Federer fires on all cylinders

Tennis/Wimbledon Championships: As a junior they couldn't control him. Roger Federer, who yesterday became the first Swiss player to win the men's Wimbledon title, was a loose cannon, a hothead, who chucked his racket and embarrassed his parents, writes Johnny Watterson in Wimbledon.

In his early years, the things he remembered about tennis tournaments were the long drives home after he'd shamed the family, his mother and father in the front of the car silent, seething at their son but knowing a dressing-down would be counter-productive.

Yesterday, few things raged as loudly as the quality of Federer's game, which took him to an emotional straight-sets win over Mark Philippoussis, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6. In doing so the now reticent 21-year-old also drove out the uncertainty that has, in recent years, riddled his widely-envied talent.

When he made the conscious decision to change from the foul-mouthed youth his relationship with tennis grew amicable and when Federer arrived at Wimbledon this year, he did so as a player who could beat Pete Sampras on grass, which he did two years ago, and win tour events. But doubts continued to surround his mental strength in Grand Slams, a factor that had been exacerbated when his coach and mentor Peter Carter was killed in a car accident in 2001.

The tragedy further nourished Federer's great ambiguity - a wonderful talent that couldn't win the Majors. This season, the world number five has not lost a match on grass and with the title now in his hands is rated, regardless of ranking, as the finest player in the world.

"People were always asking me because I'm an all-round player that can play on any surface, at which Grand Slam do I have the best chance?" said Federer. "I started saying maybe the Australian Open and the US Open. Now to win Wimbledon as a first Grand Slam . . . it's definitely the best one to win. It was the most important match in my life."

A short final, faster than the Williams's meeting, was a lesson in efficiency. It was a contest which, after a tight first-set tiebreak, never once left the Swiss player's grasp. With average rallies lasting less than three strokes, it could hardly be called classic entertainment. Such was Federer's precision and ability to blunt Philippoussis's main point of attack, his serve, not once did the Australian hold a break point. The closest he got was deuce.

Although the 14,000 squeezed into centre court, many of them Australian, warmed to Philippoussis, the flashing brand of tennis and the level Federer took his game to won them over. He hit 50 winners and conceded only nine unforced errors to his 6ft 4ins opponent.

Philippoussis had brought his own sorry saga to Wimbledon, which included three knee operations, a long spell in a wheelchair and a period where his father struggled with and conquered cancer. But Federer, having found his hitting zone against Andy Roddick in the semi-final, remained there. How many players can drive a backhand volley from the baseline in a Grand Slam final and make it? Well, Federer did in the third game of the second set.

A double fault and a missed forehand gave the first-set tiebreak to Federer. It was always going to be defined by a small turn of points. Clearly the Australian's first serve wasn't hurting while Federer's winners on his first serve were up to 90 per cent throughout the first two sets. A service break in the first and third games and an ace to win the second set and Federer was cruising.

"He played extremely well," said Philippoussis. "He definitely played better than me on the day. You know that first tiebreaker was huge to get the momentum going. I was up a mini break in that 4-3. I missed the forehand and double faulted. That cost me."

In the third set Philippoussis earned his only break point in the fourth game and for a while it appeared Federer's level had marginally dipped. He wasn't taking as much advantage of the Australian's serve and once again the contest was banged and walloped towards a tiebreak. Federer's dip transpired to be illusory and again he found the uncanny knack of returning the 130m.p.h. plus deliveries, which had been so punishing in the second set. Leading 6-1, Federer had five match points at his disposal. Miss those and he'd have been forgiven for slipping back to his snarling, youthful routine.

"I've always believed but then in the end when it happens, you don't think it is possible," said Federer. "Now it has happened I'm gonna have some time to look back and just enjoy this moment."

For Philippoussis, the disappointment of defeat was laced with pride. His unforeseen journey to the final has inspired him to fight on: "Goran (Ivanisevic) was in the final three times before he won it," said the 26-year-old. "I'm definitely going to hold that trophy up before I retire. A year ago I was struggling to get into tournaments. This is just the start."