Roger Federer savoured "an unbelievable moment" in his career after claiming a record 15th grand slam title with victory in an amazing Wimbledon final against Andy Roddick.

Roger Federer savoured "an unbelievable moment" in his career after claiming a record 15th grand slam title with victory in an amazing Wimbledon final against Andy Roddick.

Federer saved four set points in the second set and eventually triumphed 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 to win a sixth Wimbledon crown on Centre Court.

"It was a crazy match, an unbelievable end and my head is still spinning. This could have gone on for a few more hours I think," said Federer. "It's an unbelievable moment in my career."

Pete Sampras, who had shared the record for most grand slam titles with Federer until today, flew in from the United States overnight to watch the match from the Royal Box and Federer added: "Thanks very much for coming, I know it's a long way but you're a member, we like to see you here and it's such a pleasure to play in front of such great legends.

"It's not really one of those goals you set as a little boy but man, it's been quite a career and quite a month.

"It feels amazing but this is not why I'm playing tennis, to break all sorts of different records, but it's definitely one of the greatest ones to have.

"But this doesn't mean we stop playing tennis. I want to keep enjoying tennis for many more years so I hope to come back here and play some good tennis in the future."

Federer's win also sees him regain the world number one spot from the absent Rafael Nadal, who withdrew through injury, and the Swiss added: "I guess it's nice to have but of course I'm aware that Rafa didn't play here.

"Injuries are part of the game but I'm happy I became number one in the world by winning this title because this is the biggest one there is and I love playing here.

"Things didn't look so good when I lost in the finals of the Australian Open (earlier this year) but to come through and win Paris and now Wimbledon back to back it's amazing."

A gallant Roddick paid tribute to Federer and apologised to fellow American Sampras for being unable to prevent him losing his record.

"Roger is a true champion and he deserves everything he gets," said 26-year-old Roddick, who has now lost three Wimbledon finals to Federer. "I tried, sorry Pete, I tried to hold him off.

"It was a pleasure playing here today in front of great champions like Pete, Rod (Laver) and Bjorn (Borg). I still hope one day that my name will be up there with theirs as a winner of this tournament."

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT FEDERER

Rod Laver: "Roger's got too many shots, too much talent in one body. It's hardly fair that one person can do all this - his backhands, his forehands, volleys, serving, his court position... the way he moves around the court, you feel like he's barely touching the ground, and that's the sign of a great champion."

Pete Sampras: "I'm a fan of how he plays, what he's about... he's a class guy on and off the court. He's fun to watch. Just his athletic ability, what he's able to do on the run. I think he can and will break every tennis record out there."

Bjorn Borg: "He simply does not have any more weaknesses left in him. It is such a pleasure to see him play. To me, Roger Federer is the right model for anyone aspiring to be a tennis player. It is such a pleasure to just watch him play. His shot-making has got better and I doubt there is any shot he cannot make in any part of the court."

Jimmy Connors: "[In the modern game], you're a clay-court specialist, a grass-court specialist or a hard-court specialist... or you're Roger Federer."

John McEnroe: "He's the most gifted player that I've ever seen in my life. I've seen a lot of people play. I've seen the (Rod) Lavers, I played against some of the great players - the Samprases, Beckers, Connors, Borgs, you name it. This guy could be the greatest of all time. That, to me, says it all."

Mats Wilander: "I'd like to be in his shoes for one day to know what it feels like to play that way."

Tim Henman: "I don't think there's anyone that hits the ball like that. Sure, if you take Roddick's serve and (Andre) Agassi's returns and my volleys and (Lleyton) Hewitt's speed and tenacity, then you've probably got a good chance against Federer."

Tiger Woods: "What he's done in tennis, I think, is far greater than what I've done in golf."

Tracy Austin: "I've never enjoyed watching someone playing tennis as much as Federer. I'm just in awe. Pete Sampras was wonderful but he relied so much on his serve, whereas Roger has it all, he's just so graceful, elegant and fluid - a symphony in tennis whites. Roger can produce tennis shots that should be declared illegal."

Serena Williams: "Roger is obviously a pinnacle athlete across all sports and he just does a great job. He's so graceful out there. I love watching him play. I learn so much from him."

Andy Roddick (on Federer's 21 consecutive grand slam semi-finals): "It's almost impossible. That's one of the most impressive stats that we'll see in tennis."

CLASSIC WIMBLEDON FINALS

We look back at six classic men's finals.

1980 BJORN BORG BEATS JOHN McENROE 1-6 7-5 6-3 6-7 (16/18) 8-6

With Borg going for his fifth successive Wimbledon crown, 21-year-old McEnroe, with his famous sliced serve, raced into an early lead.

The American seemed to be out of juice when Borg came steaming back at him claiming the next two sets with a minimum of fuss, before going a break up in the fourth.

But McEnroe broke back to take the set into the now legendary tie-breaker, in which the left-hander saved five match points before finally prevailing 18-16.

A tiring McEnroe scrapped through set five, but the Swede finally broke him in game 14 to seal a truly epic victory.

1984: JOHN McENROE BEATS JIMMY CONNORS 6-1 6-1 6-2

Not a classic in the traditional sense - the match was barely a contest, but McEnroe's display is still considered to be the finest exhibition of grass-court tennis ever witnessed.

He broke in Connors' first service game to sprint into a 3-0 lead, then again in game six for 5-1 before serving out the first set.

Before Connors had time to regroup he was 4-0 down in the second, with McEnroe in complete control of his serve-volley game, and though he battled he could manage just two games in the third.

