“I don’t know if I’ve had a more happy period in my tennis life. I don’t know if I can ever top this,” Federer said on Monday at the All England Club. “These last months, with all the records on the line, and coming through both times,” said Federer, who also returned to No. 1 in the rankings. “It’s quite amazing.” After attending the Wimbledon Champions Dinner on Sunday, Federer managed to squeeze in two hours of sleep — from 7-9 a.m. — before rising on Monday. “Sleep is so overrated,” he said with a smile. “Then you wake up, and you’re like, ‘Man, you did it again.”’

Federer was asked whether it mattered that Nadal wasn’t around this year. “No. Not at all,” Federer said. “I didn’t play him in the French Open final, and it didn’t take anything away. (Bjorn) Borg walked away from tennis at 27 — does that take anything away from John McEnroe? No. You only have to beat who’s across the net.”

‘I’m still young’

After the match, Sampras repeated what he’s said before: He thinks Federer could wind up with 18 major titles or more. “It definitely seems possible, you know,” said Federer, who turns 28 next month. “I’m still young, in tennis terms.”

He discussed how back pain that sidelined him for about six weeks this season really took a toll. “I had to play too offensive,” he said. “Yeah, it’s only since before Rome (in late April) that I felt like the old guy again.” That “old guy” sure went on a roll: Federer beat Nadal in the final at Madrid, then became only the third man since 1970 to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.

Federer was asked how winning No 15 compared to winning No 14. “The 14th for me was really special, and obviously, with the combination of Paris being the first, it was so fitting. It was even more fitting breaking the record here at Wimbledon,” he said. “I just thought being on the same level with majors as Pete, that was kind of important to me, and not really breaking his record. I almost feel a little bit bad, to be quite honest.”