Federer - Roddick: A Running Diary

I woke up this morning and decided to turn on the Wimbledon final. History was in the air after all; Federer, with a win, would break the record for most Grand Slam wins held by Pete Sampras. Furthermore, he was going against American Andy Roddick, who I've always appreciated, even though it seems he's always falling just short. After watching the 1st set, culminating in Roddick breaking Federer's serve to win the 1st set, I decided to do a running diary of the men's final. We join the action in the second set.

9:52 - Roddick just finished off the first set following Federer missing on a few challenges. Thus far every break seems to be going Andy's way, and coming out of the first set he is 1/1 on break points while Federer was 0/4. Roddick just took down the first game of the second set in pretty convincing fashion.

9:54 - Federer has come right back and is up 40 - 0 in the second game. Pistol Pete is in the crowd, along with a number of other tennis legends. How amazing is it that it has only taken Federer, what, seven years to be on the verge of passing Sampras? With Federer winning the French open this year I don't think there is any doubt he's surpassed Pete.

9:57 - Roddick challenges and loses, putting him down 15-30 in the 3rd game. A typical bullet of a serve evens it up. I can't begin to fathom returning a serve from Federer, let alone Roddick. He has hit a serve as high as 138 MPH today (that I've seen), and the announcers have informed us that his tournament high was around 143 MPH. Roddick comes back to take the 3rd game. 2-1 Roddick in the second set.

9:59 - Roddick just doesn't look comfortable when Federer is on serve. That's why it was even more shocking when he broke Rodger's serve in the first set to take the set. Federer is up 40-0 again. He may not serve it as fast as Roddick, but he's more effective. Watching Roddick is like watching a pitching prospect who came up firing a 100MPH fastball but didn't have anything else to go with it. Federer is like Greg Maddux: he can hit all the spots with all the speeds he needs. The difference is that this year Roddick appears to have learned a bit of a changeup, and has some confidence in it.

10:03 - So far there has been 2 double faults by Roddick to one by Federer. When Roddick gets his 1st serve in, even if it is right at Rodger, it has been almost impossible to return. Roddick takes the game to go up 3-2 in the second set.

10:05 - Federer is having a tough time anytime that Rodger is on serve. He finds himself down 30-15, and the only reason it isn't 40-0 is because Federer missed a shot he normally would drop in. Federer is so good at changing up speeds and shots. We're at 3-3 now, back to Roddick's serve.

10:07 - I can't express how shocking it was to find out Steve McNair was shot and killed yesterday. He would have been way down on the list of NFL players from my lifetime who I felt were going to be shot and killed. Not as unlikely as Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but much less likely than any number of others. How does Steve McNair end up being killed while people like "Pacman" Jones keep being idiots and are alive? I'm afraid we're going to find out how as the details come out, and we're probably not going to like it. Thoughts and prayers to McNair's loved ones. Roddick holds serve; 4-3 in the second set.

10:10 - NBC comes back from commercial showing us that Andy has lost to Federer more than any other player has: 18 times. This is definitely a Yankees - Red Sox matchup pre-2004. The commentators do point out that Roddick beat Federer last year in Miami, only the second time he beat the Swede. Still, that was not on the big stage, and Wimbledon is the biggest stage of them all. Quite a mountain for Andy to climb.

10:12 - Roddick is back on serve with the set tied at 4-4. A-Rod just keeps firing those unhittable first serves in, and is up 40-0. Now 40-15, after a nasty return from Federer. The ball has more movement coming off his racket than Randy Johnson's slider did in the late 90s. Still, Roddick takes the game.

10:15 - I would totally get an I-Phone if they were on the Verizon network. There's no doubt about it. But AT&T isn't as good a service, and I'm not going to change service just for a phone to replace my IPod. Roddick misses on a challenge with Federer on serve. Pete Sampras and wife are on screen. He looks very cool and in control. Any one else feel like he could come on down and play a bit? Federer just double faulted to make it 30-30, but came right back making Roddick look like an amature. Federer can almost literally place the ball wherever he wants. Long volley at 40-30, and Federer beats Roddick when Andy decides to follow him to the net. 5-5 here in the second set. 23 strokes on that serve. Wow.

