What a fantastic match the final of this year's Wimbledon produced. And who would have expected it to last as long as it did, going the full five sets?
The opening stages showed Rafael Nadal dominate Roger Federer and, like the recent Euro 2008, it seemed as though there would be a convincing Spanish victory as he took the first two sets 6-4, 6-4, but it wasn't as straight-forward as that.
After play resumed from a break that couldn't come soon enough for five-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, the crowd began to see exactly why Federer has been such a dominant champion in recent years, as he pegged back to level the sets winning 6-7 (3-7), and 6-7 (8-10).
The two tie break wins exemplify how closely matched the World number one and number two were.
And just when it seemed it couldn't get any closer, the final set took the match to a record length as both players seemed unbreakable in service. As the privileged Wimbledon crowd watched on, many would have had to change their day's plans to allow for the length of this truly epic duel, but few would have complained in this edge-of-the-seat match.
Something had to give. And finally, after four hours and 48 minutes of play, it did. Nadal took the final set 9-7, by surely the finest of margins that a tennis game can be won. Both Nadal and Federer showed real mettle in this 'tennisthon' of a match, but, after five years of Federer dominance, this was Nadal's day.
Tuesday 8 July 2008
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