On Sunday, Roger Federer, the supreme artist on the tennis court, showed that he has a few more years of top-class performances left in him. The 32-year-old father of four was never expected to do well at Grand Slams, even if he has 17 titles to his credit, including a record-equalling seven Wimbledons.

He would have added an eighth, had luck favoured him. Or, if Novak Djokovic, the No 1 seed, had decided to slow down his serves a bit. But to not give up even at championship point (Federer served two aces at this juncture) has become the hallmark of the Swiss champion’s play. He countered aggression with aggression, aces with aces (at one point in the fourth set, he served four aces in a row), and forehand for forehand.