10:19 - Roddick comes out in the next game and gets up 30-0. That will be huge for Andy: can he come right back after losing long volleys and close games? Roddick declines to challenge a close call on 30-0; it's now 30-15

10:21 - And now 40-15. Roddick's 1st serve is at 79%, and he overpowers Federer again to go up 6-5 in the second set. Back to commercials ... how is the world a better place since viagra first burst onto the national advertising scene? Now I have to listen to Cialis commercials, I have to wonder why Cialis chooses to advertise itself by showing a couple sitting outside in his and her bathtubs, and I just get confused about where it is that one can go to find a his and her bathtub set up.

10:23 - See, these are the things I need to know: in Wimbledon history the highest winning percentages are held by, in order, Borg, Federer and Sampras. Federer is not going to let Andy break him here: up 40-0 before you know it. You get the sense that Andy surprised him in the first set when it was 6-5, and he's not going to allow that to happen again. Roddick again chooses not to challenge a close call, saving it for the tie-break. 6-6.

10:25 - Roddick fires one in at 143 to take the first tie break point. Now Federer gets two serves: Federer goes long for an unforced error, 2-0 Roddick. Federer gets a second serve in that Roddick can't return. 2-1 in the tie break.

10:26 - Roddick fires in and is up 3-1. McEnroe tells us "Federer isn't quite sure what to do here." I don't know about all that, but after Federer challenges and loses on a Roddick ace, he is down 4-1. McEnroe tells us about Roddick "it sure seems like his day at the moment." Thank goodness McEnroe isn't doing color for a no-hitter; he might be telling us there is a no-hitter going in the second inning. Federer on serve, and now down 5-1.

10:28 - Federer salvages a point to make it 5-2, but now Roddick has two serves. Two points away from being up 2 sets to none. Roddick comes to the net and finally lays a nice ball in at net to go up 6-2. Federer does look a bit down. Federer finally holds when he needs to; 6-3 Roddick, serve back to Federer. He needs both serves here. He makes it 6-4 now.

10:30 - Roddick doesn't even try to return Federer there: 6-5. The pressure is now squarely on Roddick. Hard to believe how quick things shift. Roddick's return is long, and now it is 6-6. Four straight set point saves by Federer. If Roddick doesn't win this thing he is going to have nightmares about the past five minutes.

10:32 - Roddick on serve for the second time. Federer takes the point after what McEnroe characterizes as "another complete miss hit by Roddick. Set point for Federer at 7-6. Roddick goes long, and he takes the second set. Uh-oh Andy...

10:36 - We are informed that Roddick "went for a bathroom break" which, evidently, is what tennis pros do when the lose a set like Roddick just did. See, that is the kind of information I need. Thank you John McEnroe!

10:37 - Roddick was in total control, Federer looked a bit down ... and now everything has changed. We get to see if he has enough spine to get through this. The crowd also seems to be confused: one minute they are loud for Roddick, the next they are screaming for Federer. It's like they can't decide if they want to see Roddick pull through or if they want to see history. For me, it would be a no-brainer: you always want to see history if you're live. On TV? I'm kinda pulling for Roddick, which actually surprises me, since I tend to appreciate greatness. I blame Michael Jordan for that.

10:40 - McEnroe tells us Andy needs to "stay close, weather the storm, get the cobwebs out of his head." I think he needs to get someone to run onto the court and kneecap Federer. But then again we have different life experiences. I agree with Johnny Mac that the best thing for Roddick to do is view this as a best of 3 set now, and try to put the previous two sets into the past. Both Federer and Roddick hold on their first serves; we are at 1-1 in the 3rd set.

10:42 - Roddick doesn't look like he can do anything when Federer is on serve. It seems like everytime I look up Federer is ahead 40-0 on his serve. That's not a good sign.

