Well, the fortnight at the All England Lawn Tennis Club is coming to an end tomorrow with the completion of the Men's final. It's the chosen one, Roger Federer, versus Britain's Golden Child, Andy Murray.
With the victory of another 30-something year old Saturday, Serena Williams showed that maybe age means nothing in this new age of tennis. Williams won her 5th Wimbledon Singles Title, and then won the Doubles Title with her sister. Will Federer, another 30-something (he turns 31 in August), show the young guns that he isn't done winning majors, or will Scotland's Andy Murray finally end Great Britain's drought, which extends all the way back to Fred Perry's victory in 1936?
(3) Roger Federer vs. (4) Andy Murray
Well no one thought this would be the match up heading into the final Sunday at Wimbledon when The Championships started a fortnight ago, but here we are. Roger Federer turned back the clock in his thumping of World #1 Novak Djokovic in the Semis 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3. It was Federer's first victory over a World #1 in a Grand Slam match, he's 1-4 all time.
Murray, on the other hand was given a major gift when Rafael Nadal fell in the second round to Lukas Rosol, his earliest Major loss since losing to Gilles Müller in the second round of Wimbledon in 2005. Murray is the first man from Great Britain to make the Final of Wimbledon since 1939, and is bidding to be the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry's triumph in 1936.
The Picks:
Ean Dunn (@EanDunn), Chat Sports Senior Tennis Writer: Roger Federer.
Federer is bidding for his 17th Major final and 6th Wimbledon Title, which tells you he's been here before, and he knows how to win on grass. Only one man has beaten Federer in a Final on the Wimbledon grass: Rafael Nadal. Murray has a shot in this match, but only if Federer serves poorly (under 65% first serves in) and if Murray wins a lot of the longer rallies. Murray owns a winning record against Federer, 8-7, but has never beaten him in a major, and lost 2 finals to Federer in majors: the 2010 Aussie Open and the 2008 U.S. Open. I'm sticking with the guy who's won it before, and doesn't have the immense pressure of all of Britain on his shoulders, Roger Federer in 4 sets: 6-3 6-4 5-7 6-2.
Chris Fields (@Chris_Fields), Chat Sports Sports Content Specialist: Andy Murray
This is definitely a head versus heart pick. My brain says Fed is too experienced and Murray is too... average.
However my heart tells me that this is Murray's one shining moment. With an entire country willing him on Murray will surely realize that this is his time. I've never been a Murray fan. He whines constantly, acts like a child throwing a temper tantrum, and seems to be ok with his ranking of 4th. He's kind of like the Atlanta Hawks of tennis. To continue the Hawks metaphor, the Thunder (Nadal) and Heat (Djokovic) have been eliminated. All Murray has to do is beat the Celtics (Old Federer). Murray will use his fire and hustle to get the crowd behind him early, and then ride the adrenaline all the way. As Ean mentioned, Murray owns a winning record against Fed. Murray knows he can do it. The entire nation of Great Britain will essentially be playing doubles on his side. Murray wins one for the ages in 5 sets.