A glimpse of the past, with tears thrown in

At least with Federer making annual returns to SW19 for the next decade, spectators will be able to enjoy the variety of shotmaking seen on Centre Court yesterday, from the deftest of drop shots to an array of aces achieved more by direction than pace.

Andy Roddick had talked about Federer playing 'trick shots' in the semi-final, the backhand drive volley from the baseline could have been trick photography had 13,812 people not seen it live.

Only rarely did the Swiss approach the kind of speed achieved by Philippoussis, yet the ace count was 21-14 in his favour. And all achieved with a standardsized racket available in all good sports shops. No wide boy him.

No emotionless robot, either. The tears he shed, enough to threaten Sue Barker's foundation cream, were surely one in the mouth for advocates of the stiff upper lip. Real men can cry if Wimbledon champions can.

'Where did they come from?' he was asked. ' They come from Switzerland,' he replied, a country scarcely known for displays of emotion, other than the tears of joy that accompany the opening of another numbered bank account.

'I've cried a few times on big occasions,' he admitted. 'Somehow in the first moment I did not think I would. Then I just could not keep it in. This tournament means so much to me, winning the junior title in 1998 and then beating Sampras.'

There was something of Bjorn Borg in the way Federer fell to his knees at the moment of victory. But the Swede remained otherwise expressionless, ice in his veins. Federer wept on his seat and again when Barker made reference to visitors from home.

In truth, there were more Greek flags than Swiss in the crowd, though the blue and red crosses were isolated compared to the preponderance of green and gold. Earl's Court had transferred for the day to Aorangi Park, which looked and sounded like The Hill at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Philippoussis also enjoyed a distinct advantage in terms of celebrity support. Matthew Perry, of Friends fame, and West End co-star Minnie Driver did their best to add vocal support for the Australian but he heard only applause for Federer's winners. There were 50 of them.

Tears and actors, it could have been an Oscar ceremony as Federer started thanking all and sundry. 'I'd just like to thank everyone,' he said, 'from coaches to friends to condition trainers to stringers and masseurs.' He forgot the guy who carried out his bag and departed with arms raised to the crowd.

Federer, though, is no actor, no phoney given false gratitude. He has the game to match the crying.

He has, too, a sense of history. He was heading for the Champions Dinner last night, still regretting the fact that when he won Junior Wimbledon five years ago he turned down the invitation in favour of preparing for a tournament the following week.

He could be dancing with a Williams sister for years to come.