2008 Wimbledon Men's Singles Final: Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer - YouTube 2008 Wimbledon Men's Singles Final: Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jun 7, 2013 Do you think this is the best Wimbledon match of all time? To win the elusive Wimbledon title he craved, Rafael Nadal would need to beat five-time Wimbledon champion, Roger Federer, who had defeated the Spaniard in the previous two finals at The Championships. Described by many pundits, media and fans alike as the greatest match ever, the historic final ended in near darkness at 9.15pm, following rain delays. Visit Wimbledon on YouTube every Friday to watch more action from a classic match in our new YouTube series 'Wimbledon's Rolex Golden Moments'.

SUBSCRIBE to The Wimbledon YouTube Channel: LIKE Wimbledon on Facebook: FOLLOW Wimbledon on Twitter: BBC SPORT | Tennis | Nadal wins epic Wimbledon final Advertisement Nadal won his fifth Grand Slam title and first away from Roland Garros Rafael Nadal held off an incredible fightback from Roger Federer to win his first Wimbledon title and end the Swiss star's reign at the All England Club. The Spaniard missed two championship points in the fourth set but recovered to win a dramatic rain-interrupted match 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7. The final shot was struck in near darkness on Centre Court at 2115 BST. Nadal, 22, is the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back-to-back. Asked about the moment of victory, Nadal told BBC Sport: "It's impossible to explain what I felt in that moment but I'm very, very happy.

"It is a dream to play on this court, my favourite tournament, but to win I never imagined." Federer, who made just one of 13 break points, said: "I tried everything, got a little late, but look, Rafa is a deserving champion, he just played fantastic. Interview: Rafael Nadal "The rain didn't make it easier but you have to expect the worst and he's the worst opponent on the best court. It's a pity I couldn't win it but I'll be back next year." Federer, 26, had been trying to become only the second man to win six consecutive Wimbledon titles, and so surpass Borg to match Willie Renshaw, who played in the 1880s. The defeat brought to an end his unbeaten run of 65 matches on grass, and arguably his reign as the undisputed king of tennis. On sealing victory, a tearful Nadal climbed through the stands to celebrate with his family and supporters before heading to the royal box to speak to members of the Spanish royal family. Federer, meanwhile, suffered the unpleasant experience of watching, dejected, from his chair as he came to terms with finishing runner-up for the first time.

It may be little consolation but he played his part in one of the great finals. The pre-match billing had it down as tennis's version of a world heavyweight title fight and it lived up to the hype, Nadal finally winning the longest Wimbledon men's singles final after four hours, 48 minutes. 606: DEBATE Was that the best Wimbledon final of all time? He now adds the Wimbledon crown to the four French Open titles he has won, while Federer will look to defend his one remaining Grand Slam title at the US Open next month. Nadal went into the match as the favourite in some people's eyes, having thrashed Federer in last month's Roland Garros final and with an 11-6 head-to-head record against the Swiss. After a 35-minute delay to the start because of rain, the Majorcan made the better start with a break in game three, saving three break points on his way to the first set. The momentum shifted at the start of the second as Federer raced to a 4-1 lead, whipping a vicious cross-court forehand for a winner to finally convert a break point in game two, but Nadal came roaring back with five straight games for a two-set lead.

With dark clouds gathering overhead, Federer looked ready to be put out of his misery at 3-3, 0-40, in the third but the champion roused himself superbly, reeling off five straight points and holding serve to lead 5-4 when rain stopped play after two hours and 14 minutes. Federer had a break point to serve for the title in the fifth set Play resumed following a break of 80 minutes and when it came down to a tie-break, rejuvenated Federer dominated with some huge forehands and unstoppable serving, sealing it with an ace. The fourth set saw the two players inspired and by the closing stages the enthralled Centre Court crowd were chanting the names of both men. Another tie-break was required to separate the pair - and it was an all-time classic. Federer recovered from 5-2 down only to miss a set point with a wayward forehand. Nadal then lost his first championship point at 7-6 when Federer hit a winning serve, and the Swiss saved a second match point with an outrageous backhand winner.