10:45 - Roddick is on serve down 2-1. I love how seemingly arbitrary tennis' scoring system is. I'm sure there is a perfectly logical and historical explanation for it, but I don't want to know. I just like that we go 15-30-40-AD in the games and 1-7 in the sets, and 1-7 in the tie breaks. And that 0 is love. I love everything about it, and the fact that it makes little to no sense only adds to the aura. Seriously, find a 5th grader on the playground and try to see if this scoring system makes any sense to them. I bet they'll tell you no.

10:47 - Federer just faked Roddick out of his shorts. Roddick goes one way in a full-on sprint, and Federer puts the ball in the complete opposite part of the court. It has to suck to be one of the ten best tennis players in the world, like Roddick is, and still have someone out there who can make you look like a complete fool. I imagine that's what Clyde Drexler must have felt like when going against Michael Jordan.

10:49 - I am excited for Cris Collinsworth being the new color guy for Sunday Night Football. God bless John Madden, but he was so far past his prime there really isn't a good sports analogy to describe it. A little new blood should help, and Collinsworth is one of the best. You know NBC is excited when they are playing it up in commercials in early July.

10:51 - Federer went from down 30-0 to a 30-30 tie here on Roddick's serve. Big point here for Roddick; he HAS to hold his serve here. And instead, he goes with an unforced error long and it's 30-40, break point. Roddick serves ... Federer can't return on the serve right to him. 40-40. Roddick serves ... long. Here's the 2nd serve ... Roddick comes to the net and doesn't get burned. AD Roddick. Federer puts on an incredible display of touch, speed, and court awareness to hold on and bring it back to duece. Roddick misses on his 1st serve, here comes number two ... again, Andy gets the point at the net as Federer goes long. Roddick freezes Federer to hold on, and Federer again misses out on a break point. 3-3.

10:55 - I'm not a tennis player, so I don't know, but it must be something incredible to go from the French Open to Wimbledon in the same month and do well at both. Clay and grass must just be totally different; we know they are because Sampras could never win the French. Federer just totally dominates Roddick to go up 4-3.

10:59 - During the next week I'm going to attempt to get the next section of my "NBA's 50 greatest" up, as well as a music review and a movie review. If there's time, perhaps even another book. The following week I'll be on vacation, but I may get out a post on the National's ball park and my Washington DC experience as I'll be traveling to DC to see the Cubs and the Nationals play. Thank God that Aramis Ramirez will be back shortly. Roddick holds serve; 4-4 in the 3rd.

11:01 - These two appear to be very evenly matched, but over the long haul Federer's talent coupled with the history of Roddick losing to him has got to swing things heavily his way. I can't imagine how hard it is right now for Roddick not to be thinking to himself "you should be up two sets to none." Federer goes right at Roddick and is up 5-4. Also, Federer today broke the record for most finals apearances in Grand Slams with his 20th.

11:04 - Roddick still has plenty of heat on his serve, which is a good thing a little more than halfway through the match. Roddick on serve goes long for an unforced error, making it 30-15. Now it is 30-30, and once again Federer is creeping in for a potential break opportunity. Federer misses, 40-30 Roddick. Here comes the serve from Andy ... out. And so on to the 2nd serve ... Roddick holds. Five all in the 3rd set.

11:06 - Federer has 9 unforced forehand errors to only 5 from Roddick. Roddick challenges the 2nd serve by Federer down 15-0. Just in, and the call stands. Federer is just eating Roddick up when he is on serve. 40-0 again. An ace finishes it, and moves us to 6-5.

11:08 - This article, from the New York Times, is the most hopeful piece of news we've seen from Iran in at least a fortnight. In practice, we continue to see the challenge to Khameini's power amp up while we wait for the other shoe to drop. That Rafsanjani is still relatively quite says that he is still considering his options.

