Federer takes first set in final

Roger Federer kept his nerve in a tight first set tie-break to seize the initiative in the Wimbledon final against Mark Philippoussis today.

Philippoussis cracked first with his third double fault of the set to hand Federer two set points at 6-4.

And the Swiss fourth seed took advantage of his second chance with an unreturnable serve to edge the breaker 7-5.

Both players had served impressively throughout a first set devoid of a single break-point chance for either man.

Philippoussis had typified the big-serving battle by summoning a 138mph ace to get himself out of a small hole at 30-30 in the eighth game of the match.

And had also hit back from 0-30 down in the 12th game to force the inevitable tie-break.