Roger Federer turned up for the Wimbledon final with the world expecting him to break the record for the number of grand-slam tournament titles. But after four hours and 16 minutes, the man now officially the world’s greatest player was shattering records with every swish of his deadly accurate racket.

He was taken to the wire last year by Rafael Nadal, who defeated him in a huge match over 4hr 48min that lasted for 62 games, the most in a men’s final. But Federer and Andy Roddick went event farther yesterday — and at a rapid-fire pace — notching up 77 games.

The match against Roddick also set a new mark for the number of games played in a set in a final with their effort of 30 in the fifth, compared with the 24 in the first set of the 1954 final between Jaroslav Drobny and Ken Rosewall.

If nothing else, Federer showed that he has not only the skill, but also the remarkable endurance of a great champion. But some players just need the stamina on court when matches suddenly turn into epics.

Rafael Nadal v Roger Federer, Wimbledon 2008 (6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7)
It was called the greatest Wimbledon final of all time and, even after Roddick’s heroics yesterday, few will forget the incredible match that stretched over 4hr 48min into the twilight of the Centre Court. The title seemed to be within the grasp of Nadal, the young pretender who overthrew Federer to become the world’s No 1 player. But Federer is never out, hitting back from two sets down. The final set was as breathtaking as watching two gunslingers refusing to back down.

Pancho Gonzales v Charlie Pasarell, Wimbledon 1969 (22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9)
In the days before the tie-break, these two Americans needed an astonishing 112 games to sort out who went through from the first round. At some stages, drenched in sweat, they seemed as punch-drunk as the spectators as the match veered from one extreme to the other, the exhausting first set followed by a quickfire second only to switch into a monumental third, a quick fourth and then the long fifth. The match lasted 5hr 12 min — long enough for 3½ football matches.

Rod Laver v B. B. McKay, Wimbledon 1959 (11-13, 11-9, 10-8, 7-9, 6-3)
Rod Laver ended his career a four-time Wimbledon champion, but none of his matches on the hallowed turf lasted as long as this semi-final — 87 games. The players must have been sprinting between ends, though, or perhaps they just didn’t have any towels to waste time with, because the match was over in 3hr 45min.

Greg Holmes v Todd Witsken, Wimbledon 1989 (5-7, 6-4, 7-6, 4-6, 14-12)
The two Americans needed camp beds, two dinners, two breakfasts and a couple of lunches to complete this match. They started on their quest to progress from the second round on Thursday evening and finished after 5hr 28 min of play, on Saturday evening — officially the longest match in men’s singles history. Constant rain and bad light interruptions turned the match into a long, drawn-out affair.

Fabrice Santoro v Arnaud Clément, French Open 2004 (6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 16-14)
The longest tennis match on record, which took place at Roland Garros. The Frenchmen battled for 6hr 33min over two days in the first round in Paris. Inevitably, Santoro was ecstatic with his victory, declaring it “an exceptional moment”. An exhausted Clément was somewhat less euphoric. He said after helping to set the sport’s endurance record: “What do I get? A medal? I don’t have the impression that you make history when you lose a match in 6hr 33min.” Sore loser.