11:10 - Doing this running diary on the heels of my epic 3,000 plus word treatise on the GOP runs the risk that you're going to miss out on my views on the Republican party, so I'll link to it again here. Roddick is on serve here, down 6-5, and now down 15-30. Roddick comes right back with a "big bomb" according to McEnroe, which means he fired in a fastball for an ace. Roddick then takes the next point and is up 40-30. Roddick holds on, and into the tiebreak we go again. At Wimbledon since 2003 Federer is 29-4 in tiebreaks. 11-3 head to head against Roddick in tiebreaks. Bad signs for Roddick, particularly since he just blew one.

11:13 - Federer challenges a serve here, and it was out. 2nd serve, Roddick goes long, 1-0 Federer. Roddick to serve, Federer now goes long, and it's one all. Roddick can't take the second serve, however, and is down 2-1 with Federer serving the next two. Now 3-1 after Federer again makes Roddick go one way while he hits it the other.

11:16 - Federer holds again, and now it's 4-1 Federer. I don't suspect we'll see Rodger blow this lead the way Roddick did in the 2nd set. Roddick, on serve, goes down 5-1. "It doesn't take long to get on the defensive if you're playing Federer" McEnroe says. Roddick's serve: 1st serve out, second serve leads to a winner, and a 5-2 Federer lead with 2 serves upcoming from the Swede. Roddick comes right back and takes the next serve, making it 5-3 Federer.

11:18 - "That was big" McEnroe says. Aren't they all big at this point John? Roddick comes to the net and Federer makes him pay. 6-3, Roddick with two serves. Federer has three set points here. Federer will challenge Roddick's return to try to win on a review ... and he's way off. 6-4. Here comes another Roddick serve, and Federer can't return it, so it's 6-5 and Federer has the serve to win it. Federer kills the serve, then puts him away on the return. Federer up two sets to one.

11:21 - If Andy needed a bathroom break after the second set he must need to scamper off to the bar now. He played the 3rd set about as well as you can and it never felt like he was close to winning. This has the feel of a 3 sets to 1 win for Federer. Roddick made it interesting early, but he's in a real tough spot right now.

11:22 - More annoying: the progressive commercials or the Geico commercials? It really is a toss up for me. Roddick serving to start the 4th set. Don't get me wrong, Federer is trying when Roddick serves, but it seems he is more than comfortable just holding serve and waiting for the tiebreak so Roddick will melt down. 30-30 here on Roddick's serve. Federer goes long after a 10 shot or so volley, and Roddick holds serve.

11:26 - Federer fires an ace in to start off his serve, then goes long next: 15-15. Federer then double faults to put Roddick up 15-30. Federer comes back to even it up at 30-30. The only break thus far has been Roddick's break of Federer at the end of the 1st set. Roddick blows it and falls behind 40-30; he tried to put too much spin on it and the ball went wide. Roddick goes long, Federer holds serve.

11:29 - Roddick is up 30-0 now; don't you just love how long a tennis match is? It's so relaxing, just like watching the final 18 of a golf major. Roddick goes up 40-0, then puts the point away. 2-1 Roddick in the 2nd.

11:31 - If you're like me you enjoy reading. If you're really like me, you like reading about sports. And if you and I have pretty similar tastes and you like the NFL, you'll enjoy reading Michael Lombardi's work for the National Football Post. Here is his post today, as he shares "32 thoughts for 32 teams." Lombardi has worked in NFL front offices (Walsh's 49ers and Davis' Raiders) and brings a good perspective.

11:34 - Roddick now has Federer down 15-40 on serve, and here comes a huge opportunity for Roddick. Federer's first serve is in for an ace; 30-40. His next first serve is out, and the second serve ends up with Roddick breaking Federer for the second time! He's now up 3-1 in the 4th set. Maybe there is life in him yet. You've got to love the emotion that Roddick shows; seriously, how can you not be rooting for him at this point?

11:35 - Bill Simmons argues that for a "cursed" franchise to overcome it must go to the brink. His prime example, being a Red Sox fan, is the way the Sox had to be down 3-0 to the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, only to come back and win. Maybe that will hold true for Roddick here, as he would have folded in the past after blowing the 2nd set tie break. Yet, here we find him serving at 30-30, up 3-1 in the 4th set. He needs to hold; Federer needs to break him.

