London, Jul 12 (EFE).– Serbian world No. 1 Novak Djokovic beat Switzerland’s Roger Federer 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (10-12), 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday to win his third Wimbledon title.

“It’s a great privilege to play against Roger, who is a great champion,” Djokovic said. “He has done so much for our sport on and off the court. It’s a great honor to play him again.”

The 28-year-old Djokovic, who also won titles at the All England Club last year and in 2011, is now 9-8 in major finals.

Djokovic beat Federer in last year’s final in a match that went five sets.

“Novak not only played great today, but also this year, last year and the year before that! Well done, Novak, you deserved it. At the end, he was rock solid. I didn’t play bad myself, so I can be very happy. That’s the way it goes. Once more, it has been a privilege to play here,” Federer, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, said.

Djokovic is on a roll, winning 35 of his last 36 matches, and he is 20-1 this year in majors, with his only loss coming to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final on June 7.

The Serbian star was broken in the sixth game of the first set, but he got the break right back in the next game, and he jumped to a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker, not giving up another point.

The two men played evenly in the second set and it appeared Djokovic was going to take a two-set lead in the match when he jumped to a 6-3 lead in the tiebreaker.

The 33-year-old Federer, however, rallied and fought off three set points, eventually evening things at 6-6 before getting the upper hand and taking the tiebreaker 12-10.

Djokovic stepped up his game in the third set, putting more pressure on Federer and breaking the Swiss star in the third game just when it seemed as if he would have an easy hold.

Play was suspended for about 25 minutes due to rain with Djokovic up 3-2, and the Serbian star was in complete control once play resumed, taking the set 6-4.

Federer seemed to lose some of his focus and rhythm after the rain delay and was broken in the fifth game.

Djokovic got another break in the ninth game for the championship, taking the set 6-3 and preventing the Swiss great from pushing him into a 5th set.

Federer, who has won a record 17 Grand Slam titles, told the crowd after the match that he planned to keep playing.

“I’m still very hungry and motivated to keep playing,” the Swiss great, who turns 34 on Aug. 8, said.

Federer won the championship at Wimbledon in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2012. EFE