Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal. The two best players of their generation taking each other on in the final of the greatest tennis tournament anywhere in the world. It had the makings of a classic, but we always say that, thankfully this one exceeded all expectations.
The ingredients:
- Rafa's Revenge - Federer had triumphed over Nadal in the last two Wimbledon finals
- Fed's Fury - Nadal lost just four games to Federer in a spectacular French Open final win a month earlier
- Nadal's forehand - Arguably the finest shot in the game today, the Spaniard can do anything with it, from anywhere
- Roger's Record - Going into the match Federer was an unbelievable 66 grass court matches unbeaten
- Iberian Improvement - Nadal's ability on grass has increased dramatically in the last two years
Centre Court was packed to the Pat Rafter's (excuse the pun) as the players entered the cauldron. The fans' took no sides and cheered every winner, by either player, as if Tim Henman was taking on Andy Murray for the title at SW19.
Nadal was out of the blocks quicker than Usain Bolt - 100m world record holder - and cruised through the opening set 6-4 with a series of trademark forehand cross-court winners. Five-time champion Federer was struggling to find his form against the barrage of ground strokes coming from the other end and the world number one made unforced error after unforced error as he lost the second set by the same score.
Nadal was, almost literally, on fire by this point and Federer will be eternally grateful for the showers that haulted the Spaniard's march to the crown.
Upon the resumption of play Federer found renewed fight and vigour and, like the true champion he is, battled though the third set tie-break to ensure some respectability in the scoreline.
All of a sudden the man from Switzerland was quicker to pounce on the short ball and punish it. However, Nadal remained unbreakable and the fourth set headed for a tie-break.
The world number two was back to his destructive best at the start of the breaker and found himself with two championship points, on his own serves. Thankfully for all of us who wanted the match to go on and on and on and on the first chinks appeared in Nadal's armour as he tightened up and double faulted away his second chance.
Undeterred the Spaniard came back for more and hit the forehand of the tournament to give himself another point for the title. Federer struck a penetrating forehand onto the baseline but as he advanced to the net awaiting a comfortbale volley, Nadal somehow stretched to whip the ball around his rival from a virtually impossible position. Cue the trademark Nadal fist-pump...cue Federer's riposte.
This time Nadal didn't freeze, this time he looked odds on to win as he clipped a forehand deep into the corner and advanced to the net, only to see Federer smash a delightful backhand beyond his reach...the second best winner of the competition.
Minutes later, the fourth set was Federer's and Nadal looked a little shellshocked - could the greatest comeback of recent times be on the cards?
The world's best players played out a dramatic final set throwing punch after punch, counter-punch after counter-punch matching each other blow for blow, step for step.
As soon as one took the initiative the other stepped up their game to a new level and fought back.
As darkness fell over South-West London the two giants of the modern game continued to fight it out for the title of 'King of Grass'.
Finally, after more than four hours of playing time Nadal found himself with a fifth match point and this time Federer could not deny him. The Swiss sent a forehand long and Nadal dropped to his knees, then his back and raw emotion took over. Bursting into tears of joy he clambers to his feet before climbing the scoreboard to reach his family in the player's box. With flashbulbs and cheers coming from everywhere inside the arena the Spaniard too a treacherous walk over the scoreboard to reach the Royal Box before eventually jumping back to the relative safety of the court.
To cap it all both players showed extraordinary levels of sportsmanship throughout the presentation ceremony. If this match does not go down as the Elite Sporting Event of 2008 then whatever does will have to be something truly spectacular.
What do you think? Was Nadal v Federer the match of the year?
