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Defending champion Novak Djokovic won a third Wimbledon title and a ninth Grand Slam crown on Sunday, ruthlessly shattering Roger Federer's bid for a record eighth All England Club triumph.
World number one Djokovic won 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (10/12), 6- 4, 6-3 to add the Wimbledon title to the Australian Open he captured in January.
It was a cathartic moment for Djokovic just a month after his heartbreaking French Open final defeat against Stan Wawrinka -- a loss that denied him the only major title he has yet to win.
For 33-year-old Federer, it was a bitterly disappointing end to his bid to become the oldest Wimbledon champion of the Open Era.
The 17-time major winner has now gone three years since his last Grand Slam triumph. But he had his chances.
In a rollercoaster rematch of last year's final, he was 4-2 up in the first set and had two set points.
Federer then had to save seven set points in the second set before bravely levelling the contest.
However, Djokovic, five years Federer's junior, stepped on the gas and raced away to the title.
Sunday's final was the pair's 40th career meeting and 12th in the Grand Slams. Djokovic was playing in his 17th major final compared to Federer's 26th.
But despite Federer's majestic triumph over Andy Murray in the semi-finals, which suggested he was not ready for the retirement home just yet, Sunday's reality check looks certain to leave the Swiss thwarted in his quest to add to his record 17 Grand Slam title collection.
In front of a Royal Box crammed with tennis and Hollywood A-listers, including Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Grant and Bradley Cooper, Federer was in the early ascendancy.
He broke for a 4-2 lead but Djokovic hit straight back condemning the Swiss to just his second lost service game in 94 served up at the tournament.
