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WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - Pete Sampras, Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg watched from the front row of the Wimbledon Centre Court Royal Box Sunday afternoon as Roger Federer aimed to make history and reclaim the No. 1 ranking.

American Andy Roddick, undaunted by the occasion, stood in the way. He put in the most courageous performance of his career but still came up short in the longest men's final in the tournament's 132-year history. The final score was 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 16-14 after four hours and 18 minutes of thrilling drama.

It was Federer's 15th Grand Slam title, breaking Sampras' record. It was also his sixth Wimbledon championship, and the third he won over Roddick. The American received a roaring ovation from the crowd after the marathon match, but that didn't dull the pain that was so evident on his face. Roddick left everything he had on that hallowed lawn, and it wasn't enough.

"I just want to say congratulations to Roger. He's a true champion and deserves everything he gets," Roddick said on the court, holding back tears. "I tried. Sorry, Pete. I tried to hold him off. It was a pleasure playing here today in front of champions like Manolo [Santana], Borg, Rod Laver, Pete. I still hope one day my name will be up there with theirs as a champion of this tournament."

Federer, wearing a customized white jacket with a gold "15" on the back, seemed giddy with excitement.

"He played unbelievable," Federer said of Roddick, turning to face him. "Don't be too sad. I went through some rough ones, including last year. You're an unbelievable guy, a great player, and unfortunately in tennis there has to be a winner. I was on the lucky side today. My head's still spinning.

"It's an unbelievable moment in my career."

After the match, Federer met with Sampras, Borg and Laver in the clubhouse. "Roger's a great champion and in my book, the best ever," said Sampras. "I feel bad for Andy. He fought hard, and this was his chance. But the great ones find a way. Roger had a little bit more. Roger is so smooth, looks effortless out there. He's a stud."

British fans, who were hoping to see Andy Murray, were disappointed it was the American Andy on the big stage. Turned out they got their money's worth -- and then some. For the third year in a row, the men's final went the distance, and this one went even longer than Rafael Nadal's marathon victory over Federer last summer.

Like two prizefighters, the two former No. 1's slugged it out and delivered exquisite tennis on a sunny, breezy afternoon. Their fifth set, which went 95 minutes, was the longest in Wimbledon history, breaking the record set in 1958, when Ashley Cooper beat Neale Fraser 13-11 in the fourth set. It was also the longest fifth set in Grand Slam history.

Federer said before the final that the thing he found most challenging about Roddick was his "fighting spirit, his belief," and the American lived up to his reputation. After failing to capitalize on four set points that would have given him a two-sets-to-none lead, he maintained his composure and battled on.

In the past, he would have imploded at that moment, would have let that shanked backhand volley creep into his mind well into the next set. But this is a new-and-improved Andy.

This time, he didn't just rely on his booming serve, which topped out at 143 miles per hour Sunday. In fact, Federer wound up with more aces, 50 to 27. This time, Roddick played smart and aggressive and aimed for the corners.

Roddick had lost back-to-back Wimbledon finals to Federer in 2004 and '05, and he wanted this one desperately. He had only one Grand Slam title on his résumé, the 2003 U.S. Open, and he wanted to prove he's not a one-hit wonder. He'll have to keep waiting.