'It is insane': The eerily similar Roger Federer points seven years apart

It's 2012 and Roger Federer holds championship point in the Wimbledon final.

A fast serve goes straight down the T, Andy Murray returns a forehand and Federer hits an approach to Murray's right.

The Scot shuffles and attempts a quick cross-court passing shot to end the point quickly – but it goes wide.

Federer has won his seventh Wimbledon trophy and his first since 2009, while Murray is once again made to wait for his first grand slam title.

Seven years later Murray is on the comeback trail from hip surgery and it is the 37-year-old Federer who is once again in the Wimbledon final.

This time it's against Novak Djokovic, who is gunning for his second successive title at the All England Club.

It's Federer who holds the first championship point, however, at 8-7 40-15 in the fifth set.

He misses out then but a second opportunity yields a fresh chance.

A fast serve goes straight down the T, Djokovic returns a forehand and Federer hits an approach to Djokovic's right.

If it sounds familiar, here's where the similarities end.

Federer – seven years older, perhaps feeling a little more pressure as the match pushes towards five hours in length – shuffles to the net.

But he’s closing off less of his forehand side, and his last shot of the point was less venomous than it was seven years ago.

So Djokovic attempts a quick cross-court passing shot – and it lands safely in the service box before Federer can get near it.

That would be the last championship point Federer held in the final against the Serbian world No.1, who went on to win 13-12 (7-3) in a historic tiebreak.

As tennis fan and writer Juan Jose Vallejo noted, the difference began immediately after the serve and much of it was down to Djokovic’s supreme defensive skills.

Another aspect that went against Federer was assessed by journalist Tumaini Carayol.

"The serve vs Murray was also just considerably better in placement and depth," he wrote.

"Murray scrambling for the return was pretty understandable. But yes, Djokovic looks almost serene while down match point. It is insane."

The enormity of the defeat hit Federer, bidding to become the oldest grand slam champion in half a century, almost immediately.

"I don't know what I feel right now,” he said.

“I just feel like it's such an incredible opportunity missed, I can't believe it.”

Federer won more points and more games, conjured more break points and delivered almost three times as many aces as the Serbian, who admitted to being on the back foot all match.

"It really doesn't matter actually," Federer said of the raw numbers.

"I know what I did well, how close I was. I don't need to feel that way. I think I can be happy about my performance.

"It was a great match with wonderful points. It had everything. Novak played also amazing so I hope it resonates in a big way."

with AAP