1990: STEFAN EDBERG BEAT BORIS BECKER 6-2 6-2 3-6 3-6 6-4

This was the great comeback that never was in a display of wonderful attacking tennis on Centre Court.

Becker revealed in his autobiography he had taken too many sleeping pills the night before and played the first two sets "like a sleepwalker".

Perhaps things would have been different had Becker been wide awake, but Edberg was flawless at the net as he strolled into a two-set lead.

But Becker stormed back with some thrilling tennis in the final three sets - though the third consecutive final between the pair, the previous two of which had been split, was edged by the Swede in the fifth.

2001: GORAN IVANISEVIC BEAT PAT RAFTER 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7

The People's Final was the first to begin on the third Monday after rain had disrupted the Championships and ended as one of the great sporting fairytales.

Ivanisevic had made three finals at the All England Club, losing in five sets to Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras in 1992 and 1998 and in three to Sampras in 1994, but, having entered as a wild card in 2001, nobody expected much from the big-serving Croat.

In front of an unusually raucous Centre Court crowd the players rose to the occasion, pumping themselves up in five topsy-turvy sets, the first four of which were split between the two.

And Ivanisevic claimed an epic fifth to ensure he would not be remembered as one of the sport's nearly men.

2007: ROGER FEDERER BEAT RAFAEL NADAL 7-6 (9/7) 4-6 7-6 (7/3) 2-6 6-2

One of the greatest Wimbledon finals, Federer was made to work all the way to equal Bjorn Borg's five straight titles at the All England Club.

Federer started the match like he had the previous year, racing into a 3-0 lead, but Nadal broke back, forcing him to take the first on a tie-breaker.

Nadal took the second with a break in game 10 before the third went the way of the first. But Nadal, with the help of a Hawk-Eye over-rule which clearly upset Federer, took the fourth with two breaks.

Federer saved four break points in the fifth, but took his game to another level to claim his fifth title.

2008: RAFAEL NADAL BEAT ROGER FEDERER 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-7 (8/10) 9-7

Nadal claimed his first Wimbledon title in epic fashion.

The Spaniard had squandered a two-set lead before sealing his triumph as darkness fell.

He was on the brink of victory after taking the advantage in the fourth-set tie-break and holding two points for the title, the second of which Federer saved with a sensational backhand winner.

But in a match interrupted by two brief rain delays, Nadal finally seized his chance in the 15th game of the final set, breaking Federer then serving out and marking his victory by crumbling to the court.

LAVER HAILS FEDERER ACHIEVEMENT

Rod Laver saluted Roger Federer's feat of winning a 15th grand slam as "an unbelievable effort".

But Australian Laver, who won two calendar Grand Slams during his distinguished career, stressed it was impossible to compare players from different eras and name the sport's greatest star.

Federer, 27, today broke the record of 14 career grand slam titles, which he shared with Pete Sampras, to become the most successful player of all time.

Laver, now 70, said: "It's amazing what sorts of shots he can come up with from impossible positions.

"It's a great feeling to watch the talent he has and the opponents that he beats comfortably, where other players have such a tough time. With a player like (Ivo) Karlovic, the other players can't get his serves back but how come Roger can do it?

"He's just naturally talented and can change where he has to change.

"It's an unbelievable effort to have 15 grand slam titles.

"Pete Sampras has got 14, which was an unbelievable effort right there."

Laver won 11 grand slam titles but from 1963 to 1967, during the peak years of his career, he was prevented from playing at Wimbledon and the Australian, US and French Opens, which were only open to amateurs.

He won Wimbledon in 1961, 1962, 1968 and 1969, and would almost certainly have claimed many more slams, which would have meant Federer would now be chasing Laver's record rather than out in front by himself.

Laver duly claimed it was difficult to compare players from different eras.

He said: "I've always thought that if you're the best in your era that is a pretty good compliment to your game and your tennis over your career.

"It's hard for anyone to come out and say who's the best ever."

Laver nevertheless does not lack admiration for Federer's incredible record, which began with a first Wimbledon title in 2003.

"You almost think about table tennis when you think of the way Roger plays with a racquet," said Laver.

"The public should just watch his feet, just watch Roger and not the ball, and you'd see how great a player he is to pull off some of the shots.

"When he's half-volleying winners off the baseline, you just marvel at the ability to do that.

"To analyse his game is hard but he's got so many spins, he's co-ordinated and anticipates so well."

Laver believes Federer's friendship with golf world number one Tiger Woods has driven the man from Basle, Switzerland, to new heights.

"You've got to be in the game and enjoy the sport to be able to do something like this," continued Laver.

"You're not going to (win) 12 or 13 events if you don't respect the game and enjoy it. It's a thrill for you to get out there and play.

"That's the one thing Roger has, that I think is admirable for tennis.

"It's great that tennis has someone like Roger. He and Tiger Woods are good friends, fighting to see who can have the best number of grand slams in golf and tennis.

"That all helps the game of tennis."

Federer is still one short of matching Sampras' number of Wimbledon triumphs.

Sampras won seven times between 1993 and 2000 and Laver suggested the American would possibly edge a match against Federer at Wimbledon, if both players were at their peak.

"In some ways I think I might take Sampras, only because of his serve," added the Australian.

"He's got a big serve and volleying ability.

"He's a little more versatile when it comes to the power game.

"It's a hypothetical thing, of being able to say who is going to do it.

"It depends who is in form that day."