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Federer favourite to win

Author: Rose Young
Date: 05/07/2009

Roger Federer starts Sunday's men's final at Wimbledon as the overwhelming sportsbook favourite to beat Andy Roddick and repeat his victories against the American in 2004 and 2005.

The Swiss star has won the tournament five times but has rarely looked to be in such good form as he has shown in the last fortnight.

He was in a different class in the semi-finals when sealing a straightforward win against Tommy Haas and had been equally serene in seeing off the big-serving Croat, Ivo Karlovic, in the quarters.

The only set he has lost came against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round and he promptly responded by romping to the fourth set 6-1.

Federer appears to have been galvanised by Rafael Nadal's decision not to take part in this year's tournament because of injury and has been in sublime form throughout.

The 27-year-old's achievements continue to astound. His appearance in Sunday's match will be his seventh successive Wimbledon final and he has now reached the final in 15 of the last 16 Grand Slam events - not bad for someone who was supposedly past their best 12 months ago.

The only final he hasn't reached since May 2005 was last year's Australian Open showpiece when he was surprisingly beaten by eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the last four.

Since then his tennis has hit the heights with his confrontations against Nadal culminating in last year's epic duel at SW19.

If he succeeds on Sunday, it will be his 15th Grand Slam title and sixth Wimbledon success in seven years to go with his three victories in Australia, five at the US Open and his French Open win in May.

Can Roddick stop Federer making history in the Wimbledon final? - Latest Tennis Betting

For most of the last two weeks it seemed likely that Federer would be playing Andy Murray in the final, but the 22-year-old Scot's dream will have to wait at least another 12 months after Roddick's four-set victory on Friday.

Roddick will be desperate that it will be third time lucky against Federer after those two previous final defeats but the odds are stacked against him.

The 26-year-old's time appeared to have gone with his last final appearance coming in the 2006 US Open, three years after claiming his only Grand Slam at the same tournament.

His Grand Slam record in the last three years has been poor with only two appearances in Australian Open semi-finals but he has rolled back the years at this Wimbledon.

Before beating Murray, Roddick had turned on the style to beat former winner Lleyton Hewitt in a classic five-set quarter-final.

However, he will need to move up to a far greater level if he is to trouble the stupendous Federer.

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