FED LOVE FIFTEEN.

Byline: NEIL McLEMAN

ROGER FEDERER became the greatest tennis champion of all time last night by winning an epic five-set Wimbledon final against Andy Roddick.

The Swiss star overtook the record he had shared with the watching Pete Sampras to claim the 15th Grand Slam title of his career.

But the new world No.1 was pushed to the limit in the longest fifth set in a Wimbledon final before claiming his sixth title 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 in four hours and 16 minutes.

Federer, who won his first Major here in 2003, said: "I'm happy I broke the record here because this is always the tournament that's meant the most to me.

"It didn't look so good when I lost the final of the Australian Open but I battled back to win the French and Wimbledon back to back, which not many people have done."

This year will soon get even better with his wife Mirka due to give birth.

"I'm together with a lovely wife for almost 10 years. There's more to life than just tennis," he stated.

Federer said he felt extra nerves when he saw Sampras arrive in the Royal Box after the match started.

Sampras, who won Wimbledon seven times, said: "Roger is the greatest for me. He can go on to 18 or 19. he is effortless.

"He is so smooth. I just feel sorry for Andy who played a great match."WIMBLEDON ROLL OF HONOUR MEN'S SINGLES: Roger Federer (Switzerland) WOMEN'S SINGLES: Serena Williams (US) MEN'S DOUBLES: Daniel Nestor (Can) & Nenad Zimonjic (Ser) WOMEN'S DOUBLES: Serena Williams & Venus Williams (US) MIXED DOUBLES: Mark Knowles (Bah) & Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Ger) BOYS SINGLES: Andrey Kuznetsov (Rus) BOYS DOUBLES: Pierre-Hugues Herbert (Fra) & Kevin Krawietz (Ger) GIRLS SINGLES: Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (Tha) GIRLS DOUBLES: Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (Tha) & Sally Peers (Aus)

CAPTION(S):

OLD MASTER Sampras sees his record beaten