Roger Federer creates history with one-sided victory

Roger Federer won a record eighth men’s singles Wimbledon title with a one-sided victory over a shell-shocked Marin Cilic on Centre Court.

The Swiss third seed won 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 as the No 7 seed Cilic struggled with blisters on his left foot and broke down in tears during the second set.

Federer, 35, needed just 101 minutes to claim his first Wimbledon title since 2012 and in doing so the Swiss legend becomes the oldest man in the Open Era to win the Wimbledon title.

‘It is cruel sometimes,’ Federer said of Cilic’s physical difficulties. ‘But Marin fought well and is a hero, so congratulations on a wonderful tournament.’

Social media wasn’t as kind to the Croat, with the outspoken media ‘celebrity’ Piers Morgan slamming Cilic for ‘choking’ and hiding behind tears and injury.

Federer now surpasses Pete Sampras and William Renshaw, who won their seventh titles in 2000 and 1889 respectively, with only Marina Navratilova still ahead in terms of Wimbledon singles titles on nine.

He has won two of the three Grand Slam titles so far this year, having returned from a six-month break to win the Australian Open in January.

With 19 Grand Slam titles he extends his lead over Rafael Nadal in the men’s game to four, and now stands joint-fourth on the all-time list with Helen Wills Moody, five behind Margaret Court on 24.

Among his long list of achievements, Federer became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to win the Wimbledon title without dropping a set. Ironically, Nadal did the same thing when picking up his record 10th French Open title at Roland Garros in the previous Grand Slam.

The favourite from the outset of the final, Federer was rarely troubled over the course of seven matches, and Cilic was not in the condition to provide a serious test.

‘I never give up in a match. I gave it my best – it’s all I can do,’ he said afterwards.

Federer won with an ace down the middle, and it was the celebrating Swiss who was now tearful as he looked to his team and family, including wife Mirka and four children, in the stands.