Textos Mastigados: Federer claims record 15th grand slam title

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(CNN) — Roger Federer claimed [conquistou] his record 15th grand slam crown and sixth Wimbledon title as he beat Andy Roddick 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 in an epic final on Sunday.

Federer had been tied [empatado] for grand slam wins with Pete Sampras, who watched the spellbinding [encantador] clash [confronto, embate] on Centre Court.

federer The second seed [cabeça-de-chave número 2] was pushed to the very limits by his big-serving opponent [adversário e grande sacador], with the climax coming in a marathon 30-game fifth set.

Leading 15-14, Federer forced his first match point against a tiring [cansado] opponent who mishit [errou] a forehand [Bola batida com a palma da mão virada para frente. Destros têm seu forehand na direita, os canhotos na esquerda.] to see his own hopes of victory cruelly ended.

It was the first time that sixth seed Roddick had dropped his service [teve seu saque quebrado] in a match lasting four hours and 18 minutes.

The triumph will see Federer reclaim the world number one spot [posto, posição] from Rafael Nadal, who beat him in last year’s final but missed this year’s championships through injury [lesão, contusão].

Federer, who won his first French Open crown last month, told BBC Sport that he was aiming to win yet more grand slams.

“It’s been quite a career and quite a month for me. I don’t play tennis to break records and it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop playing. I hope to come here and play some good tennis in the future,” he said.

Roddick led by a set and had four set points in the second set tiebreaker before the Swiss maestro clawed his way back into the match [conseguiu uma recuperação impressionante] in the space of a few moments.

Federer saved three set points with gutsy [ousado; corajoso] play, but on the fourth Roddick had only to put away [concluir, finalizar; arrematar] a comfortable backhand volley [voleio de revés; golpe em que se bate na bola estando próximo à rede e com as costas da mão voltadas para frente], only to put it well wide [a bola foi muito para fora].

It proved a crucial mistake as Federer quickly won the next two points to seal the breaker 8-6 and level at a set all [empatar em 1 set a 1].

With both men dominant on their own service, the third set also went to a tiebreak and this time it was Federer who made the running [saiu na frente], claiming three set points.

Roddick saved two on his own service, but Federer duly [devidamente; na hora certa] closed out the set on the third.

But the American, who had broken Federer [havia quebrado o saque de Federer] in the 12th game to claim the opening set, repeated the feat [feito] in the fourth game of the fourth as he forced him to net a volley [jogar na rede um voleio].

roddick Secure on his own service, Roddick had no trouble in holding to claim the set 6-3 and make sure the final went the full distance [ser disputada em 5 sets].

Both men were again dominant on their serve in the fifth set and it became a question of who would blink [piscar] first.

Federer had a break point in the fourth game, while Roddick, who had put out [havia eliminado] home hope [a esperança inglesa] Andy Murray in the semifinals, set up two break points at 8-8.

But Federer decisively saved them both as the marathon headed towards its thrilling [empolgante] climax.

Sampras, who had flown in from California especially for the final, believes Federer is the greatest player in history.

“I think you have to give it to him [devemos reconhecer seu mérito],” said the 14-time grand slam winner.

“The critics say (Rod) Laver, and (Rafael) Nadal’s beaten him a few times in majors.

“But he’s won all the majors, he’s won 15 now, he’s going to win a few more. In my book [na minha opinião] he is (the greatest).”

In the final action of the Wimbledon fortnight [quinzena], Mark Knowles and Anna-Lena Groenefeld paired up to win the mixed doubles final as they beat top seeds Leander Paes and Cara Black, 7-5, 6-3.