After losing the last five of six Grand Slam finals Novak Djokovic has won Wimbledon for the second time. Djokovic defeated Roger Federer 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4 in a 4 hour match to become the No. 1 player in the world once again. The last nine meetings between these two greats had been in semi finals of major Grand Slam tournaments. “This has been the best quality Grand Slam final that I’ve ever been a part of,” Djokovic said afterwards. This match will go down in history as one of the greatest finals ever played at Wimbledon.

After the second set, the match was tied up at 1-1 and it looked to be anyone's game until Djokovic played one of the greatest sets of his life to take the 2-1 lead over Federer. Federer came back from 5-2 down to win the fourth set, saving match point after match point. Djokovic sent for a trainer in the fifth set to receive treatment on his right calf and it looked as if the Swiss might go on to become the first man in history to win Wimbledon a record eight times.

But Djokovic fought on to win the fifth set after breaking serve to lead 4-3 and then wasted three of his own as the match reached 4 all. Djokovic held for 5-4. In the last set, Djokovic broke in the final game and clinched the victory after Federer netted a backhand return.

“I respect your career and everything you’ve done,” Djokovic told Federer immediately afterwards, “and thank you for letting me win today. After dropping a fourth set it wasn’t easy to regroup and find the energy to win the fifth. I don’t know how I did it.”

At the end of the match both players showed gratitude for each other and for one of the most competitive finals Wimbledon has ever seen.