Wimbledon 2008 men’s final – end of an era for Federer
July 7, 2008
Rafael Nadal was out to steal the Wimbledon crown from Roger Federer as the pair met for the 2008 men’s Wimbledon final.
Things started well for the young upstart as he got an early break in the first set. Federer had chances to break back but missed the shots that mattered and Nadal went on to take the first set 6-4.
In the second set Federer did break Nadal however the Spaniard fought back and again it was a case of Federer just not playing the big points well enough to get the match back on level terms. Nadal fought off many break points to claim the second set 6-4.
2 all in the fifth and another rain delay sends the players into the changerooms.
At one point in the match Nadal fell at the back of the court and appeared to slightly twist his knee. A trainer was called and spent a few minutes treating the no. 2 seed. Getting back into the match it did not appear to affect him.
Going deep into the third set just after Federer had gone ahead 5-4 the covers were pulled out onto the famous centre court and a rain delay saw the players leave the court for around an hour. Nadal would have been thinking the trophy might have been his if he converted at 3-3, 0-40 on Federer’s serve.
When play resumed Nadal quickly jumped out to a 40-0 lead only to see that come back to duece after he double-faulted. Federer could now see his opportunity to get back into the match however Nadal did not budge and he levelled the match at 5-5.
Two more service games followed that both players won comfortably and we entered a tie-break. Federer opened with an ace. 1-0. A Federer error as he hit long made it 1-1. Good serve and deep following shot forces a Federer error, 2-1 Nadal.
Hawkeye saves Federer as he correctly challenges an out call, followed by two aces 3-2 to Federer. An average second serve by Nadal is creamed by Federer and he goes out to a 4-2 lead. Change of ends.
An inside out forehand winner by Federer gives him a 5-2 lead. Huge rally at 5-2 ends with an out ball by Federer that he challenges unsuccessfully, 5-3. Good serve gives Federer some set points at 6-3. One saved, 6-4 Federer. Rafa serving. Good wide serve 6-5, Federer serving for set. Serves an ace out wide to the forehand and it is 7-5 to give Federer the third set.
The fourth set was a dog fight and both players stayed on serve. Federer’s service percentage had dropped however he hung in there. At 4-5 down he fell behind 0-30 but fought back to make it 5-5.
Both players held and once again it was a tiebreak. In the previous one Federer served four aces to pull it off.
The first point was a mini break for Federer after an exciting first point that saw Nadal at the net. Nadal hit back with good play then came a Federer forehand miss out wide. 2-1 Nadal with him serving. A huge lefty swinging ace made it 3-1, the pressure was building.
Another great serve that licked the line to make it hard for Federer to return. 4-1 Nadal. Federer serves well and follows it with a huge forehand deep to Nadal’s backhand corner for a winner. 4-2.
Nadal goes to 5-2 after a long rally and a Federer error hitting wide to the backhand sideline. Nadal steps up to serve just two points away from his first Wimbledon title. He throws in a double fault. 5-3. The serve was just 83 kms. Was he getting nervous? He loses the next point and it is 4-5 Federer. In a blink of an eye Federer makes it 5-5.
Good serve down the T is shanked wide by Nadal to give Federer a set point. Nadal serving. Into the net, the crowd murmurs. A second serve goes in and a long rally follows. Federer hits wide to lose the point, 6-6. The next rally sees Federer hit long by inches to fall behind 6-7.
A big serve by Federer is not returned to make it 7-7. Federer serves a good serve which he follows into the net only to see an awesome down the line pass by Nadal for the point to bring up match point.
Nadal serves and is keen to take the point, he goes to the net only to see the pass whiz by, match saved for now. Great shots by Federer pushing Nadal wide and then hitting to an open court to give him the point. 9-8 Federer. The set is won by Federer as Nadal hits long.
After having a match and Championship point it now was going to be fascinating to see how Nadal would handle the fifth set. What a match!
Another rain delay forced the players off at 2-2 in the fifth. When play resumed it was Nadal who got his nose in front by breaking Federer in the 15th game. This time he was able to complete the job and he won his service game to win 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7.
A classic match to signal the end of a stunning run for Roger Federer where he reigned supreme on the Wimbledon grass. Nadal of course has now completed the difficult French Open – Wimbledon double, something not often done.
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