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Roger Federer was so close, yet so far from winning his ninth Wimbledon title on Sunday against Novak Djokovic. The Swiss superstar dropped two points in the fifth round of the match, at 8-7 and 40/15, before finally losing to the Serb.
"I do not know if losing 2-2-2 feels better than this one. In the end, it does not really matter. You might feel more disappointed, sad than angry, "said Federer. "I do not know how I feel right now. I just feel it's such an incredible opportunity missed, I can not believe it. That's what it is. "
At his first chance of winning the tournament, Federer missed a wide forehand. And on the next point, he put pressure on Djokovic as he approached the Serb's forehand. The world No. 1 responded with a winner in cross cross in front of the racket of Federer, to finally return to the service.
"I was always happy to be at 8-all, 9-all. I do not remember what it was. You must try to see the positives, try to consider that it is a good thing that you have not lost a break or that the match is not over yet, "said Federer. "If I could have chosen it before the match to be at 9, all in fifth, it would not be a terrible thing. You always try to push yourself to see things on the bright side. But it was really hard to have those chances.
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The defeat will hurt Federer, who continued his 21st Grand Slam title. But this is not the first time he's suffered a big defeat, and he knows he'll have to leave him behind.
"Similar to breaking up while serving for the match: take it on your chin, you advance. You try to forget, try to remove the good things from this game. There are just tons, "said Federer. "Like in 2008 maybe, I'll look back and think," Well, it's not so bad after all. For now, it hurts, and it should, like every defeat here at Wimbledon. I think it is a state of mind. I am very strong to be able to move on because I do not want to be depressed about an incredible tennis match. "
When Federer broke Pete Sampras' record of 14 major trophies by winning his 15th at Wimbledon in 2009, Djokovic was eligible for only one Grand Slam championship. Now, the Serb has 16 and Rafael Nadal has 18, both within reach of the bar of 20 37-year-olds from Federer.
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"[It] was a big deal, I guess when you were close. I imagine that two behind, then you end up in a tie, then eventually you break it's big, "Federer said. "It has been different since, of course, because the hunt is in a different place. I take motivation from different places. Not so much trying to stay ahead, because I broke the record, and if anyone else does it, well, that 's great for them. Anyway, you can not protect everything.
"I did not become a tennis player for that. I really do not have it. It's about trying to win Wimbledon, trying to do good races here, playing in front of such an incredible crowd in this central court against players like Novak, et cetera. That's why I play. So, things are different now. But I'm very happy with my level of play today, always. "
Despite the disappointment, Federer understands that people will remember this game forever. "I will try to forget [it]"Federer said on the field after the match, but people will watch the reruns of this clbadic for years to come.
Read: Rivalry of Roger and Novak
"We know how great it is. I do not think we need matches, per se. Maybe we sometimes need them to switch to other sports, for example street fans, etc. If that's the case, that this match did something like that, I think it's great, "Federer said. "I think it was a good match with some great points. There was everything. Novak has also played incredible today. I hope that it will resonate very loudly.
It's been 11 years since Federer played Nadal – which he beat Friday in the semifinals – in what many consider to be the best match of all time. Federer also failed in this five-set thriller.
"This one is perhaps simpler in some respects, because we did not have a rain delay, we did not have the incoming night and all the rest. But of course, epic end, so close, so many moments. Yeah, I mean, of course, there are similarities, "said Federer. "I'm the loser both times, so that's the only similarity I see."
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