adminOld rivalries will be renewed on and off the court in the men’s Wimbledon final today when Roger Federer, bidding for a record eighth title, takes on top seed Novak Djokovic.
While two of the game’s most recognisable figures meet on Centre Court, their ‘super coaches’ will be pitted against each other once again in southwest London.
Former champions Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg were embroiled in one of the All England Club’s fiercest rivalries from 1988 to 1990, competing in three successive finals with Edberg winning two of them.
Since then the pair have turned their attention to coaching with Djokovic and Becker joining forces in December last year and Federer and Edberg following suit.
“It’s going really well,” 17-times grand slam champion Federer said of his relationship with Swede Edberg. “My game’s back where I hoped it would be from one year ago.
“Stefan is clearly a piece of the puzzle, so is my fitness coach, Severin (Luthi), and everybody around me. They make it possible for me to wake up every morning motivated, healthy, fit and eager to play.”
The Swiss has not reached a grand slam final since clinching the Wimbledon title in 2012.
Serbian Djokovic won Wimbledon in 2011, and last captured a grand slam title at the Australian Open in 2013, but he has lost his last three major finals, including Wimbledon last year to Andy Murray.
Federer has an 18-16 advantage in matches against Djokovic but Sunday’s showpiece will be only the second meeting the duo have contested on grass.
Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova produced a majestic performance to end Eugenie Bouchard’s hopes of becoming the first Canadian to win a grand slam title with a 6-3 6-0 win in the Wimbledon final yesterday.
Much had been made of Bouchard’s raw power and determination to triumph in what she calls the “Temple of Tennis” but the 20-year-old was unable to cope with sixth seed Kvitova’s more varied attacking style. — Reuters.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter