Fearsome Federer ©ProSport / T. Hindley

Records are meant to be broken, so affirmed Bjorn Borg as he watched Roger Federer equal his modern era run of five consecutive titles at Wimbledon after his five-set defeat of Rafael Nadal.

“Records are meant to be beaten in all of sport,” the great Swedish tennis star said. “To win five times in a row at Wimbledon is a very tough record to equal or to beat but there is always going to be some player coming up sooner or later to beat it.”

For the moment that player is the Swiss world number one and, on current showing, that should happen next year. The 51-year-old Borg, having returned to the scene of his greatest triumphs for only the second time since he retired in 1982, might well be back to see his record broken.

Federer’s claim to greatness became evident a few years ago but not many would have forecast it back in 2001, even though he inflicted a fourth round defeat over Pete Sampras, secured 7-5 in the fifth. Then it was just a matter of the Swiss player finally showing the talent everyone knew existed within him.

The victory, however, gave him the confidence he had been lacking and as such proved to be the turning point in his career. It took him a year or so but once the titles started to mount - one in 2001, three in 2002, eight in 2003, including his first at Wimbledon, then views began to change.

By the start of this year’s Championships, his total stood at 48, including 10 at grand slam level, four of them claimed at Wimbledon (2003 v Mark Philippoussis, 2004 & 2005, Andy Roddick and 2006 Rafael Nadal).

In addition, he arrived having topped the world rankings for a total of 179 weeks since February 2004, in itself another record, But it is equalling Borg’s record that is outstanding, achieved from just nine visits.

On grass he is the undisputed king, having now scored 34 successive victories at Wimbledon, although his overall unbeaten run on grass stretches to 54.

His record-equalling fifth singles title was an epic victory over the player most likely to succeed him, the King of Clay, Spain’s Rafael Nadal. Federer was extended this year to five sets, the first time he has been taken the distance in a Wimbledon final.

Always the gentleman, the likeable Swiss player virtually apologised to Borg for having matched his long-standing record.

Federer, who saved a series of break points early in the fifth set that could easily have cost him his fifth title, was clearly relieved at having come through what will undoubtedly go down as a classic encounter between the current top two players in the world.

Now Federer needs to remain motivated. He has surpassed many records already and the man Borg describes as “the complete player” needs targets to aim for. The next one is obviously to extend this run to six Wimbledon titles and then go for a seventh to match the number collected by Pete Sampras, another player who reigned for nearly a decade at these Championships.

And one shouldn’t put it past him. As Borg said. “Federer could win Wimbledon six, seven, eight times. He can play on any kind of surface, he is so complete. And if he continues the way he has been doing and stays away from injuries and still has the motivation, he will be the greatest player ever. I think the motivation is the key thing and he has the motivation to continue to play for another three or five years.”

That could well be bad news for the players, even ‘Rafa’, the one player who this year came close to derailing the Fed Express. But he has discovered, Centre Court remains Swiss property. And it looks like it will be that way for some years yet.

Written by Henry Wancke

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