Federer's crazy year continues

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer spoke of his crazy year after beating Andy Roddick in a stupendous Wimbledon men's singles final on Sunday to become the most prolific winner of grand slam titles in men's tennis.

The Swiss, whose incredible 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 victory was his 15th career grand slam and sixth at Wimbledon, is now the holder of three of the sport's four big prizes after capturing the French Open title last month for the first time.

American great Pete Sampras, whose record of 14 grand slam titles Federer equalled in Paris, looked on from the Royal Box as the Swiss told the crowd what the moment meant.

"It's not really one of those goals you set as a little boy but, man, it's been quite a career," Federer, who pulled on a white tracksuit top with the number 15 emblazoned on the back, said on court after lifting the Challenge Trophy for a sixth time, 12 months after being beaten by Rafael Nadal here.

"It feels amazing but this is not why I am playing tennis for, to break all these records but it is definitely one of the greatest ones to have.

"This year's crazy, I told you. Things didn't look so good when I lost in the final of the Australian Open, which was still an unbelievable result.

"To come through and battle back and win Paris and now Wimbledon back-to-back, something Bjorn (Borg) did a couple of times, it's amazing."

A year ago, Federer's five-year reign at Wimbledon was ended by Nadal, he then hit back to win a fifth consecutive U.S. Open then in February he lost again to Nadal in the Australian Open when he broke down in tears.