The match was destined for a fifth set, and Federer obliged with a service winner to the delight of an enraptured 15,000 spectators. When the rain returned at 1953 BST with the score at 2-2 in the decider it seemed likely that everyone would be back on Monday, but the shower passed after 30 minutes and battle was rejoined. Despite the gathering gloom, the final set was simply breathtaking. Federer earned a break point in game eight, Nadal two in game 11, but both players remained rock solid under the pressure until they were locked at 7-7. Three more break points were saved by Federer but the champion was rocking, and Nadal finally landed the knockout blow when the world number one was forced into a forehand error. All that remained was for Nadal to serve out for the title and, after Federer saved championship point number three with a rasping backhand, the Spaniard sealed it when the Swiss netted a forehand. Watched by his parents, and coach and uncle, Toni, the 22-year-old fell to the floor before beginning his journey through the stands to celebrate.

Bookmark with: Wimbledon 2008: Federer brushes aside Hrbaty in straight sets | Sport | The Guardian Wimbledon 2008: Federer brushes aside Hrbaty in straight sets World No1 sets up second-round clash with Robin Soderling Hrbaty and Federer share a joke as their first-round match nears completion. Photograph: Vassil Donev/EPA Monday 23 June 2008 09.53 EDT First published on Monday 23 June 2008 09.53 EDT Share on Messenger Close Bjorn Borg may have to re-think his suggestion that Roger Federer is only the third favourite for Wimbledon after the Swiss began his title defence with a crushing win over Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty. Facing one of the few players on the ATP Tour to hold a career advantage over him, Federer set the tone for a dominating performance with an early run of 11 successive points before surging to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Federer's form and confidence have been subject to intense scrutiny following his brutal treatment at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, with former champion Borg - whose modern record of five straight titles the Swiss equaled last summer - prominent among those who feel he may finally be beaten in SW19 this year. But if Federer's rivals have drawn encouragement from the world No1's recent travails, this was an emphatic response. Not that Federer was talking it up. "As long as I pass the rounds I don't really mind if it's five or three sets," said Federer. "I did feel a little pressure about two minutes before I went on court. I felt like, wow, okay, here we go. Let's try to get off to a good start. I did, I don't think think I dropped a point in the first few games.

That was a great start." Federer, who will equal the record set by William Renshaw in 1886 if he claims a sixth consecutive title this year, notched up his 60th grass-court win in a row with a virtuoso display which at times reduced the hapless Hrbaty's role to that of a virtual spectator. At 2-5 in the final set, Hrbaty sat down in the chair next to Federer, presumably to ask some tips. In fairness, the Slovakian - who beat Federer on a carpet court when they first met in Paris eight years ago, and followed up in 2004 with a three-set victory in Cincinnatti - is struggling to find his feet again after injury problems that culminated in elbow surgery last year. Yet Hrbaty, a seasoned campaigner playing in his twelfth consecutive Wimbledon, can rarely have been so comprehensively outclassed. "It was a good match," added Federer. "I played well and was consistent all the way through.

It is never easy to open the first day of Wimbledon , but it was a real honour." Federer was followed on to Centre Court by Novak Djokovic, one of the two men - the other is Rafael Nadal - whom Borg sees as a likelier champion than the Swiss. Djokovic, the No3 seed, inspired as little confidence in Borg's judgement as Federer, struggling for sharpness in the initial stages and dropping a set before completing a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Germany's Michael Berrer. "I think it's normal to have some ups and downs in the first match," said Djokovic. "It's not easy. I spoke to Roger after the game and he said the grass was incredibly nice. It's a big privilege, this is the tournament that has the biggest history in the sport and it's a privilege to be a part of it." Lleyton Hewitt, the No20 seed, found the going even tougher, battling through in five sets against Holland's Robin Haase.

"He was playing extremely well throughout the match," said Hewitt, the 2002 champion, after sealing a 6-7, (4-7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 6-2 win. "He had nothing to lose, he was going for everything and serving well." Marcos Baghdatis, a quarter-finalist or better in each of the past two years, was also detained longer than anticipated. Baghdatis, seeded 10th, took a comfortable two-set lead against Belgium's Steve Darcis before dropping the third on a tiebreak. However, the Cypriot broke again at the outset of the fourth to complete a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 win. "I'm pretty happy with the way I was playing on the baseline and returning, but not so happy with the way I served," said Baghdatis. "But I'm happy to win and be in the second round. It feels good to be playing back here. To be playing on grass it feels very good, for sure.

