(Reuters) - Roger Federer left the door tantalizinglyajarfor local hero Andy Murray in the Wimbledon men's singles final on Sunday, then slammedit shut to win a record-equaling seventh Wimbledon title and in so doing return to the top of the world rankings.
The Swiss great, contesting his eighth final at the All England Club, flirted with danger in the second set after losing the first but just when Murray looked like ending 76 years of plucky British failure Federer gave a stunningreminder of his genius to win 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court.
When a Murray forehand loopednarrowly wide after three hours 24 minutes of enthrallingaction, Federer dropped to the turfin joy, just as he did in 2003 when he beat Australia's Mark Philippoussis to begin a grand slam collection that now stands at 17.
For the second time in three grand slam finals against Murray he reduced the Scot to tears, although this match, unlike the others, was a contest to savor.
It was only after Centre Court's translucent lid was slid across after heavy rain began to fall in the heart of the final that Federer took charge, stridingto the win that puts him level with Pete Sampras's record of seven Wimbledon crowns.
At 30 years and 335 days he also became the oldest men's champion since Arthur Ashe in 1975 and, to put the icing on the cake, Monday's ATP rankings will show him back at No. 1 for the first time in two years and he will equal Sampras's record of 286 weeks at the summit.
"I played some of my best tennis in the last couple of matches," Federer said after raising the trophy with his wife Mirka and giggling twin daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose watching on from the players' box.
"I've missed playing in the finals, and it feels like a great moment. I've gone through some struggles, so this one comes at the right time," added Federer, whose last grand slam title was at the 2010 Australian Open.
For Murray, his girlfriend Kim Sears and many of the thousands watching the huge screen on Henman Hill under a forest of multi-colored umbrellas, there was just despair.
"I'm getting closer," Murray, whose valianteffort was watched by Royal Box guests Prime Minister David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William's wife Kate Middleton, choked as applause rang out.
"I was told after my semi-final that this was my best chance, Roger's 30 now, but he's not bad for a 30-year-old, he played a great tournament. Congratulations, you deserve it."
北京時間7月9日(倫敦當地時間8日)消息，2012年溫布爾登網球錦標賽結束落幕日壓軸大戲的男單決賽爭奪，瑞士天王費德勒在先丟一盤的劣勢下，以強大的正手攻擊性摧毀了穆雷力求成為76年以來第一位本土奪冠英國球員的夢想，以總比分4-6/7-5/6-3/6-4逆轉勝出，追平前輩巨星桑普拉斯在全英俱樂部7奪金杯的紀錄，攜個人第17座大滿貫賽桂冠時隔2年多(自2010年6月7日)之後重返世界排名第一，迫使老對手德約科維奇與納達爾分別退居二、三位。
此外，重登No.1王座的費德勒也就此追平桑普拉斯的另一項紀錄，即從下周一開始，他排名世界第一的周數將與後者同樣達到排名歷史第一的第286周，而隨後打破這個紀錄也已經是不在話下。與此同時，截止目前30歲零335天的費德勒也成為繼33歲零131天的阿加西之後，保有男子網壇世界第一頭銜「第二老」的選手。
費德勒在半決賽復仇德約科維奇之後，第八次打進了溫網男單決賽，而穆雷同樣是四盤戰勝特松加，成為繼1938年的奧斯汀之後第一位能夠闖進決賽的本土選手。在兩人此前的15次交手中，英國小子保持八勝七負略佔上風，雙方此前兩次大滿貫比賽中的交手全部發生在決賽，費德勒在08年美網和10年澳網(微博)決賽都是直落三盤戰勝對手。
首盤比賽穆雷以一個破發優勢6-4佔得先機，讓英國人看到勝利的希望。然而費德勒並沒有讓英國人高興太久，第二、第三盤中強勢的正手攻擊幾近擊碎英國76年第一個本土大滿貫的夢想。第四盤中費德勒率先破發取得4-2的領先，並一路保持到終場。最終憑藉強勢的攻擊迫使穆雷回球出界，順利拿下比賽，從而獲得第七個溫網男單冠軍金杯。
（編輯：趙穎茹）