Nadal topples Federer to be crowned Wimbledon champion
Monday, 07 Jul 2008 09:36
Rafael Nadal continues his excellent head-to-head record against Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal has ended Roger Federer's Wimbledon reign after a pulsating 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-7 (8/10) 9-7 victory in the final.
In a classic encounter, the Spaniard went two sets ahead before being pegged back by the five-time champion at SW19.
After a couple of rain delays which saw the final finish at 21:15 BST, Nadal's pressure in the deciding set paid off when he broke the world number one and then served out the match to be crowned Wimbledon champion.
It brings to an end Federer's 65 match-unbeaten run on grass and is the first loss he has suffered at SW19 since 2002.
Nadal,22, made an explosive start and drew first blood with a break in game three of the opening set. His strategy of attacking Federer's serve with booming returns reaped rewards as he moved into a 3-1 lead.
In a pulsating tenth game, Federer trailed 4-5 but was unable to take advantage of three break points, with two backhand errors then handing Nadal the set.
Federer stormed back in the second set by serving his third love game. The Swiss star then broke with a stunning cross-court forehand after earning three break points.
But the four-time French Open champion hit back with a break of his own in game seven. Federer flung himself at a passing shot which drifted wide to reduce his lead to 4-3.
After squandering a break point and losing his temper at a noisy spectator in the previous game, a rattled Federer was broken again in game nine after the Spaniard won another marathon rally.
The world number one continued to waste break points after firing a forehand into the net, before netting a backhand on set point to put Nadal 2-0 up.
Federer was guilty of squandering more break points in the third set. In game six, Nadal held his serve despite the five-time Wimbledon champion wasting four break point chances.
It was then the second seed's turn to squander four break points with Federer getting himself out of trouble with his pinpoint serves to lead 4-3.
Federer was leading 5-4 when the heavens opened, forcing a 69-minute rain delay.
When play resumed, the defending champion looked the more dangerous. In the eventual tie-break, Federer hit top form and raced to a 5-2 lead before clinching the set with an ace.
In a nerve-jangling fourth set, both players held their serve with few problems. In game ten, Federer trailed 0-30 when serving to stay in the match but kept his cool to level at 5-5.
In the eventual tie-break, Federer cranked up his serve to a new level to go 4-2 up at the change of ends.
Federer saved two Championships points with a big serve and then a jaw-dropping backhand pass down the line. The 26-year-old then brought up set point with Nadal sending a backhand wide to force a decider.
The Spaniard looked to have forgotten about those missed Championship points at the start of the fifth set. In game three he threatened to break after two deuces, but Federer came through to hold.
With the scores level at 2-2 and the matching heading towards four hours, the rain came down again to suspend play for another 30 minutes.
When play resumed at 20:35 BST, Federer held his serve to edge ahead again. But in game 11, Federer trailed 15-40 on his serve but somehow managed to win the big points to hold his serve again.
In game 13, Federer trailed 0-30 but his devastating serves got hit out of danger again.
But the pressure finally told when Nadal converted his fourth break point in game 15 after Federer sent a forehand millimetres beyond the baseline.
Serving for the set, Federer saved two championships points with stunning passing shots. But the Mallorcan eventually triumphed on his third championship when Federer fired a forehand into the net.
A jubilant Nadal collapsed to the floor as he avenges the harrowing defeats he suffered to his rival in the previous two finals. 