It's one of my favourite surfaces, if not my favourite one." Results: Fernando Gonzalez (15) beat Robby Ginepri 7-6, 7-5, 7-5 Thomas Johansson beat Vince Spadea 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 Albert Montanes beat Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 7-6, 6-4 Feliciano Lopez (31) beat Brian Dabul 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Andreas Seppi (29) beat Tobias Kamke 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 Marcos Baghdatis (10) beat Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 Mischa Zverev beat Alexander Peya 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Juan Carlos Ferrero (21) beat Sam Querrey 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Roger Federer (1) beat Dominik Hrb

aty 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 Robin Soderling beat Kevin Kim 7-5, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 Roko Karanusic beat Luis Horna 7-6, 6-3, 6-1 Rafael Nadal Remember in the early 2000s when men's tennis became close to unwatchable—booming serves, points that were over before you blinked, synthetic rackets blasting serves 130 miles an hour?

With Rafael Nadal dethroning five-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer on Sunday, that broad caricature of the men's game no longer applies. In men's tennis, defense now reigns supreme. Federer, of course, has not won 12 Grand Slam titles with his serve alone. He, too, has used his superior service return and all-around defensive skills to dominate more traditional power players like Andy Roddick. When he faces Nadal, however, Federer's all-court genius is stymied. Federer relied on his monstrous first serve to help abate the enormous pressure in the fifth set. (You can watch the whole remarkable set here .) He served consecutive aces from deuce after the match's third rain delay, at 2-2, then hit his way out of trouble again at 15-40 and 5-5. Every other player would have been demoralized after squandering these break opportunities. Not Nadal. He simply adjusted his underwear , broke Federer for the fourth time in the match, and served out the championship, winning 9-7 in the fifth.

Advertisement Nadal's game hinges on defensive pressure—so long as he's able to get the ball back in play, he always seems to have an advantage. Despite an improved first serve, which he hits consistently and at a higher percentage than Federer, it was Nadal's stubbornness—refusing to ever concede a point—that gave him the edge in the fifth set. In a game where he didn't end up breaking, at 5-5, 15-15, Nadal showed why he now looks impossible to beat. Federer hit a well-placed serve down the middle at 126 mph. The point should have been over, but Nadal somehow reached and returned the ball with reasonable depth. Federer then whipped a wicked approach shot into the corner, seemingly winning the point for a second time. Instead, he was met by a nasty, dipping forehand pass that he couldn't return. Against any other player, either of Federer's shots might've been good enough; against Nadal, he needed to win the point three times. Defense and offense are always intertwined in tennis, and it's the instantaneous conversion of a losing position into a winning one that makes the sport so thrilling.

Aces are exciting enough, but it's the return of a seemingly unreturnable shot that gets fans truly ecstatic. Compare Sunday's match to a recent one between Nadal and Croat Ivo Karlovic , a grass-court titan who the Spaniard took down at a Wimbledon warm-up tournament last month. Karlovic stands 6-foot-10, crushes his serve, and seems all but incapable of winning a point if he doesn't produce an ace or a service winner. Nadal won the match in a pair of tiebreakers despite failing to break Karlovic's serve once. This was a tennis dystopia, where the points are nasty, brutish, and short. Get Slate in your inbox. Sunday's match, by contrast, was the most utopian spectacle in tennis' recent history. The inevitable changing of the guard talk shouldn't overshadow that the 26-year-old Federer played brilliantly after a shaky two opening sets, most memorably hitting an ungodly backhand pass in the fourth-set tiebreaker that saved championship point. For another, Sunday's match illustrated the striking similarities in the top players' games.

Nadal and Federer (and to a lesser extent, Novak Djokovic) wear their opponents down by forcing errors, weaving together finesse and power and spraying winners from places on the court that other players can't reach. When everybody—even Nadal on occasion—can serve at 125 mph, such abilities are what distinguish those two from the more traditional power players like James Blake and the 155-mph-serving Roddick, both of whom fared poorly at the French and Wimbledon. This year's results aren't a sign that power no longer matters in the men's game; one look at Nadal's arms would dispel any such notion. It's more that power in tennis today is largely manifested defensively; thanks to high-tech rackets and weight training, the best players can now hit shots on the run with incredible pace, depth, and spin, immediately placing them back on the offensive. Nadal, in particular, is turning the supposed disadvantage of bad court position into an outdated theory for lesser players. In men's tennis, there's no better way to get your opponent out of position than with a well-struck, well-placed serve. Nadal showed at Wimbledon that other players' best serves aren't good enough.

