Federer has 'Pistol' Pete in his sights
Roger Federer has Pete Sampras in his sights after equalling Bjorn Borg's feat of five successive Wimbledon titles.
The world number one has, like legendary Swede Borg, 11 Grand Slam tournament titles to his name but is still three behind Sampras, who was All England Club champion seven times.
Federer said of his future ambitions after beating Rafael Nadal 7-6 4-6 7-6 2-6 6-2 in a pulsating final on Centre Court: "I'd love to equal Pete's record. To be with my former hero is very nice but I'm not there yet.
"I definitely feel I'm mentally and physically still fit to go on for many more years to come."
Federer, who was watched by Borg who later congratulated him, was made to work hard by world number two Nadal, so often his nemesis, not least on the clay courts in Paris.
But the 25-year-old Swiss was able to regain his cool in an enthralling final after uttering a profanity while complaining about line machine Hawk-Eye midway through the fourth set.
And Federer admitted after achieving his historic fifth win in a row at Wimbledon: "I'm the lucky one. I told Rafa at the net he deserved it as well.
"It was a huge occasion and pressure with Bjorn Borg sitting there as well as Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Boris Becker.
"It's a big moment for me and to lift the trophy is a very special memory for all my life.
"We gave each other a Swedish hug. It was very nice because we like each other. So to see him after the match was very fitting."
© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
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