Roger rules at SW19

Federer: Six of the best

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Roger Federer has beaten Andy Roddick in a five-set thriller to become arguably the greatest player of all time.

The No.2 seed clinched his sixth Wimbledon crown after beating the American No. 6 seed 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 16-14 and is now the out-right Grand Slam leader with 15 majors to his name.

Federer smashed down 50 aces and 107 winners in a classic encounter and the Swiss will now regain the number one status in the men's rankings.

Roddick won the toss and elected to open the serving in a final which included Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras looking on from the Royal box.

It was a historical day for Federer with the 27-year-old having the chance to return to the top of the men's game, as well as surpassing Sampras in the all-time Grand Slam standings.

The Swiss right-hander had been on cruise-control en route to the final, dropping just one set on the way, whereas his American opponent came on to Centre Court having played nearly 16 hours of tennis at SW19, including two brutal encounters against Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Murray.

Steal

Both men refused to budge on serve in the opening exchanges as the first set looked a dead cert to head into a tie-break.

That was until the 11th game when Roddick got out of jail before stealing the first set.

The American had to fight off four break points, which he managed to do largely due to Federer's narrowly stray forehands, rather than the sixth seed's own good play.

But the former US Open champion fully deserved his break-point opportunity in game 12 and he grasped his chance to re-write the script with both hands by forcing Federer into an error off an aggressive backhand.

The second set began like its predecessor with both competitors holding serve and, despite being taken to 30-30 in the 10th game, Federer ensured the match would go to at least one tie-break and the Swiss would eventually claim it in spectacular fashion.

If the breaker did not start well for the 27-year-old, then it looked a whole lot worse when the No.2 seed was staring down four set points at 6-2 and an impending Roddick serve.

But the now six-times Wimbledon champion turned the tables to earn a set point of his own after Roddick put a returnable backhand out of court.

And before the American could re-group it was a set apiece.

Momentum

47 minutes later and the 2009 title took a huge swing in Federer's favour after the soon-to-be World No.1 claimed another tie-break - but this time in easier fashion.

The score went identically to the second set at 5-2, but in Federer's favour, until Roddick responded with a forehand winner - however, the Swiss dashed the American's hopes of mounting a comeback, taking his third set point.

Even the staunchest of Roddick fans would have felt the Texan's hopes looked to be fading, but the man from Austin had other ideas and he sent the match into a decider with some gutsy tennis.

The 26-year-old snapped the Swiss' serve in the third game and came through two tricky service games to hold, giving the Centre Court crowd the fifth and final set they so obviously desired.

Decider

Just two games in and the final set had its first break point and it went Federer's way, but the Swiss was unable to convert his sixth chance to snatch Roddick's serve.

It was not long until the set surpassed the score-line with which Rafael Nadal secured his first Wimbledon crown over Federer last year and just a game after that total, Roddick churned out two break points, but Federer swiftly snuffed those chances out.

Indeed, it soon developed into a dog-fight of wills, but with the scores 14-15 and advantage Federer, the Swiss seized his moment when Roddick mis-hit a forehand long.