Ageless Roger Federer shows why retirement was not an option

Roger Federer’s three-set demolition of Andy Murray at Wimbledon on Friday gave a succinct answer to those who question why the Swiss continues to play deep into his thirties when he has already won everything the game has to offer.

He extended his record in Wimbledon semi-finals to 10-0 with minimal fuss, having served with such consistent precision that the home hope could muster only one break point in the whole contest, and had, he said, proved a point.

Federer may be the oldest player to reach a Wimbledon final in 41 years, and will start Sunday’s showpiece against Serbia’s world number one Novak Djokovic as the underdog, but there are clearly many miles left in the his tank.

Asked if his 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 triumph over Murray showed why he continued to postpone retirement despite failing to win a grand slam title in the last three years, he said: “For me it does.

“I always knew the reason why I was playing. I don’t need to explain a whole lot... I think the fans know why I’m playing.