体坛英语新闻：Federer edges Roddick 16-14 in 5th for 15th major title

LONDON, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Roger Federer wrote a new page in history Sunday in the Wimbledon championship as he toiled to claim his fifteenth Grand Slam title.

The Swiss held his nerve for four hours and 16 minutes before finally subduing Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6 and 16-14 to claim the trophy he cherishes above all for the sixth time.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during his Gentlemen's Singles finals match against Andy Roddick of the U.S.. Federer beats Andy Roddick of the U.S. 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14, in the Men's Singles Final of the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London, on July 5, 2009.

    Federer now had six Wimbledon titles, five from the U.S. Open, three from the Australian Open and one from the French Open, and Federer's Grand Slam total rises to 15, one more than Pete Sampras, who flew in from California on Sunday morning to be on hand.

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his victory after beating Andy Roddick of the U.S. 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14, in the Men's Singles Final of the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London, on July 5, 2009

Federer won the French Open four Sundays earlier to complete a career Grand Slam and tie Sampras with 14 major titles (Margaret Smith Court owns the women's record of 24).

    Roddick dropped to 0-3 in finals at the All England Club, also beaten by Federer in 2004 and 2005.

    A year ago, on the same lawn, Federer's five-year reign as Wimbledon champion ended in a 9-7 fifth set defeat against Rafael Nadal. Six weeks later, Federer relinquished to Nadal the No. 1 ranking after a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top.

Switzerland's Roger Federer holds the Wimbledon Trophy after beating Andy Roddick of the U.S. 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14, in the Men's Singles Final of the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London, on July 5, 2009

But Nadal did not defend his Wimbledon title, citing sore knees, and Federer not only regained his championship at the All England Club but returns to No. 1 Monday.