11:38 - Roddick is up 40-30, and is on his second serve. Now, at duece, Roddick out finesses Federer, giving him the advantage. Roddick holds his serve, and is up 4-1 in the 4th set. Impressive turn of events; let's see if he can keep it up.

11:41 - Federer has come out firing with ace after ace ... he now has 26 aces, about 8 more than Roddick. The wind has picked up at Centre court, and Roddick seems to have the crowd behind him now. Federer holds serve, taking us to 4-2.

11:43 - We have a Russell Crowe sighting! Given how poor his movies have been, even by critical standards, lately I was begining to be concerned he had actually begun "fighting round the world" on a tugboat. Glad to see he's still around.

11:44 - 30-15 Roddick on serve. Average 1st serve is 128 for Roddick with a high serve of 143. Roddick just double faulted, making it 30-30. He can't afford to give this one back to Federer. He goes long with a 3rd straight serve ... finally gets one in, and after a LONG 21 stroke set he goes up 40-30. McEnroe says "it looks like Federer is the one who's worn down" and Roddick follows it up by firing in an ace. 5-2 Roddick.

11:47 - After watching about 10 Rolex commercials featuring Federer is there any doubt they already have a "congratulations Rodger Federer on your record setting victory" commercial. How upset will they be if he doesn't win?

11:48 - Roddick is down, and having to walk it off as he fell funny trying to return Federer's volley. He's back in it down 30-0, then got a winner (30-15) and continued to limp. Looks like he may have pulled his hamstring. Federer takes the game, but that's not the story of this particular game: how hurt is Roddick? Up 5-3 in this fourth set, he just needs to win so he can take a break, but Federer smells blood.

11:50 - 0-15, Roddick on serve. Now 0-30 with Roddick in a bit of trouble. He comes back to get the next point, but you can tell he's not right. Andy went from flying everywhere on the court to being very calculated in his moves. Still, Federer goes long again, and we are at 30-30.

11:52 - Roddick stretches out, makes the shot, and is up 40-30 for set point. "One serve away" McEnroe reminds us. Roddick holds, and how he gets a chance to get the leg checked out perhaps. Fifth set here we come. I can't stop thinking that Roddick should have just won the championship, and that you don't let champions like Federer have a second life. It's like missing the par put on 18 to win the Masters, and instead having to go into a playoff with Tiger. That's not where you want to be.

11:55 - Federer is first to serve in the fifth set. McEnrore points out that neight player has great five set records, although Federer is 3-1 this year and Roddick 1-0. Can Federer break Roddick's serve? Federer takes the first game, and is up 1-0. Roddick on serve.

11:57 - No more talk about his leg, so it must be alright, or he's just got a good poker face. Federer goes long, giving Roddick a 15-0 lead in the second game. Roddick is just trying to kill the serve. 15-15 as Roddick goes long. To this point Federer hasn't been tested in a long match like this, while Roddick has here at Wimbledon. I doubt that's going to make much of a difference however; Federer has been here before.

11:59 - This is the first time Roddick has taken Federer to a fifth set in his career. Roddick slams his return into the net, making it 30-30 in the game, as he tries to hold on to his serve. Federer hits an amazing shot to put it at 30-40 and break point. Federer is 0-5 on break points thus far ... now 0-6. Roddick fires an ace to get the advantage. He just hit 138 here in the fifth set. Incredible. He takes the game. I can't get over how hard he is still hitting the ball. It's like a pitcher hitting 98 in the ninth inning; it just doesn't happen often.

12:02 - This match has been something else. Roddick starts off with the unlikely break of Federer's serve to avoid a tiebreak, then blows a tiebreak in the second set. After a third set which went the way almost all of Federer-Roddick's have he broke Federer again in the fourth set. And here we are in the fifth, waiting for one of these men to misstep. Federer goes to the official review, and wins one. Roddick is in disbelief. McEnroe tells us that the review system will be discussed by the Wimbledon people because "something seems to be a little off." I've got to give it to Johnny, he is trying really hard to avoid coming right out and saying "I hope Andy wins." It's pretty obvious he is pulling for Roddick, but he's not exactly throwing it in our face.