He leads the men's game in return games won in 2008, breaking his opponents' serve 36 percent of the time, or roughly twice a set. After him come Nikolay Davydenko and Novak Djokovic, the Nos. 4 and 3 players in the world, respectively. Federer is tied for sixth in return games won, which may reflect his greater ease in holding his own serve—if you never get broken, you don't need to break your opponent as often—but may also reflect unaccustomed troubles with his defensive game. In Sunday's match, he had plenty of break opportunities in the first two sets but was unable to convert. In the fifth set, when he needed a break to win his sixth straight Wimbledon, Federer couldn't put consistent pressure on Nadal's serve. By winning the French Open and Wimbledon consecutively, Nadal has confirmed that in today's game, unrelenting defense can win major titles. For Nadal to cement his position at the top, though, he'll have to prove that his grinding style won't destroy his body.

The very brilliance that makes for such remarkable tennis may also—so the current fear goes—shorten the 22-year-old's career. Roddick, with his booming serve, might conceivably outlast Nadal and become competitive once again. Federer, too, with his reliable serve, power forehand, and remarkable ability to stay healthy, may still be able to remain at a high level until he's 30, or at least until he breaks Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles. So long as Nadal is still standing, though, it'll be a long slog for everyone else. Big servers take note: You'll need to win every point three times. Daniel Seidel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn.

Tennis world still awaiting follow up to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's classic 2008 final | The Independent Tennis world still awaiting follow up to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's classic 2008 final Thursday 12 June 2014 08:17 BST Click to follow The Independent Online <p><strong>2008</strong></p> <p>Clay court specialist Rafael Nadal beat reigning champ Roger Federer in an unforgettable five-set final</p> AFP/Getty Images Isner against Mahut was the longest and the most preposterous, and Murray versus Djokovic was the one that sparked wild celebrations from Southfields to Dunblane and far beyond. But unmistakably the greatest men's tennis match at Wimbledon for decades was Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal in the 2008 final, and the frustration since that blockbuster is that we still await the sequel. Their big day showdown had everything, with Nadal the king of clay tackling a man so masterful on grass he had won the last five Wimbledon titles.

On a stormy day in London, the showpiece match was firstly delayed, then twice interrupted by rain, and finished at 9.17pm in gathering gloom that for Federer was magnified by the bitter pill of defeat. The king of Centre Court had come from two sets down to force a decider that revolutionist Nadal took 9-7, earning his first Wimbledon title. When Federer flashed a final forehand into the net, men's grass-court tennis looked to have settled on a rivalry for the ages. Nadal, the great baseliner, had gone close in the previous two years, losing two tight finals to Federer, yet his triumph proved to be the apogee of what was halted at a three-match series. Twelve months later, Federer returned to land his sixth Wimbledon title, in the absence of the injured defending champion, and the Swiss matched Pete Sampras' haul of seven in 2012 by overwhelming Murray. Nadal, in turn, was back in 2010 to beat Tomas Berdych in the final. Berdych had ousted Federer in the quarter-finals.

The wait for a reunion went on, yet in 2013 Federer and Nadal were seeded to meet in the last eight, and the prospect of either man losing before that stage looked negligible. Federer had reached 36 consecutive grand slam quarter-finals. Steve Darcis and Sergiy Stakhovsky appeared less stumbling blocks and more cannon fodder, yet Belgian Darcis stunned Nadal and the tennis world with his first-round triumph, and two days later Federer was gone too. "You guys hyped it up so much, me playing Rafa, and we're both out," Federer said afterwards. "So there's a letdown clearly." With questions being asked more loudly than usual about whether his knees were up to competing on grass, Nadal said of his own loss: "The only thing I can say I can do is keep working hard and keep giving me chances about my game on this surface." Make no mistake, Federer and Nadal are each well capable of making amends in title-winning fashion this year at Wimbledon. Nadal is fresh off winning the French Open for a ninth time. Forget for a minute that Federer turns 33 in August.

