It was a significant blow for Federer, who was broken for just the second time in the entire tournament.
Nerveless Novak
Faced with two set points for Federer at 5-6 in the first set, Djokovic came up with a 122mph serve to save the first, then staved off the second to force a tie-break that he took in emphatic fashion. Tellingly, Federer had only beaten Djokovic once before when he lost the first set.
Tie-break thriller
In the longest Wimbledon final tie-break since 2000, Federer staged a brilliant rearguard action as he saved seven set points.
Producing blistering serves and thunderous winners from the baseline, he kept his hopes alive long enough to snatch the set when a perfectly placed return made it 11-10, giving him the chance to serve it out.
Momentum stealer
The Centre Court crowd, on Federer's side throughout, had raised the decibel count to ear-splitting levels and the sense was the Swiss could take control.
Yet it was Djokovic, displaying all his counter-punching skills, who wrestled back the momentum with a crucial break in the third game of the third set when he harried Federer into a mistimed forehand.
Federer damp squib
With Djokovic a break up at 3-2 in the third set, a light shower forced a 20-minute delay and it was Federer who seemed more affected when play resumed.
He meekly allowed Djokovic to close out the set and then surrendered his serve in the fifth game of the fourth set as the Serb surged to victory.
-AAP
