LONDON, July 8 (IANS): Roger Federer came back from a set down to record a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Andy Murray Sunday for his seventh Wimbledon title and 17th career Grand Slam.
It was Federer's first Grand Slam in two-and-a-half years. The last title the Swiss master won was the 2010 Australian Open, with the Briton also his victim in that match.
It was Murray's first Wimbledon final, and in taking a set he came the closest he has ever come to clinching a slam, suffering straight-sets defeats in his three other finals, in Australia and the US.
On championship point, Federer watched a Murray cross-court sail wide, falling to his knees before quickly regaining his composure, returning to his chair and wiping his brow.
Murray had the partisan centre court crowd in early ecstasy, breaking a rusty Federer in the first game and serving immaculately throughout.
Federer netted with uncharacteristic sloppiness to hand the Scot a break to go 5-4 up, and Murray consolidated without difficulty, an ace the final shot of the set.
The second was a story of missed chances for Murray, who squandered three break points in two early games to hand the initiative to his more experienced opponent.
Federer moved up a gear to see out the set, breaking at 6-5 with the deftest of net shots.
The players were interrupted at 1-1 in the third as the heavens opened, with play resuming 40 minutes later after the roof was closed and the court dried out.
Murray could not capitalise on the break to restore his authority, as Federer's supremacy showed no signs of abating.
The Briton netted a backhand at full stretch to give Federer one break, then went long the next game to put the Swiss player out of sight for the set.
Federer served it out 6-3.
The players sparred to 2-2 in the fourth, though it all seemed to take much more out of Murray than it did out of Federer.
Murray tried to impose himself in the fifth game, rushing into the net behind a baseline shot, but Federer swatted it back across Murray's path to secure a break.
Federer consolidated as Murray tensed up, and it went with serve to 5-3.
The Scot was made to work hard to hold, but he was batting as much with himself as with his opponent, netting at game point before serving an ace to give himself another shot.
Serving for the title, Federer, inevitably, kept his cool.
An ace gave him two championship points. Murray saved the first but hit a forehand crosscourt wide to hand Federer the match.
