Toby Melville / Reuters

Roger Federer celebrates after defeating Andy Murray in the Wimbledon men's final Sunday. Federer is now 17-7 in Grand Slam finals, including 7-1 at Wimbledon.

"The way the court plays is a bit different," the fourth-seeded Murray said. "I think he served very well when the roof closed. He served better."

The most monumental game, though, came with Murray serving and trailing 3-2 in the third. It was chock-full: 10 deuces, six break points for Federer, three falls to the turf by Murray, all spread over roughly 20 gloriously intense minutes.

Murray went up 40-love, then began to crack as Federer walloped two backhand returns to 40-30. On the next point, Federer conjured up another beautiful drop shot and Murray tumbled head-over-heels while giving chase; both Federer and the chair umpire went over to check on him. A few points later, Murray did a somersault at the baseline when he slipped going after a lob. And on it went. At the 10th deuce, Federer sent another lob over Murray, who hit the deck yet again, but got up in time to see the ball plop on the baseline. This set up Federer's sixth break point, the last he would need - in the game and the set, certainly, but also in the match and the tournament, it seemed.

He converted it with an inside-out forehand that landed in a corner, and Murray could only push his reply into the net.

There would be no more shifts of control, no reasons for Federer to doubt - or for Murray and his legion of backers to believe.

The final break for Federer made it 3-2 in the fourth, when he flicked a cross-court backhand passing winner that was powerful and perfect. Federer made a rare show of strong emotion, shaking his right fist and bellowing. That, essentially, was that, no matter how many times the fans were going to sing their choruses of "An-dy! An-dy!" and "Mur-ray! Mur-ray!"

Federer only needed to hold serve three more times, and he did, then crumbled to the court when Murray sailed one last forehand wide.

"This is, I guess, how you want to win Wimbledon - by going after your shots, believing you can do it," Federer said, "and that's what I was able to do today."

He most definitely is back to being the best at what he does.

Federer turns 31 on Aug. 8, and is the first thirtysomething man to win Wimbledon since Arthur Ashe in 1975.

No matter. He and Sampras — and, by now, plenty of others — see no reason why Federer can't keep adding to all of his records.

"I'm so happy I'm at the age I am right now, because I had such a great run and I know there's still more possible. To enjoy it right now, it's very different than when I was 20 or 25," said Federer, whose twin daughters, wearing matching black-and-white dresses and frilly socks, applauded from his guest box during the trophy ceremony.

"I'm at a much more stable place in my life. I wouldn't want anything to change," he added. "So this is very, very special right now."

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Lleyton Hewitt, Andreas Seppi beaten at Nice Open

Top-ranked Djokovic bounced in Rome

US Open tennis leaving CBS for ESPN in 2015

Murray retires from match against Granollers

Serena gains sisterly revenge on Robson in Rome

Brazilian player received 8 1/2-month doping ban

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Djokovic and Federer show improved form in Rome