12:05 - Roddick on serve again, down 1 game to 2. McEnroe tells us that "Federer still doesn't know what to do" with Roddick's serve. He certainly didn't there; Roddick fire four straight in to even it up 2-2.

12:07 - We are told that "there's no final set tie break at Wimbledon." You have to break your opponent's serve here, which, we are reminded again, is what Federer could not do last year against Nadal. I'm just going to come out and say it: it's nice not to have to listen to Nadal scream after every swing like he's the third Williams sister. Seriously, are we sure he should be playing for the Men's championship? Has it ever been easier to root against the primary rival of an all time great? Nadal makes Phil Mickleson look like a man.

12:10 - Roddick on serve, three hours into this championship match. How are these guys not cramping up? I'm cramping up and I've been sitting in a recliner for this entire match. Roddick fires in an ace, going up 40-15. McEnroe postulates that Federer is not picking up Roddick's serve as well as he has in the past. I think you're right, John, mostly because he hasn't broken him yet. 40-30 now. Roddick wants to put this point away, and does so by going right at Federer, a plan which Federer has yet to be able to counter.

12:12 - Federer on serve, down love fifteen. Now it's 15 all, and Federer kills Roddick on a serve. 30-15, then an ace makes it 40-15. 32 aces for Federer, then another ace (33) to go up on Roddick.

12:15 - Things you might have missed if you don't watch Sports Center for a living: the Giants Tim Lincecum has run his scoreless innings streak to 23, and the agent for David Lee says a dozen teams are interested in him. Roddick on serve, and he is deadly when he goes right at Federer. Roddick holds serve again, and we are at 4-4 in this final set. Federer almost got hit by a Roddick serve in that last game. He needs to keep going right at him.

12:18 - Another ace by Federer. He may not hit it as hard as A-Rod, but he locates it so much better. Yet another ace puts the Swede up 40-0 in this game. Federer misses by a ton on that shot, almost putting it into the crowd. 40-15, followed by another ace (36 on the game) by Federer.

12:20 - Roddick on serve, down 4-5. Roddick is serving second, which means if he's broken he's done, while if he breaks Federer the Swede gets a rebuttal. Roddick just fired his 22nd Ace, but as our announcers just pointed out, Aces don't tell the whole story. Roddick just won that game without giving up anything.

12:23 - 5-5, fifth set, Federer on serve, and after I blinked he was up fourty love. Federer is trying not to open the door at all for Roddick. 40-15 now. Another ace, another game to Federer. 6-5 in favor of the Swede, A-Rod to serve.

12:26 - David Lee's agent says "all the elite teams are working hard to get him." Really? You're telling me that the Lakers are working hard to get him? The Spurs? The Celtics? I can see a few decent teams working for him, but unless he's going to play for less than the mid-level exception I don't think he's getting serious interest from "elite teams."

12:27 - Roddick goes to the net and Federer beats him again. I haven't seen the numbers, but I don't feel like going to the net has been beneficial for Roddick. 15-15, and Federer can't return the serve. 30-15. The crowd lets out a bunch of "lets go Andys." He's up 40-15. Impressive return gives him the game. 6 all in the fifth set. "Roddick's even impressing himself" McEnroe tells us.

12:30 - Here comes Federer's serve. His seventh straight Wimbledon final; he's 18-2 against Roddick. And yet here he is, tied with Roddick six all in the fifth. 30-15 in this particular game, and the crowd is getting antsy. Roddick comes up on the net and barely makes the shot over the net to even it up at 30 all. You can tell how much Roddick wants this. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. 40-30 now. Federer serves ... out. Second serve ... Roddick returns it into the net. 7-6 Federer.

