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Federer bid for No. 8 at Wimbledon comes up short

By WTOP Staff

HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer

LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer already had saved one match point in the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, and had won four games in a row in the fourth set.

As both players sat on the sideline during the changeover before Federer was going to serve to try to force a fifth set, most of the nearly 15,000 spectators began chanting “Ro-ger! Ro-ger! Ro-ger!”

Federer did extend the match. He could not manage to win it. Falling just short of what would have been his record eighth championship at the All England Club, Federer lost to Djokovic 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4 Sunday in a back-and-forth tussle that lasted nearly four hours.

“In a match like the one today, where I needed support, they were there. I could sense that they really wished me well and hoped for me to either get back in the match or hopefully lift another trophy here at Wimbledon,” Federer said about the crowd.

“I already have seven. It’s not like I need another one,” he added. “But it would have been awfully nice to have it. I think that’s what the feeling was of the people, and I felt that.”

A month shy of his 33rd birthday, and a father to two sets of twins, Federer would have been the oldest man in more than a half-century to win Wimbledon. He also would have been the first since 1948 to save a match point in the tournament’s final and go on to take the title.

Federer was playing in his first Grand Slam final since 2012, when he beat Andy Murray in the final at the All England Club to earn his record 17th Grand Slam trophy overall.

Last year, Federer lost in the second round at the grass-court major, his earliest exit at Wimbledon since 2002, and at any Grand Slam tournament since 2013. He was struggling with a bothersome back and experimenting with a larger racket, and there were whispers about whether the Swiss star could ever challenge for another championship at one of tennis’ four most important tournaments.

But for most of this fortnight, Federer played superbly, serve-and-volleying more than usual and getting broken only once in 89 service games heading into Sunday.

“It’s the best Roger I’ve seen in years,” said Djokovic’s coach, Boris Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion who had a playing rivalry against Federer’s coach, Stefan Edberg.

But Djokovic might just be the game’s best returner nowadays, and he broke Federer four times, including in the match’s last game.

“I respect him and his achievements, his career. He’s a great champion on and off the court,” Djokovic said. “To be able to win against him, as one of my greatest rivals, on this occasion, on a court that he’s been dominating for so many years, makes it a very special trophy for me.”

Djokovic, who is 27, spoke about how he hopes this victory will spur him to add to his seven major titles.

Federer was asked whether this might have been his last hurrah.

“There is no guarantee that you’re going to be ever there again or not. Or maybe there’s much more to come. It’s really impossible to answer that question,” Federer said. “I’m very happy to see that with feeling (healthy), I can produce a performance like I did the last two weeks. That clearly makes me believe that this was just a steppingstone to many more great things in the future.”

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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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