ROGER Federer had the heart but not the lungs. Novak Djokovic had both.
That was much of the story in the Wimbledon finals won on Sunday by Djokovic.
Five years younger than the 37-year-old Federer, Djokovic leaned on the age difference in the end to snatch his fifth Wimbledon victory in a manner as surreal as the invention of the cell phone.
To win, Djokovic bucked two championship points.
A pity indeed that Federer could lose grip of a record-extending 21 majors.
Look at this: Federer had raced to a 40-15 lead while holding an 8-7 edge in the fifth and final set.
Just one more point and it was over.
So that when he missed, it was as bizarre as seeing LeBron James miss an unchallenged dunk when the NBA title was on the line.
“It’s unreal to be two match points down and come back,” Djokovic said of his escape.
Although Federer would survive to reach that 12-12 deadlock, his knees of 37 summers were fast beginning to squeak.
The eagle-eyed Djokovic pounced on this. Soon, he would transform Federer from gold to garbage in the final tiebreak, 7-3.
No doubt a fatigued Federer had still the heart to conceive, but the flesh could no longer achieve.
Fatigue fails faculties.
In every battle, there would come a point when the body couldn’t heed the brain anymore.
That practically holds true to athletes in sunset mode.
Not Djokovic, though. At 32, he is, yes, at the prime of his career.
His 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12 victory over Federer in four hours, 57 minutes was simply awesome, if not one befitting the reigning world No. 1.
It made Djokovic a rare repeat Wimbledon champion and a 16-time majors winner as well—just two behind Rafael Nadal and four off Federer.
It was also a win that is so hurtful to Federer, who said: “I will try to forget.”
Djokovic also beat Federer in the 2014 and 2015 Wimbledons, making it 10-6 over Federer in Slam duels and 26-22 in their overall matches.
“I had my chances,” said Federer, an eight-time Wimbledon champion in 12 finals appearances.
“But Novak was great. I still feel good, though. I can still stand.”