Graceful Roger Federer transcends statistics to rebuild mystical aura | Kevin Mitchell


The numbers may be impressive but they do not reveal the full story behind the brilliant and balletic Swiss who demonstrates such poise under pressure

Roger Federer is one of those rare champions for whom numbers cannot gild genius. He loves to win, and strives for it more convincingly in the autumn of his career than scores of young contenders, as he proved for the eighth time on Centre Court on Sunday. Yet it is as if victory follows art, not the other way round.

For the record, these are the bare statistics that will go into the history books to embellish his achievement, after he had spent just an hour and 41 minutes beating a wounded Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4.

Related: 'Superhuman, that's the word': Roger Federer delights Wimbledon fans

Related: Roger Federer wins record eighth Wimbledon title against Marin Cilic

Related: Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis win Wimbledon mixed doubles crown

Continue reading...