To him, that is not a factor, as he explained in Miami this year. "I understand it's a quick-moving sport. You win a match, it's all good again. You lose a match, it's all bad," Federer said. "The problem is everybody loses except one guy every week. You have to look at the overall case, what's been happening, what are the reasons for maybe not playing so well, or for playing well. "You don't just forget how to play tennis. Age is just a number. It's nothing more, really. That's how I see it." The rivalry is unrelenting away from the grass, where maybe they are fated never to meet again, but it has become remarkably one-sided. Nadal has won his last five contests with Federer, the 28-year-old dropping just one set in the process. Their head-to-head was expected to be tightly contested, yet a decade in and Nadal is 23-10 ahead. Such a statistic is difficult to marry to the frequently espoused theory that Federer is the greatest player the game has seen.

Stefan Edberg's presence as Federer's coach could be a telling factor in the coming weeks, with the Swede a two-time champion at the All England Club himself. This could also be Federer's last realistic chance to land an eighth Wimbledon title, and is unmistakably an opportunity to prevent Nadal getting closer to his record of 17 career slams. A ninth Roland Garros title for Nadal was a 14th major for the Spaniard. He plays down talk of going beyond Federer, but you bet that is the private target. "Well, he's had 17 and I have had 14 grand slams, that's true," Nadal said. "But I'm not really worried. It's not a source of motivation for me. I'll follow my own path. Then when my career is over, we'll count. "I don't really care that much about the records. I'll still play with a lot of intensity. I'll still be motivated. Then we'll see.

Time will tell if I can have another record or not." PA Nadal Ends Federer’s Reign at Wimbledon - The New York Times The New York Times Tennis |Nadal Ends Federer’s Reign at Wimbledon Search Correction Appended Photo Rafael Nadal posing for photographers after his victory over Roger Federer in the men's final at Wimbledon on Sunday. Credit Felipe Trueba/European Pressphoto Agency WIMBLEDON, England — No man had beaten Roger Federer at Wimbledon since 2002. But in near darkness, one of the greatest tennis matches ever played concluded in the Wimbledon final Sunday with Roger Federer hitting a short forehand into the net and with a victorious Rafael Nadal flat on his back with camera flashes illuminating his drained and delighted face. Nadal had come the closest to ending Federer’s streak at Wimbledon in last year’s final, pushing his friendly rival to five sets before ending up in tears in the locker room as Federer equaled Bjorn Borg’s modern men’s record with his fifth straight title. Last year’s emotional tussle immediately took its place among the best Wimbledon finals, but this five-set classic — played on a rainy, gusty day — was better yet.

At 4 hours 48 minutes, it was the longest singles final in Wimbledon’s 131-year history and did not finish until 9:16 p.m. local time. Continue reading the main story “The most important thing is to win the title,” said Nadal, who won, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7. “After that, you think about winning against the No. 1, probably the best player in history or close, and the fact it was so dramatic. But it’s one of the most powerful feelings I’ve had in my life.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story By the end, as hard as it was to see, the top-seeded Federer and the second-seeded Nadal had produced so much brilliant tennis under pressure that it seemed the most normal thing in the world that Federer smacked yet another ace to get out of trouble or that Nadal hunted down yet another sharply angled ground stroke and ripped an off-balance passing shot for a winner.

The capacity crowd at Centre Court, which had not diminished through two rain delays, continually roared with delight or surprise and took turns chanting each combatant’s first name, which is not the way these things usually work at proper Wimbledon. “Probably my hardest loss, by far; I mean it’s not much harder than this right now,” Federer said later, his voice muted and his eyes red. The loss kept Federer from matching the men’s record of six consecutive Wimbledon titles set by Britain’s William Renshaw in the 19th century. Federer had won 65 straight matches on grass. “I’m disappointed, and I’m crushed,” Federer said. “He played a super match, and I’m sure it was a great match to watch and to play, but it’s all over now. I need some time.” Federer, 26, earned himself more time on Centre Court by saving two match points in the fourth-set tie breaker. He was later only two points from victory himself with Nadal serving at 4-5, 30-all in the fifth set. But Nadal, like his opponent, has a remarkable will as well as a remarkable topspin forehand.

