Novak Djokovic showed why he is the best player in the world bar none at the moment with an astounding performance in the Wimbledon 2015 final against the man who has owned the Centre Court at the All England Club for such a long time – Roger Federer.
It always takes something special to beat Federer at Wimbledon, and Djokovic provided it, with his unrelenting tennis proving to be too tough for Federer to handle.
"First of all I have to say, it's always a great privilege to play Roger," Djokovic, with the famous trophy in his hand, said at the presentation ceremony after beating the great man 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (10-12), 6-4, 6-3 in the final.
"He has done so much for our sport, he is definitely somebody players of my generation were looking up to him and it is a great honour to play him.
"I was aware Roger was always going to play like he always plays -- at his best. When it matters most, he makes pushes you to the limit, work very hard and he is not going to hand you the match.
"For this particular match, you work so hard, you envision yourself being in Centre Court and holding this trophy, and it is a great feeling."
This is Djokovic's ninth Grand Slam title in all and his third Wimbledon crown, none won with more conviction than this one on Sunday, with a rip of a forehand clinching this most famous of Grand Slams. Afterwards, Djokovic did something he has done every single time after winning the title on Centre Court – have a taste of some of that grass he just played some majestic tennis on.
"It tastes very good this year, I don't know what the grounds people have done, but it is very good," Djokovic said in jest after being asked why he keeps eating a bit of grass after every title victory.
"Obviously it is something of a tradition now, when you are a kid you dream of something, and this is it."
For Federer, it is another Grand Slam title that has slipped out of his grasp. He has been stuck on those seven Wimbledon and 17 Grand Slam titles for a while now – not too shabby for mere mortals, but then Federer is not a mortal is he – but in this final on Sunday, he was definitely second best.
"I think Novak played, not only great today, but the whole two weeks, plus the whole year, plus last year, plus the whole year before that, so, Novak you deserve this," Federer, who held himself together pretty well this time at the presentation ceremony, said.
"I am still very hungry and motivated to be playing, I am still up for it.
"It's been an absolute privilege and an honour to play at Centre Court, in the end I would have liked to win, but at the end I still enjoyed myself."
