Federer - now chasing Sampras' record.

By PA Sport staff

Roger Federer has joined the Wimbledon immortals by becoming only the eighth person to win a hat-trick of men's singles titles.

His straight-sets success over Andy Roddick means the Swiss star is already destined to go down in the pages of history alongside legends such as Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg and Fred Perry.

And with so many more campaigns to come, the 23-year-old already has Pete Sampras' seven-title haul in his sights and the belief that one day he will be regarded as the number one player of all time.

It is difficult to imagine a more complete player.

Federer's greatest strength is perhaps his composure in the face of immense pressure.

He breezed into this year's final on the back of 35-match winning run on grass, dropping just one set en route to the SW19 showdown.

The final with Roddick saw normal service continue with Federer showing just why he is the world number one from the start.

In many ways, Federer is much like the man he deposed at the All England Club in 2001.

Like seven-time champion Sampras, Federer lost in the opening round on his first two visits to the championships as he struggled to make the transition from juniors to the senior tour.

And like Sampras, the young man from Basle took a while to develop a game for grass - only to eventually find the perfect formula.

Sampras was 21 in 1993 when he began his dynasty - the same age Federer was when he first lifted the famous old gold trophy; in fact their birthdays are a mere four days apart in August.

Those who have gone before him are in no doubt the modest and unassuming Swiss player possesses both the talent and the temperament to eclipse their own achievements at the All England Club.

Boris Becker, the man who first claimed the singles title as a 17-year-old and would go on to win Wimbledon twice more, proclaimed: "He plays tennis like they used to play, like Ilie Nastase.

"He plays all the shots of tennis and that's something we don't really see any more."

Stefan Edberg faced Becker in three consecutive Wimbledon finals from 1988, twice beating his great rival, and he claimed: "I think you can put myself, Sampras and Federer in the same mould.

"We play, not exactly the same, but we do play similar. We all pretty much have got the goods.

"We sort of move well on the court and play similar with serve-and-volley.

"I was there. Maybe Sampras took over from me and now Federer will take over from Sampras."

The Swede added: "I think Federer has the greatest game of all the young guys. I think he has the game to stay at the top for years."

As for the man himself, he is just happy to continue entertaining the crowds at the most special venue of them all.

"This is my favourite place to play tennis," he says.

"The tradition, the Centre Court, the atmosphere, everything around it - these are all the things which make this tournament very special.

"Somehow you fall in love with this place. This is what also happened with me."

The grasscourts of the All England Club clearly enjoy his company too, and on the evidence of the past fortnight, look set to continue to do so for many years to come.