Djokovic is back, and Federer is still here: 5 things we learned at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic called his five-set victory over Roger Federer at Wimbledon the “most special Grand Slam final I’ve played.” Not merely because it earned Djokovic a second title at the All England Club, and seventh major championship overall. And not simply because it was a back-and-forth struggle against Federer, owner of 17 Grand Slam trophies, including a record-tying seven at Wimbledon. That all made the moment worth relishing, of course. Still, what really made Djokovic so enthusiastic about getting past Federer 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4 was that it proved again — to others, yes, but mainly to himself — that he can come up big on the biggest stages. [caption id=“attachment_1606697” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Djokovic and Roger Federer both proved something[/caption] Here are five things we learned at Wimbledon: DJOKOVIC IS BACK: The 27-year-old Serb is once again a major champion — it had been 18 months since his 2013 Australian Open title — and he’s also once again No. 1 in the ATP rankings, moving up a spot to overtake Rafael Nadal on Monday. The other time Djokovic won Wimbledon, in 2011, he also rose to No. 1 the next day. FEDERER CAN CONTEND: This, truly, is something most of the tennis world already knew. But Federer, who turns 33 on Aug. 8, had gone two years without getting to a Grand Slam final. For six matches, he was at his best, playing an attacking style and serving phenomenally well. In 2013, he left Wimbledon a second-round loser, part of a stretch in which he failed to get past the fourth round at three out of four majors. Other early exits followed for Federer, who was plagued by a bad back and had trouble settling on the proper racket. “I’m very happy to see that with feeling (healthy), I can produce a performance like I did the last two weeks,” he said. “That clearly makes me believe that this was just a steppingstone to many more great things in the future.” THE KIDS ARE COMING: Yes, Djokovic’s win means he, Federer, Nadal and Andy Murray — tennis’ “Big 4” — have won 36 of the past 38 Slams. But this fortnight showed that the next generation is on its way, from semifinalists Grigor “Baby Fed” Dimitrov of Bulgaria and big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada, to 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios, who not only beat Nadal but also wowed with a nonchalant, behind-the-back, between-the-legs winner. BOUCHARD IS HERE TO STAY: Women’s tennis might have found its next star in 20-year-old Eugenie Bouchard, the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam singles final. She lost meekly to Petra Kvitova — who, by the way, is only 24, now owns two Wimbledon titles, and seems ready to be a consistent challenger at other majors, too — but is 16-2 in Grand Slam matches on three surfaces this season. KEEP AN EYE ON WILLIAMS: First, No. 1-ranked Serena Williams lost before the quarterfinals in singles for the third consecutive major. Three days later, she pulled out after three games of a doubles match with what she called a “bug” and the tournament referee’s office said was a viral illness. Associated Press