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Lot Essay
"Murray has been so consistent, it shows he cares so dearly about tennis his reaction, he'll win at least one grand slam. I think I played some of my best tennis in the last two sets.” (Roger Federer, The Telegraph, 2012)
After a majorless season in 2011, which included victories in Qatar, Basel, Paris and at the ATP Finals in London, Roger came back to winning form at Wimbledon in 2012. He advanced to the final courtesy of a 4-set victory over perennial rival Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and would face Andy Murray for a record equalling seventh title at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Murray was the first Briton since Bunny Austin in 1938 to reach the final. He came into the match having lost two of his previous three Grand Slam finals to Roger and was working with coach Ivan Lendl in a bid to end his major drought. The Briton took the first set 6-4 but was unable to convert break points in the second, allowing his opponent to level 7-5. Roger closed out the match in four sets, equalling Sampras’ record for Wimbledon wins and supplanting Novak Djokovic as the world number 1. However, Andy Murray gained revenge on his rival in the Olympics Final, also held at Wimbledon, with the Briton taking gold to Roger’s silver.
Roger’s seventh Wimbledon win ensured that he would break another of Sampras’ long-standing records. He had now been number 1 for a total of 287 weeks and counting, longer than the American’s cumulative stretch at the top. Roger would finish the season with six titles to his name and 17 Grand Slam victories.
After a majorless season in 2011, which included victories in Qatar, Basel, Paris and at the ATP Finals in London, Roger came back to winning form at Wimbledon in 2012. He advanced to the final courtesy of a 4-set victory over perennial rival Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and would face Andy Murray for a record equalling seventh title at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Murray was the first Briton since Bunny Austin in 1938 to reach the final. He came into the match having lost two of his previous three Grand Slam finals to Roger and was working with coach Ivan Lendl in a bid to end his major drought. The Briton took the first set 6-4 but was unable to convert break points in the second, allowing his opponent to level 7-5. Roger closed out the match in four sets, equalling Sampras’ record for Wimbledon wins and supplanting Novak Djokovic as the world number 1. However, Andy Murray gained revenge on his rival in the Olympics Final, also held at Wimbledon, with the Briton taking gold to Roger’s silver.
Roger’s seventh Wimbledon win ensured that he would break another of Sampras’ long-standing records. He had now been number 1 for a total of 287 weeks and counting, longer than the American’s cumulative stretch at the top. Roger would finish the season with six titles to his name and 17 Grand Slam victories.