Though this Wimbledon final was framed as the last, best chance for Roger Federer to win another major, his opponent, Novak Djokovic, who won in a five-set classic, actually needed the title far more.

Everything now is icing on the cake for Federer. He’s 32 years old. He has 17 Grand Slams, the most in history. Maybe he’ll win another, maybe he won’t. If he stays stuck at 17, then this loss will sting. He’ll think about it forever, every time he goes back to Wimbledon or has to see Djokovic at events or when he’s summering in Cannes with Mirka and the two sets of twins. Those crucial points, like the overhead miss at 15-15 and 4-4 in the fifth set, will always creep back into his memory. That pain won’t go away, especially if Nadal ends up with 17 or 18 majors for his career.

But this wasn’t a referendum on the career of Roger Federer. It was for Novak Djokovic.

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Sunday was a pivotal moment in Djokovic’s tennis life. If a few points had swung in that final set and Federer had gone on to win, Djokovic would have lost his last four major finals and six of his past seven. Why can’t Djokovic close? He was twice up a break in the fourth set, including at 5-2. He just had to hold serve to win the championship. Why does Djokovic choke away the big moments?

All those doubts had to come creeping back as Djokovic sat in his chair before the fifth set. What would his career arc be? Is he the talented player who had a magical run in 2011 and 2012 but lost his mental edge and couldn’t win big matches? Before, during and after every Grand Slam, Djokovic would be asked about his inability to finish. The chorus would get louder and louder with every Grand Slam loss.

But Novak Djokovic didn’t lose. He won. He gets the nice rewards, like a seventh Slam, second Wimbledon and new No. 1 ranking, taken away from Rafael Nadal. More importantly though, all the questions about closing a match are gone. The doubts are silenced. Yes, he gagged multiple times with a chance to win in the fourth set, but that’ll be a footnote to this match, nothing more. Novak Djokovic is now the player who faced tough battles in Grand Slam finals, but persevered to win a classic against the winningest Grand Slam player in the history of the sport.

This would have been the greatest win of Roger Federer’s career. It is the greatest win for Novak Djokovic.

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