And although Federer kept chipping and ripping away at Nadal’s service games, he broke him just once in the match, and that was early in the second set. In all, Federer squandered 12 of 13 break-point opportunities. Nadal, a Spaniard whose serve was once considered his weakness, converted 4 of his 13 chances against Federer, none more important than the break that came when Federer, serving at 7-7 in the fifth, took a huge cut at a short forehand and knocked it just long. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Nadal, seldom short of positive energy, leapt with delight and hustled to his chair to prepare to serve for the championship. It was 9:10 p.m. in London when he walked to the baseline, and the light was so dim at the end of this intermittently rainy day that both players were concerned. “I almost couldn’t see who I was playing,” Federer said, shaking his head. Nadal agreed. “In the last game, I didn’t see nothing,” he said. “Was unbelievable.

I thought we have to stop.” Wimbledon’s organizers have pushed their sessions to the limit this year, with other matches finishing at 9:30 p.m. Not finishing on Sunday would have forced the tournament to extend to Monday, with all the logistical challenges that would have entailed. “It would have been brutal for fans, for media, for us, for everybody to come back tomorrow, but what are you going to do?” Federer said. “It’s rough on me now, obviously, to lose the biggest tournament in the world over maybe a bit of light.” Photo No one had beaten Roger Federer at Wimbledon or on grass since 2002. Credit Vassil Donev/European Pressphoto Agency But Nadal still had to hold serve one more time to get his hands (and teeth) on the gold-plated Challenge Cup. And although Federer did save a third match point at 40-30 with a bold backhand return that Nadal could not handle, Federer could not save the last, which came two points later. As soon as Federer’s forehand hit the net, Nadal dropped to the grass as if he had been hurled there, his racket flying out of his left hand.

Among those standing and cheering in the front row of the Royal Box were Manuel Santana and Borg. Nadal, a 22-year-old from Majorca, joined them both on Sunday by becoming the first man to complete the grueling French Open-Wimbledon double in the same year since Borg in 1980 and also becoming the first Spanish man to win here since Santana in 1966. After four straight titles in Paris, Nadal finally had a Grand Slam title on a surface other than clay. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Nadal wanted to share his victory with his family, and after shaking Federer’s hand, he climbed into the players’ box to hug his parents, Sebastian and Ana Maria, and his coach and uncle, Toni. Nadal then became the first Wimbledon champion to walk across the sloped roof of the commentary booths to the royal box —flashbulbs lighting his way — to shake the hand of Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia. As is his custom, Nadal did not strike a triumphant tone in victory. He has long been deeply respectful of Federer, even as he has built a 12-6 career record against him and beaten him in the last three French Open finals.

“He’s still the best,” Nadal said. “He’s still five-time champion here. Right now I have one, so for me, it’s a very, very important day.” Federer, who had not dropped a set until the final, will still be ranked No. 1 on Monday, but this has clearly been Nadal’s season, with victories in two of the first three Grand Slam tournaments. Federer came into 2008 hoping to match Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles. He is still holding at 12, with his only tournament victories this year coming in minor tour events. Federer certainly responded like a champion to Nadal’s pressure on Sunday, and he also dispelled concerns that — after winning just four games against Nadal in last month’s lopsided French Open final — he would be unable to stay with the physically imposing Nadal on grass. But Federer said losing big on clay was a pinprick compared with the sledgehammer blow of losing by so little here. “There’s not even a comparison,” he said. “This is a disaster.

Paris was nothing in comparison.” Down by two sets to love, Federer worked his way back into contention, weathering an 81-minute rain delay late in the third set, and then controlling the ensuing tie breaker with four aces and a service winner. Advertisement Continue reading the main story In the fourth-set tie breaker, Nadal took control and led, 5-2, with two serves to come, but instead of closing out the match, he played tentatively for the first time, double-faulting and then hitting a backhand weakly in the net. “I got nervous,” Nadal said. It happens, even to indefatigable Spaniards, but Federer showed no nerves on the two match points soon to come. He saved the first at 6-7 with another service winner. He saved the second at 7-8 with a magnificent, pressure-proof backhand passing-shot winner down the line, after Nadal jerked Federer wide with a forehand approach shot. But Nadal hardly looked like a broken man as they headed to a fifth set. “How can you not be 100 percent concentrated with sky-high motivation?” he said. The sky was still a problem, however.

