Roger Federer enters the final as Wimbledon the clear favourite, having not dropped a set in entire the tournament.
Should he triumph, Federer, who turns 36 next month, will become the oldest winner of the Challenge Cup since tennis turned professional in 1968.
Marin Cilic is the man tasked with stopping Federer from winning a record eighth Wimbledon men’s singles crown when the pair meet in Sunday’s title showdown on Centre Court. But the history books are stacked against him.
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In seven meetings against the tall Croatian, Federer has lost just once, a 2014 U.S. Open semi-final defeat as Cilic went on to claim his maiden grand slam title.
In last year’s quarter-finals at the All England Club, Federer saved three match points before edging out Cilic in five sets and the closeness of that match is comforting for the Croat.
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Cilic reacts
Here is what Marin Cilic had to say in his post-match interview:
On giving his best: “That’s what I did throughout my career. I never give up. I gave my best and that’s all I could do.”
On his struggle with injury in the final: “I had an amazing journey here. Played the best tennis of my life and I really want to thank my team. They gave so much strength to me. And of course to all of my fans in Croatia, it was really tough today. I gave it all and I’m hoping I will be back here to try it one more time.”
Federer in tears
Marin Cilic was crying during the second set and now it’s Roger Federer’s turn to switch on the waterworks. He’s crying for an altogether different reason, though: winning an eighth Wimbledon crown and a 19th Grand Slam title in total.
Game, set, match, championship! Federer clinches record-breaking eighth Wimbledon title against Cilic (6-3 6-1 6-4)
Federer starts the game with an unforced backhand error but levels things up with an ace out wide. Two unreturnable serves follow as the Swiss brings up two championship points. The first goes begging as Federer sends a forehand long on the stretch but the number three seed makes no mistake with the second as he produces an ace down the T before turning to his box and raising both arms into the air in triumph.
Federer* 6-3 6-1 5-4 Cilic (*denotes next server)
An ace, an easy volley and an unreturnable serve to start the game as Cilic moves into a 40-0 lead to bring up three game points. The Croat squanders the first one as he produces a double fault but he makes no mistake with the second as a big serve forces a return error from Federer.
Federer 6-3 6-1 5-3 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
A winning backhand down the line by Federer followed by an unreturnable serve takes the game to 30-0. Cilic wins the next point with a lovely drop shot but a forehand winner by Federer followed by another unreturnable serve seals a hold to 15 for the Swiss.
Federer* 6-3 6-1 4-3 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic starts the game with an unreturnable serve but back-to-back missed backhands see him fall 15-30 behind. The Croat then nets two consecutive inside-out forehands to give Federer the first break of this third set.
Federer 6-3 6-1 3-3 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
An ace, a netted Cilic forehand and two unreturnable serves seal a love hold for Federer.
Federer* 6-3 6-1 2-3 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic sends a forehand long to lose the opening point before an ace, an unreturnable serve and a lucky volley off the net bring up a couple of game points for the Croat. The first one goes begging as Cilic nets a forehand… but the seventh seed’s fourth ace of the match seals a hold to 30.
Federer 6-3 6-1 2-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Federer shanks a backhand wide to lose the opening point but makes up for it with a short cross-court forehand winner to level the game up. Back-to-back missed returns by Cilic bring up two game points for Federer. The first one goes begging as Federer nets a volley… and Cilic fends off the second courtesy of a netted forehand by the Swiss. However, the number three seed wins the next two points with an ace out wide and a missed Cilic forehand to hold.
Federer* 6-3 6-1 1-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic goes 0-30 down on serve after a couple of unforced errors but a winning inside-out forehand and a backhand winner down the line level the game up. The Croat brings up game point as Federer sends a backhand into the tramlines… but he can’t take it as the Swiss produces a majestic cross-court backhand winner. After three deuces and one Federer break point, Cilic holds.
Federer 6-3 6-1 1-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Federer goes 15-0 up with a backhand volley winner but nets a forehand to lose the next point. Back-to-back missed forehands by Cilic follow before Federer fires an ace down the T to seal a hold to 15.
Federer* 6-3 6-1 0-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic starts the third set with a trio of unreturnable serves before Federer gets lucky with a net cord to take the next point with an inside-out forehand winner. Another unreturnable Cilic serve follows as the Croat holds to 15.
Medical time-out for Cilic
The trainer is back out on court to tend to the injured Cilic. It appears as though he is suffering from an injury to his left foot.
Federer 6-3 6-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Cilic sends a forehand return into the tramlines before a winning short cross-court forehand by Federer, an unreturnable serve and an ace seal a love hold and a two-sets-to-love lead for the seven-time champion.
Federer* 6-3 5-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic starts the game with back-to-back unreturnable serves. He then hits the net with a tricky backhand volley but brings up a couple of game points with another unreturnable serve. The first one goes begging as he nets a drop shot and Federer fends off the second one too with some heavy groundstrokes that eventually lead to Cilic netting a forehand. A backhand return winner by Federer brings up a break point for a 5-1 lead in this second set… but he can’t take it as he shanks a backhand return long. However, Cilic loses the next two points with a missed slice backhand and a wayward volley to drop serve.
Federer* 6-3 3-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic starts the game with an unreturnable serve but hits a volley into the tramlines to lose the next point. An inside-out forehand winner follows from the Croat but he hits the net with a drop shot as Federer hauls the game to 30-30. Cilic then produces an unreturnable serve before a backhand drop shot winner on the half-volley seals a hold and gets him off the mark in this second set.
Cilic in tears as he receives treatment
Cilic is clearly nursing an injury here. He’s in tears at the change of ends as he receives medical treatment. What isn’t clear is what type of injury he is struggling with.
Federer 6-3 3-0 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Federer kicks the game off with back-to-back unreturnable serves. A forehand error by the Swiss follows before a missed Cilic backhand and an ace seal a hold to 15 for Federer.
Federer* 6-3 2-0 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic starts the game with his first ace of the match. A winning backhand down the line by Federer follows before Cilic produces his second ace in quick succession. However, three consecutive groundstroke errors follow from the Croat as Federer seals an early break in this second set.
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What time is it?
The men’s singles final will start at 2pm on Centre Court.
Where will I be able to watch it?
BBC One will screen live coverage of the final.
Alternatively, check back from around 1pm onwards for game by game analysis and reaction.
Federer is chasing a record title (Getty)
What’s the head to head record like?
It doesn’t look good for Cilic fans. The pair have played each other seven times before, with Federer winning six of those clashes.
Federer won their only match on grass – a gruelling five-setter in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year – but Cilic did famously knock Federer out in the semi-finals of the 2014 US Open, which he went on to win.
What are their Wimbledon records like?
Roger Federer: 90-11
Marin Cilic: 27-9
Cilic is the underdog (Getty)
What have they been saying?
Roger Federer: “Thank God I’ve played also guys who were not called Rafa, Andy or Novak (in finals) in the past.
“From that standpoint I don’t want to say it’s more relaxed going into it because I have a good head-to-head record against Marin, even though the matches were extremely close.
“But it’s not like we’ve played against each other 30 times. You feel like you have to reinvent the wheel. It’s more straightforward, in my opinion. I think that’s nice in some ways. It’s a nice change, but it doesn’t make things easier.”
Marin Cilic: “I was one point away from winning a match over here against him. Definitely, I believe in my own abilities to get through and to win it
“But I still know that it’s a big mountain to climb. Roger is playing maybe some of the best tennis of his career at the moment, having a great season. So I know it’s going to be a huge challenge. But I believe I’m ready.”
What are the odds?
Roger Federer to win: 1/4
Marin Cilic to win: 4/1
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