It is a dream rematch of last year's Wimbledon final, in which Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in a thrilling five-set championship battle that many perceived to be the best match of 2014.  But while fans and analysts around the globe will be hoping for an exciting encore to that encounter, Djokovic and Federer will strictly be looking for a way to seal a victory in any way possible.  It is a difficult assignment for both.

As historical evidence shows, there is little to choose between these two combatants.  Djokovic and Federer are ranked and seeded No. 1 and No. 2 respectively.  Federer leads their head-to-head by just a single match at 20-19.  They are even at six apiece when squaring off in a major and 1-1 when meeting at Wimbledon.  As has so often been the case in the past, this latest installment in their rivalry is bound to be decided by who can execute his game best on a handful of key points.

Djokovic has been predominantly clutch throughout the bulk of 2015, and as a result, he has been a difficult man to beat this season.  Federer is one of the few who has handed him a defeat this year, however, so Djokovic knows he has to be at his best in this final.  That equates to him putting in a lot of first serves, not only to reduce the odds of Federer immediately putting him on the defensive with the return, but also to avoid donating any of the double faults that he can sometimes be prone to.  In addition to that, he has to remain committed to staying aggressive and only relying on defense when absolutely necessary.  His ground strokes are not as penetrating as Federer's on this surface, so he does not want to relinquish any ground to the Swiss.  Staying up on the baseline will also allow him to get under the Federer slice with greater success, as well as afford him more opportunities to take the net away from the seven-time Wimbledon champion.

Federer will be looking to get into the net and dictate the rallies.  His defense is still great, but it is not quite as good as Djokovic's.  Nor does he want to look to merely trade groundstrokes with the Serb, since that is also apt to be a losing proposition.  Instead, Federer must continue to take his cuts on the return, regularly flatten out his forehand, and mix it up with his backhand.  Federer also has to be conscious of knowing when to run around his backhand.  It is true that his forehand is his bigger weapon, and that will help him make the most inroads against the top seed in this match.  That said, Djokovic has been struggling at times to handle the backhand slice, and few in the business hit that shot with more spin and variety than Federer.  And finally, like Djokovic, Federer also has to have a good serving day.  The current No. 1 has the best return in tennis, and Federer does not want to be put on the defensive from the second shot in the point.

Finding the mental strength to consistently compete at their best will not be easy, however, and it has nothing to do with lack of experience.  Instead, it is that this is such a big match for both men.  Barring an unforeseen injury, Djokovic will still be a heavy favorite going into the US Open, irrespective of what happens.  No one will question his ability to win another major.  But after his painful loss at Roland Garros last month, the last thing Djokovic wants to do is compound his misery by losing this Sunday and undermining his confidence heading into the summer hard-court season.  By contrast, Federer is aware that uncertainty about his odds of winning another major will ramp up with a loss on Sunday.  Furthermore, he knows his window is closing, and Wimbledon is his best look at winning another Grand Slam.  Grabbing his 18th major at Wimbledon would be extra sweet, for it would move him past Pete Sampras with an unprecedented eight titles at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. 

Conventional wisdom would give the nod to Djokovic.  He has had the better season, is the top seed, and proved last year that he could win this title after a disappointing loss in the final of Roland Garros.  Arguably, though, the edge should probably go to Federer.  He plays better on this surface than the Serb, the majority of the crowd will be firmly in his corner, and he has looked the sharper of the pair throughout this fortnight.  Either way, the stage is set for a thrilling final.