12:32 - Here comes Roddick on serve. Federer challenges and is denied. 15-0. Federer takes the second point, and it's 15-15. Roddick walks that one off for a bit. Federer is long again returning Roddicks volley off of the third serve. "I can't believe Federer can miss a ball by that much" McEnroe says. He misses again, moving this game to 40-15 Roddick. Roddick goes long and it is now 40-30. Roddick needs to fire one right at Federer. Instead, he tries to get too fancy and misses. His second serve is good enough, though, and we are at 7-7.

12:35 - Now Federer has the serve, wins the first and loses the second. 15-15. What a shot by Federer. Roddick hit a high lob, and Federer returned it with shot that I saw curve. 40-15 now, and Federer is about to put the pressure back on Roddick.

12:38 - Another Federer ace, and we go to Roddick's serve again. This article from Jeff Pearlman goes into the tough choice that Jason Kidd is facing regarding winning (staying in Dallas) and being close to his family (going to New York). In other news, Roddick is up 30-0 on his serve. Now 30-15. Federer goes long returning A-Rod's serve: 40-15. Roddick serves ... a couple of impressive returns by each man end when Roddick gets Federer going one way, and hits it another. 8-8.

12:41 - Can Roddick break Federer a third time? 0-15 after the first serve. Roddick blows a chance with Federer at the net, 15-15. This match has entered the discussion of best tennis matches ever. Certainly on par with last year's Wimbledon final. 15-30 now. Roddick fires a NASTY shot down the line, and has now gotten to another break point. Federer holds on the first; 30-40. Huge moment for Roddick.

12:44 - Roddick can't do anything with that serve, and Federer has evened it up 40-40. The duece serve is returned long, and it's now AD Federer. Roddick goes long again, and Federer holds serve. Roddick missed an opportunity there.

12:47 - Roddick is up 30-0, and Federer strikes back for a point. 30-15, Roddick on serve. Great touch shot by Roddick to go up 40-15. He's shown much more finesse today than ever before. Federer goes long, we are at 9-9, and we move onward. What a match. Federer on serve.

12:49 - We are now in the 19th game of the 5th set, a Wimbledon record. Federer goes long, 0-15. Roddick goes wide, 15-15. These two have to be exhausted. Federer slices one to the right, 30-15. 90 winners for Federer to 66 for Roddick. 40-15 now. 40 Aces today for Federer. Wow.

12:51 - An exceptional shot by Roddick gets by Federer, and now it's 40-30. A review of Federer's serve shows it is in, and Roddick is getting heated at these calls. Federer takes the game, and is now up 10-9. Can Federer break Roddick?

12:53 - 15-15 now on Roddick's serve. Federer goes wide as Roddick makes him run across court. 30-15. An ace makes it 40-15. 25th ace for Roddick to 41 for Federer. Reddick holds serve, and we are at 10 games all in the final set.

12:55 - Roddick comes to the net and Federer goes long, making it 15-15. At this point, even if Federer does win, is there much doubt that Roddick was the better player today? He broke Federer twice, Federer would break him once if he wins. I don't know, but this has been epic. Federer is up 40-15, and the shadows are creeping onto half the court. 11-10 Federer.

12:59 - We're told both men are not even sitting the entire break. Roddick is up 30-0, and we are into an all time grand slam record for most sets in a fifth set. Roddick fires a return into the net, and we are at 30-15. 36 Unforced errors for Federer to 23 for Roddick. Federer returns long, and it's 40-15. Roddick returns Federer's return long, and now we're at 40-30. Another shot of Sampras and Borg in the crowd.

1:01 - Roddick fires wide and now we're at Duece. The crowd is getting loud. This is the first time in the fifth set Federer has gotten to duece. Roddick fires at Federer, who can't return it. AD Roddick ... and Roddick holds serve. 11 all in the final set. Wow. Now it's Federer's turn, and he is serving from the shadows.

1:03 - Another ace (43) from Federer ... 30-0. Ace 44 puts him up 40-0. Who is going to blink first? Ace 45 puts Federer up 12-11.

