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With the making of tennis history in the offing at Wimbledon on Sunday (July 5), many of the sport''s all-time greats were in attendance to see whether Roger Federer could pass Pete Sampras'' record of 14 Grand Slam titles.

Sampras himself arrived after the start of the men''s final - but still had plenty of time to witness Andy Roddick go blow-for-blow with the Swiss before taking the first set 7-5, courtesy of a break in the twelfth game.

Roddick was a massive underdog going into the match, having lost 18 of his 20 previous matches with Federer. But a real shock appeared likely when the American raced into a 6-2 lead in the second set tie-break.

Four set-points were squandered, allowing Federer to take the set 7-6 (6).

The momentum now appeared to be firmly with the second seed - he dropped just two points on his serve on the way to taking the third set, again on a tie-break, 7-6 (5).

Many in the crowd could have been forgiven for thinking that was it.
But this was a different Roddick to the one that might have been expected to buckle in the past.

A break was created in the fourth game and the sixth seed went on to level at two sets all.

That 6-3 scoreline set up a fifth - and Roddick continued to fight hard. Incredibly hard.

The American had two break points in the 17th game - but Federer held his nerve.

Understandably, tiredness started to take its toll on both players.

Federer only broke once in the match - in game number 30 - but it was to prove decisive.

After 50 aces and well over four hours of play - Federer came out on top 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 to take his sixth Wimbledon championship - and that historic 15th title.

An extraordinary achievement - but Roddick''s contribution - and crushing disappointment - should not be readily forgotten.

And waiting in the wings all this time ... the combatants in the final match of the Wimbledon fortnight.

Mark Knowles of the Bahamas and Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon on Sunday by beating top-seeded Leander Paes of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe 7-5, 6-3.