An Epic Wimbledon Final Gives Way to Plans for a Grand Future - The New York Times

By Christopher ClareyWIMBLEDON, England — On Sunday evening, the Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic stood on Centre Court after beating Roger Federer and made it clear that his long-term plan was to keep improving and adding to his legacy.On Monday afternoon, Richard Lewis, the tournament’s chief executive, stood in front of an aerial photograph and made it clear that Wimbledon had a similar long-term plan of its own.The All England Club, which owns and operates tennis’s oldest Grand Slam tournament, continues to expand. Will the road be closed during the tournament?But what is clear is that a large number of grass courts will be constructed on the new site, allowing the club to stage the qualifying tournament at Wimbledon instead of at its current site about four miles away in Roehampton.That could happen in time for the 2024 tournament.Djokovic will be 37 then, the same age Federer was on Sunday when he pushed Djokovic to the brink of defeat, only to fail to convert two match points in the fifth set.Djokovic, showing his now-hallmark grit, went on to win the longest Wimbledon men’s singles final in history, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3).The fifth-set tiebreaker at 12-all — new to Wimbledon this year — was instituted to prevent ultramarathon matches that can wreak havoc on the schedule and on players’ ability to recover. Federer’s beautiful game, genial personality and sentimental status as the game’s grand old man mean that Djokovic is, for now, only No. 1 on the scoreboard at showplaces like Centre Court.“I don’t have any obligation to play,” Djokovic said of tennis.