to accentuate the problem when he slipped and fell in the fifth game of the match."
Statistics cannot convey genius of Federer at Wimbledon
15 July
Only the towering figure of Marin Cilic stands in the way of Roger Federer writing another chapter in the Wimbledon record books tomorrow.
Federer booked his place in his 11th final by seeing off Tomas Berdych yesterday and if he repeats the feat against Cilic he will be crowned champion for the eighth time – eclipsing Pete Sampras and William Renshaw.
Few who have witnessed the manner in which the Swiss has moved serenely through the rounds at the All England Club over the last fortnight would bet against him landing a 19th Grand Slam title.
Berdych was certainly no match for him as Federer beat the Czech for the eighth consecutive match, maintaining his record of not having lost a set so far in the tournament as he won 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
"Federer will be playing in his 29th Grand Slam final on Sunday, which is seven more than any other man has contested, while his 11th Wimbledon singles final will take him four clear of any other man," states Paul Newman of The Independent.
"The win over Berdych was his 90th at Wimbledon, which is a record for the Open era and 32 more than any other active player. However, no statistic can convey the brilliance with which Federer is rewriting the history books just a month short of his 36th birthday."
Cilic will have to come up with something special to spoil Federer's big day but the Croat at least knows what it takes to win a Grand Slam having triumphed at the US Open three years ago.
The world number six has been tipped to achieve great things for some time now and showed his class and temperament by fighting back from a set down against Sam Querrey to win 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-5.
“For the past three years Marin Cilic has been the answer to the question: who is the only man outside of the 'big five' to win a Grand Slam?” Says The Guardian. "Now, having reached his first Wimbledon final, he has an opportunity to double his tally. With his huge serve and booming groundstrokes, it has always been a bit of a mystery as to why he has not been in the latter stages of the four Grand Slam events more often."
While Federer will start tomorrow's final as red-hot favourite Paul Hayward of the Daily Telegraph says Cilic will be no pushover .
"Cilic is a threat to him. He is the 2014 US Open champion and will probably harass him more than Berdych was able to. So this final is no formality, however much Centre Court would like it to be."
