LONDON -- For all their time on the world's biggest tennis stage, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have met in only one major final.
Federer has played in 24 Grand Slam finals and Djokovic has played in 13, but their only meeting in a Grand Slam final came in the 2007 U.S. Open, where Federer won in straight sets.
They will renew their rivalry today when they meet in the men's championship match at Wimbledon, which will mark the 12th time they have met in a major tournament. Federer leads Djokovic 6-5 in Grand Slam tournaments, including a victory the only time they've met at Wimbledon when Federer prevailed in four sets in the semifinals of the 2012 tournament.
Federer, 32, holds an 18-16 edge in career matches, although Djokovic, 27, has won three of the five matches they have played since 2013, including this year on clay at Monte Carlo.
"We know each other's games," said Djokovic, the tournament's No. 1 seed. "Most of the matches we've played against each other went the distance, so I'm going to be physically ready and fit.
Federer holds the record for career Grand Slam titles with 17, but he is making his first appearance in a Grand Slam final since winning here in 2012.
"The key against him is trying to not allow him to dictate too much because he likes to be very aggressive, he likes to come to the net," Djokovic said. "I'm going to have to be able to get as many returns back in the court and try to also stay closer to the line, protect the baseline."
A victory by Djokovic would return him to the No. 1 ranking for the first time since September, taking over from Rafael Nadal. It was also give Djokovic a seventh grand-slam title. Djokovic first rose to No. 1 when he won his only Wimbledon title in 2011, although he was already guaranteed of securing the top ranking even before beating Nadal in the final.
Federer and Djokovic are similar in that both like to try to take charge, especially on quicker courts like the one at Wimbledon. Federer said he expects their matchup will be a battle of ground strokes, and he believes it will be important to stay aggressive throughout the match.
"He has a wonderful way of either redirecting or taking the ball early, taking pace from the opponent, even generating some of his own," Federer said. "There's not really a safe place you can play into. Novak can hurt you down the line or cross-court on both sides.
"He's really improved ... his forehand, his serve. His movement clearly is what stands out the most."
Djokovic said he has been impressed with the resurgence of Federer, who has dropped only one set in six Wimbledon matches going into today's final.
"I respect Roger and everything he has achieved in his career as a player," said Djokovic, who has lost five sets and has been pushed in three of his matches at Wimbledon. "To come back and play finals of Wimbledon again, it's incredible what he's doing.
"But, again, when we come to the court that ends."
Sports on 07/06/2014