1:05 - Roddick fires in an ace at 133 MPH. Incredible. It's a shame one of these men have to lose. he takes a little off his serve, gets the same result at 104 MPH, then again up to 40-0. Roddick takes it down without Federer even getting off of love. 12 all.

1:07 - Federer is getting tougher the longer this goes. Roddick has been tough the entire time. Federer returns long, and we are at 15-15. If you listened to the crowd you'd think he had just broken Federer.

1:08 - Roddick slips and Federer blows it wide right. 15-30. Federer fires another ace in (he has 18 in the final set alone, 46 total) to make it 30-30, then another ace (47!) to go up 40-30. 100 winners for Federer. The announcers just compared Federer to Maddux. I think I did that awhile ago, but at this point I can't even remember... Federer holds serve.

1:10 - Here's an article that argues the Toronto Blue Jays are going to be the key to this year's MLB trading season. Roddick misses on his first serve, and we're at 0-15. He gets it back on his next serve, so we're at 15-15. "Four hours in he's still hammering the ball" McEnroe notes. 30-15 after a huge forehand. Now at 40-15, I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to spend my entire Sunday here.

1:12 - 40-30 after Roddick misses. Federer nails a forehand to make it 40-40. Duece. Roddick is struggling to put this one away. After four hours, who can blame him. He fires an ace in to get the advantage, and he hit 136MPH on that one. Is that humanly possible? I guess it must be, but I'm very impressed. Roddick holds serve, and we move on again. Thirteen all.

1:15 - Federer back on serve, pushes Roddick to his left, and picks it up: 15-0. Another Ace: 30-0. Roddick returns long: 40-0. It seems like Federer is getting stronger and Rodick is starting to faulter a bit. Federer holds his serve at love.

1:17 - Ok, get the Toronto GM on the phone, and offer this: Soriano, Marshall, Vitters and one other minor league pitcher who they like in exchange for Vernon Wells and Roy Halliday. They get our bad contract, we take back their's, and they get a top hitting prospect plus to starters for Halliday. Think about it at least.

1:18 - 15-15. Federer is making it harder and harder for Roddick to hold serve. The shade just got in the way, Roddick lost it, and we're at 15-30. The crowd is getting very loud. Roddick just totally missed that ball. 30-30 now after Roddick came to the net. A good serve makes it 40-30. Federer goes long, cloud cover darkens the court. On to the 29th(!) game of the fifth set we go.

1:20 - Federer on serve again ... Roddick into the net ... impressive series of returns ending with a great drop by Federer ... Ace by Federer (50th ace!) ... Game Federer (second straight hold at love).

1:22 - You'd probably have to throw a Hoffpauir into that deal to even make them blink. Who am I kidding: nobody wants Soriano, and they aren't going to trade Holliday. But man I really wish we could.

1:23 - love fifteen to start Roddick's serve. I get the feeling that Federer is starting to wear him down ... and he goes WAY long and is down 0-30. Tough spot for Roddick. He fires back to get it to 15-30. Federer returns wide: 30-30. I hope Pete Sampras didn't have anywhere to go today. Federer wide again: 40-30. Roddick fires way wide, moving it to duece again. This is a recurring theme: Federer holds love, Roddick is stretched out on his serves.

1:26 - Federer goes long, advantage Roddick. He goes just long, and we're back to duece. Roddick has won 84% of his 1st serves to 89% by Federer. Federer now has the advantage off a second serve by Roddick. Championship point after 4 hours and 17 minutes.

1:27 - Roddick's serve ... into the net. Roddick's secnond serve ... long. Federer holds on to win it.

So what did we learn today?

1) You can't give a champion a second chance
2) Andy Roddick is quite possibly the third best in the world, but still behind the top two
3) Federer is probably the best ever
4) Doing a running diary of a Tennis championship will take up an entire day

So I'll leave you with this: I just saw a handful of commercials congratulating Federer on winning his 15th Grand Slam title. At the very least he had to earn this one. I'm posting this, errors and all, at 1:32 PM EST. Time for breakfast, and maybe a shower.