via ATP World Tour
Roger Federer stands alone. The Swiss achieved Wimbledon immortality on Sunday, becoming the all-time titles leader at The Championships with a resounding 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Marin Cilic.
Federer notched a record eighth crown at the All England Club, surpassing Pete Sampras for solo first place on the all-time list. The Swiss added to his unprecedented Grand Slam titles haul, lifting a 19th trophy in total and second of the year, having prevailed at the Australian Open in January.
The World No. 5 will ascend two spots to No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday, capping a remarkable return to the Top 3 for the first time in nearly one year. The oldest man to win Wimbledon in the Open Era, the 35 year old added 2000 Emirates ATP Rankings points and £2,200,000 in prize money.
“It means the world to me to hold this trophy, particularly when I haven’t dropped a set,” said Federer on BBC TV after the match. “It’s magical, I can’t believe it yet. It’s too much, really. It’s disbelief that I can achieve such heights. I wasn’t sure if I’d be in a final again after last year, especially some tough losses to Novak [Djokovic] in 2014 and 2015. But I kept believing and if you believe you can go a long way in your life. Here I am with an eighth title, it’s fantastic.”
In claiming the title in straight sets, Federer became just the second player to reign at Wimbledon without dropping a set in the Open Era, with Bjorn Borg (1976). He also joins Borg and Rafael Nadal as the only men to race through a major tournament on multiple occasions. He previously did so a decade ago at the 2007 Australian Open.
