You heard it from the great man himself: Pete Sampras says that for him, Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time. Many have said it, a few have questioned it. But Pete Sampras is an authority that it is hard to challenge. Federer has just broken his record of 14 Grand Slams, with this victory over a remarkable Andy Roddick at Wimbledon 2009 and is now the leader of the pack, with 15 Grand Slam titles.

Centre Court was practically chockfull of former champs. Top of the pile, Rod Laver, the man generally considered the greatest player of all time, but one who graciously picks Federer as the greatest every time he’s asked. Then there was Bjorn Borg, Manolo Santana and Sampras in the royal box and John McEnroe commentating. Between the lot of them, they rule tennis you could say and most ruled Wimbledon in their time.

And most gave their vote to Roger Federer. And who can deny him that place. Andy Roddick, on a marvellous resurgence of his career, certainly tried. He broke the Federer serve twice to win two sets - set 1 at 7-5 and set 4 at 6-3 and never let up for most of those four hours and 16 minutes.

But great as Roddick was, Federer just had that extra. And finally, the other guy blinked, serving at 2 sets apiece, down 14 games to 15, Roddick just could not stave off that one more break point of the 7 odd he had denied Federer so far.

Last year’s final, where Federer lost to Rafael Nadal, was seen as an epic final. Now add this one to your list. For Roddick, there are many pluses to take away from the way he played and the tennis world must know that he’s back and he’s a contender.

But the bigger danger for the field is now Federer. He has 15 Grand Slam titles and a career slam and what has he got to lose or prove from now on? It’s all his for the taking and naysayers might just start to look foolish if they start to write him off again, as they did so easily last year.

Soon enough he becomes a father and that’s another stepping stone for a graceful, elegant, sublime and supreme tennis champion. Nay, champion of all sport. Ask Pete Sampras, Rod Laver, John McEnroe, and Bjorn Borg. They really do know. And now, so does everyone else.