Rain drove the players off court once more early in the fifth set with the score 2-2, deuce on Federer’s serve. But while a Monday finish was looking increasingly likely, the skies cleared, the tarp came off and the protagonists resumed play 28 minutes after they had stopped. They were able to finish just in time for the changing of the guard to be completed. Not that Nadal is prepared to see it quite like that. “I don’t feel like the No. 1,” he said. “I’m not. I don’t like to feel that I’m something when I’m not.” But there could be no doubt as he cried on court for a very different reason from last year — that Nadal now knows how it feels to be Wimbledon champion. Correction: July 10, 2008 The “By the Numbers” chart on Monday with coverage of Rafael Nadal’s victory over Roger Federer in their Wimbledon final reversed the “winners hit” statistic for the players. Federer had 89, and Nadal had 60. A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: In Epic Battle, A Reign Ends At Wimbledon.

Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe Youth Pulse: Watch Wimbledon Men's Singles 2008 Final Roger Federer Vs Rafael Live Streaming Watch Wimbledon Men's Singles 2008 Final Roger Federer Vs Rafael Live Streaming Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 9:29 PM Posted by bharat Federer vs Nadal Final Live: Wimbledon Final Live: World No.1 & Five time Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer eased in to his sixth consecutive Wimbledon Final when he beat Former World No.1 Marat Safin 6-3, 7-6, 6-4 in straight sets in the semifinal.He now faces World No.2 Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final consecutively for the third time.With already 12 grandslam titles to his name, he is chasing for his 13th Grandslam title and sixth at Wimbledon, which would break Tennis legend Bjorn Borg's record of five consecutive titles.

Federer will surely try to avenge his defeat which he faced at French Open Final last month, where he was demolished by Nadal 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.Roger Federer has been unbeatable at Wimbledon for the last 5 years, winning 102 sets and losing just eight, and 671 games to 394.This year he has not even lost a single set on his way to the finals and is surely the favourite to win Wimbledon 2008. World No.2 Rafael Nadal reached his third consecutive Wimbledon final when he beat Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 in the semifinals.The Four time French Open Champion lost both the finals against Federer at Wimbledon in their previous meetings.Last time Federer was stretched by Nadal for the first time to five sets, where he wasted four break points in the fifth set.

But this year Nadal has improved a lot and has been playing the best tennis at Wimbledon.He entered the semifinals with dominating 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over British No.1 Andy Murray & now advanced to finals with straight sets victory over unseeded Schuettler.Nadal may have lost both the Wimbledon finals against Federer but he still leads the all time record against Federer, and definitely poses serious threat in the Wimbledon 2008 Final. Head to Head: Rafael Nadal leads 11-6 all time but on grass Roger Federer leads 2-0.Nadal has won all the matches in their 3 meetings this year but all of them were played on clay.

Follow the Live coverage of the exciting Wimbledon Final below: Wimbledon 2008: Nadal clinches first Wimbledon title after Centre Court epic | Sport | The Guardian Wimbledon 2008: Nadal clinches first Wimbledon title after Centre Court epic 'I never imagined this' Sunday 6 July 2008 17.17 EDT First published on Sunday 6 July 2008 17.17 EDT Share on Messenger Close Bjorn Borg must be tiring of this. Last summer, the Swede watched from the front row of Centre Court's royal box as Roger Federer matched his modern record of five successive Wimbledon titles with a five-set victory over Rafael Nadal. A year on, Borg was once again on hand to witness the same combatants slug out another epic encounter. The result was different, but for the former champion the outcome was the same as the two best players on the planet rewrote tennis history once again.

With his 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7 victory in what must surely rank as one of the most dramatic and compelling finals of all time, Nadal became the first man since Borg to win both Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year, a landmark that has stood since 1980. Yet that barely tells the story of an extraordinary, rain-interrupted match that saw Federer, the defending champion, relinquish his grip on the Challenge Cup only after a titanic struggle that stretched over four hours and 48 minutes. An hour and a half into what would prove to be the longest men's final in history, Federer was all but down and out, trailing by two sets despite having at one stage led 4-1 in the second. But the defending champion rallied magnificently following a third-set rain delay, clawing his way back into the match before saving two championship points in a fourth-set tiebreak that rekindled memories of the genre-defining Borg-McEnroe shoot-out of 1980.

