Roger that: Federer wins Wimbledon

The "King of Grass" reclaimed his throne.

After a three-year dry spell, Roger Federer took back the Wimbledon Championship yesterday, beating local favorite Andy Murray, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, to win his record-tying seventh title at the All England Club.

"It's amazing," Federer said during the post-match ceremony. "It equals me to Pete Sampras, who's my hero. It's just amazing."

Federer's win ended the storybook run of Scottish-born Murray, the No. 4 seed who enjoyed the support -- and endured the pressure -- of having the crowds and local media behind him the whole way. When he took to the microphone, he broke down, unable to control the emotion that came with coming so close to his first Grand Slam.

"I'm getting closer," he said before pausing to regain his composure. It was the fourth time he'd lost in a Grand Slam final, three of which were to Federer. "He's not bad for a 30-year-old," Murray said. "Congratulations, you deserve it."

The title puts Federer back into the world's No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2010, which means he will break the tie with Sampras for most weeks in the top spot.

The Switzerland native got off to a slow start, dropping the first set after having his serve broken in the first game of the match, and again later in the frame. But he broke Murray in the final game of the second set, and took control in the third after a 40-minute rain delay led to the closure of the roof at Centre Court, breaking Murray twice.

"When the roof closed, he played unbelievable tennis," Murray said.(Michael Cunniff)