It took over four hours and a dramatic final set spanning 30 games, but Roger Federer finally earned his record 15th Grand Slam championship. Surpassing Pete Sampras' mark on the all-time major title list, Federer claimed a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 victory over a spirited Andy Roddick for his sixth Wimbledon crown. For a player so aware and respectful of tennis' rich history, the victory was even more special because it came in front of tennis legends like (L-R) Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Rod Laver.

Matches Bjorn Borg's Open-Era record of five consecutive Wimbledons -- as well as Borg's total of 11 Grand Slam singles titles -- with a five-set defeat of Rafael Nadal in the final. With Borg watching from the Royal Box, Federer twice faces double-break point in the fifth -- at 1-1 and 2-2 -- but escapes both jams before rolling to victory 6-2. "I'm happy with every one I get now, before he takes them all," Federer says of Nadal in his post-match comments to the Centre Court crowd.

Completes the career Slam and ties Sampras with a 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over Robin Soderling, who had vanquished four-time defending champ Rafael Nadal in the fourth round. Federer, his path cleared but the expectations amplified by Nadal's exit, overcomes a two-set deficit against Haas in the fourth round, dispatches dangerous Frenchman Gael Monfils in the quarters and rallies from two-sets-to-one down against Juan Martin del Potro in the semifinals en route to the only major crown he lacked.

Facing 35-year-old crowd favorite Andre Agassi in the final, Federer takes the opening set but loses the second and trails 4-2 in the third before storming back to win 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1. Comparing Federer to Pete Sampras, Agassi says, "(Federer) plays the game in a very special way I haven't seen before ... There's nowhere to go. Pete was great, no question. But there was a place to get to with Pete. You knew what you had to do. If you could it, it could be on your terms. There's no such place like that with Roger."

Proving that surpassing Pete Sampras' all-time major championship record wouldn't sap him of any motivation, Roger Federer played cruised to his 16th Grand Slam title. Dropping just two sets the entire tournament, he dispatched semifinal opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and final challenger Andy Murray in straight sets. Asked to describe his win, Federer said "... I think this (the final) has been one of my finest performances, you know, in a long time. Or maybe forever."

Looking sharp in his custom-made blazer and playing even sharper on the Centre Court lawns, Federer mows through a tricky draw that includes Richard Gasquet and Tim Henman in the first two rounds before ultimately beating first-time finalist Rafael Nadal -- despite dropping his only set of the tournament -- for his 48th consecutive victory on grass and fourth Wimbledon title.

The march to history begins at the All England Club as Federer, seeded No. 4, drops just one set during the fortnight (in the third round against Mardy Fish) and dispatches a pair of big servers -- Andy Roddick in the semifinals, Mark Philippoussis in the final -- to earn his first major title.

Becomes the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three majors in one season, crushing former champ Lleyton Hewitt in the final (6-0, 7-6, 6-0). More memorable is Federer's five-set win over Andre Agassi in a quarterfinal match extended -- with Federer up two sets to one -- from a calm Wednesday night to a breezy Thursday afternoon.

Showing he can use tactics as well as talent to win, Federer beats Andy Roddick in a wet, four-set final. With the match even at one set all, Roddick leads 4-2 in the third when rain forces a delay. On resumption, Federer plays more aggressively, rallying to win the third in a tiebreak and the fourth 6-4. Says Roddick: "I threw the kitchen sink at him. He went to the bathroom and got his tub."

Sweeps through the draw Down Under without dropping a set, capping one of the most dominant performances in Grand Slam history with a win over Fernando Gonzalez in the final. Federer's march includes commanding wins over Novak Djokovic in the fourth round (6-2, 7-5, 6-3) and Andy Roddick in the semifinals (6-4, 6-0, 6-2).

Salvages a down year (by his standards) and answers a devastating Wimbledon loss to Rafael Nadal with his fifth consecutive U.S. Open title, defeating Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and Andy Murray -- who eliminated Nadal in the semifinals -- in a Monday night final. Federer becomes the first man to win two different Grand Slam events (Wimbledon, U.S. Open) five times.

Repeats his 2004 feat of winning three of the year's four majors with a commanding run in Flushing Meadows. Federer loses only two sets in seven matches: one to James Blake in a riveting quarterfinal, and one to Andy Roddick in the final (with friend and fellow Grand Slam-record chaser Tiger Woods watching from the front row).

Wins his first title Down Under, dropping just two sets along the way and steamrolling Marat Safin in straights in the final.

Unthreatened in his first six matches -- including a quarterfinal clash under the lights with Andy Roddick that he won 7-6, 7-6, 6-2 -- Federer is less dominant in the final against Novak Djokovic. The Serb serves at 6-5, 40-love in the opening set but can't close it out, ultimately failing to convert any of his seven set points in the first two sets as Federer prevails 7-6, 7-6, 6-4.

Makes it 7-for-7 in Grand Slam finals with a four-set victory over surprise finalist Marcos Baghdatis. The overwhelming favorite was overwhelmed by the moment, weeping as he accepted the winner's trophy from Aussie icon Rod Laver.

In a less-compelling rematch of their 2004 final, Federer routs Roddick 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 to make it three in a row at Wimbledon. As with his first title at the All England Club, this one comes with the loss of just one set the whole tournament.