It set the scene for an unforgettable denouement in which the two players matched each other shot for shot until, finally - with the gloaming descending, and after a second rain delay - Nadal broke to go 8-7 ahead. At 40-30, the 22-year-old Spaniard held a third championship point, but could only watch in dismay as Federer conjured one final gesture of defiance in the form of an imperious cross-court backhand return. Undaunted, however, Nadal delivered a stinging serve to reach match point for a fourth time, and this time there was to be no reprieve for Federer, Nadal falling to the dew-laden turf as the realisation dawned that he was the new champion. "It's impossible to explain what I felt in that moment," said Nadal, who made a tearful ascent to the VIP box to celebrate with his family before making his way over to the royal box where he was congratulated by members of the Spanish royal family. "I'm very, very happy.

It is a dream to play on this court, my favourite tournament, but I never imagined this." Nadal also spared a thought for Federer, whose defeat brought to an end a 65-match winning streak on grass. "I must congratulate Roger," he added. "He's still the No1, he's still the best, and he's won five times here. But now I have one, and that's very important to me." Appropriately, the tenor of a match laden with historical import – victory for Federer would have seen him equal William Renshaw's record of six consecutive titles – was reminiscent, in the first threes sets at least, of the 1981 final. Like Borg, who had the same landmark in his sights when he faced John McEnroe that year, Federer found his best form elusive, repeatedly squandering break points and amassing a host of unforced errors. "I tried everything," said Federer. "But Rafa's a deserving champion, he's the worst opponent on the best court.

It's a pity I couldn't win it, but I'll be back next year." Federer vs Nadal Wimbledon 2008 Highlights [HQ] - YouTube Federer vs Nadal Wimbledon 2008 Highlights [HQ] Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Mar 12, 2013 THE TITLES SAYS IT ALL ENJOY (: Wimbledon 2008: John McEnroe hails Rafael Nadal victory as greatest final ever - Telegraph Wimbledon 2008: John McEnroe hails Rafael Nadal victory as greatest final ever John McEnroe has hailed the Roger Federer - Rafael Nadal Wimbledon final as the "greatest ever" By Richard Alleyne 7:30AM BST 07 Jul 2008 Rafael Nadal 's epic victory over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final was the "greatest ever seen", according to John McEnroe, the three times winner of the event.

In pics: Nadal eclipses Federer in a five-set marathon | The world number one turned television commentator made his comments after the five-set match on Centre Court which at four hours 48 minutes long was definitely the longest. "This is the greatest match I've ever seen," said John McEnroe, whose final against Jimmy Connors in 1982, had previously been the longest final. His comments were repeated by the world's press and borne out by the huge television audience the final received. Tennis fans caused a massive surge in electricity demand after Nadal took the Wimbledon title because they were glued to their seats during the epic match. A 1,400 megawatt spike - equivalent to 550,000 kettles being boiled - was recorded at around 9.20pm, as the Spaniard lifted the trophy. The surge shows millions watched the match. It was bigger than the increase in demand at half time during this year's Champions' League match when Manchester United beat Chelsea . National Grid spokeswoman Isobel Rowley said the surge was huge because fans were so transfixed by the tennis, they could not move from the sofa to switch the lights on until the end.

Such was the rivalry between the two players, that the match also smashed betting records. Almost £10 million was staked on the match, according to initial estimates - breaking the £8 million record set just days ago when Nadal crushed Andy Murray in the quarter finals. Scores of punters were frantically biting their nails as the match went on late into the evening. One eventually won £55,000 after backing Nadal to the tune of £10,000 a month ago - at odds of 9/2, said bookmakers William Hill. Hills spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "What you have here are two players at the peak of their powers and popularity. "They are almost a tennis soap opera - traditional Federer appeals to the mums and dads with his cardigan, and Nadal is the modern sex symbol, appealing to kids with his sleeveless vests. "That's why so many people put money on them." Meanwhile, Federer admitted he was on the brink of calling for the match to be stopped and restarted the next day because the light was becoming so bad.

He said: "It would have been brutal for the fans and us to come back but it was rough on me to lose the biggest tournament in the world because of the light. "It was not a whole lot of fun, but that's the way it is. It's over, what's the point in arguing about it?" The five-times champion will now find his number one ranking under threat, and he added: "I wasn't able to break him in the last three sets but still I managed to push him right to the edge. "Probably later on in life I'll go 'That was a great match.' I'm happy the way I fought. That's all I could really do."

Question: Who beat Roger Federer in the men's Wimbledon final in 2008?
Answer: Rafael Nadal