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As last year’s U.S. Open began, plenty of people were wondering what was wrong with Roger Federer. Feeling sorry for the guy, even. Federer arrived at Flushing Meadows in 2008 ranked No. 2, not No. 1. He arrived with - gasp! - zero Grand Slam titles for the season, having lost to Rafael Nadal in the finals at the French Open (a blowout) and Wimbledon (a heartbreaker). He arrived to a chorus of questions about whether Nadal had surpassed him for good.

Defending champion Serena Williams was seeded No. 2 for the U.S. Open yesterday, behind Dinara Safina, because the tournament stuck to its policy of strictly following the rankings. Roger Federer was seeded No. 1 for the fifth time at the year’s last Grand Slam tournament. He is ranked No. 1 and has won the U.S. Open five years in a row.

Last weekend Roger Federer won the men’s title at Wimbledon. His victory moved him past Pete Sampras in all-time wins in “grand slam” tournaments. Does that make him the greatest male tennis player ever? Maybe. Maybe not. For many years professionals could not play in the four tournaments composing the grand slam. The tourneys at Wimbledon and Forest Hills, for instance, were for amateurs only. When excellent competitors such as Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, and Ken Rosewall went pro, they no longer qualified for the grand slams. There is no telling how many slams certain players would have won if they had not turned professional, often during the peaks of their careers.

WIMBLEDON, England—Roger Federer won his record 15th Grand Slam title yesterday, outlasting Andy Roddick for his sixth Wimbledon championship in a marathon match that went to 16-14 in the fifth set. Federer served a career-high 50 aces and overcame the resilient American 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 16-14 to break the record of major titles he shared with Pete Sampras and enhance his reputation as perhaps the greatest player in history.

A year ago, plenty of people were feeling sorry for Roger Federer. They were sending him letters with good wishes or—believe it or not—tennis tips. They were offering advice about how to deal with a perceived drop in performance and ideas for how to beat Rafael Nadal. “If you achieved a lot, like I did, for so many years, and then you don’t win some tournaments, people say, ‘Oh, you’re already on the decline,‘ very quickly,“ Federer said yesterday. “I hope it just opens some eyes, these last few months.“

WIMBLEDON, England—Rising, rising, rising, high above the most famous patch of grass in tennis, Roger Federer offered his best impression of Pete Sampras on match point in the Wimbledon semifinals yesterday, tucking both feet back beneath his body and uncorking an overhead smash. And now, after years of chasing Sampras, Federer is poised to surpass him.

Roger Federer delivered a masterful grass-court performance to beat Tommy Haas 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3 today, while Andy Roddick defeated Andy Murray 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5).

men’s semifinals WIMBLEDON, England The current edition of Wimbledon is the 23rd Grand Slam tournament since Andy Roddick won his lone major championship at the 2003 U.S. Open. He badly wants to win a second. It’s why he changed coaches this season. Slimmed down. Put in as much work as ever in practice, striving to improve his returns, his backhands, his volleys.

Andy Roddick (above) defeated 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt in a five-set quarterfinal epic. WIMBLEDON, England—Roger Federer neutralized Ivo Karlovic’s huge serves yesterday to reach the Wimbledon semifinals and move a step closer to a record 15th Grand Slam championship. Two-time finalist Andy Roddick, Andy Murray and Tommy Haas completed the final four.

men’s quarterfinals WIMBLEDON, England Roger Federer already has been through a “serving contest” at Wimbledon this year. It’s probably nothing compared to what’s coming next. Federer used the term after his fourth-round match Monday, which included two tiebreakers and only one break of serve. Up next in today’s quarterfinals is Ivo Karlovic, who makes a living smacking aces and service winners.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP)—They played into the night, later than anyone ever had in Wimbledon’s long history, and they played indoors, the first match contested entirely under Centre Court’s new roof.

Roger Federer (left) is looking to break a tie with Pete Sampras by winning a 15th major championship; Venus Williams is striving to become the first woman to win Wimbledon three straight times since Steffi Graf accomplished the feat from 1991-93. WIMBLEDON, England As Week 1 gives way to Week 2 at Wimbledon today, the primary story lines have not shifted since the beginning of the tournament.

WIMBLEDON, England—Lo and behold, Roger Federer actually lost a set at Wimbledon yesterday. Not a match, mind you, just a set, which in and of itself counts as news. Dating to the start of the 2003 tournament, after all, Federer is 43-1 at the All England Club, dropping a total of 11 sets along the way. Here’s the part that’s interesting—and perhaps intimidating to future foes: Federer called his 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 victory over 27th-ranked Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the third round his best performance of the week. And now, because Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament that rests on the middle Sunday, Federer gets a full weekend for a little rest.

Second-seeded Serena Williams reacts during her 6-1, 7-5 victory over qualifier Neuza Silva. Williams won back-to-back Wimbldeon titles in 2002-03. WIMBLEDON, England—The new roof wasn’t tested. Roger Federer was—briefly. The retractable roof stayed open yesterday at Wimbledon, and Federer fell behind early in the opening match on Centre Court before charging past Yen-hsun Lu , 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.