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5 Things: Federer, Djokovic in Wimbledon final

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS PASSA
AP Sports Writer

LONDON (AP) — For all their time on the world’s biggest tennis stage — Roger Federer in 24 Grand Slam finals and Novak Djokovic in 13 — two of the sport’s “Big 4” have met in only one major final: Federer won in straight sets at the 2007 U.S. Open.

They’ll renew their rivalry in a championship match at Wimbledon on Sunday and equal a Grand Slam record. It’s the 12th time they’ve met in any round of a major, equaling Djokovic’s duel with Rafael Nadal in majors.

Federer leads Djokovic 6-5 in Grand Slams tournaments, including a win the only time they’ve met at Wimbledon — Federer prevailing in four sets in the 2012 semifinals, the only time they’ve met on grass.

The Swiss star holds an 18-16 edge in career matches, although Djokovic has won three of five matches they’ve played since 2013, including this year on clay at Monte Carlo.

Federer is making his first appearance in a Grand Slam final since he won here in 2012, and has done it emphatically — dropping just one set in six matches.

Here are five other things to know about Sunday’s match on Centre Court at the All England Club:

TOP RANKING: A victory by Djokovic will return him to the No. 1 ranking for the first time since September of last year, taking over from Nadal. 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.

NOT THIS TIME: Defending champion Andy Murray, who lost to Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals here, or Nadal, who was beaten by Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round, had featured in 18 consecutive Grand Slam finals.

DOMINATION CONTINUES: The final match-up guarantees that 36 of the past 38 Grand Slam singles titles have gone to a member of the Big 4 — Federer, Djokovic, Murray and Nadal. For trivia buffs, the ones they didn’t win: the 2009 U.S. Open (Juan Martin del Potro) and this year’s Australian Open (Stan Wawrinka).

NOVAK SAYS: “We know each other’s games. Most of the matches we’ve played against each other went the distance, so I’m going to be physically ready and fit. 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. 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.”

ROGER SAYS: “We both like to take charge, especially on quicker courts. He has a wonderful way of either re-directing or taking the ball early, taking pace from the opponent, even generating some of his own. 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. I think for me it’s really important to stay aggressive.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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