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WIMBLEDON, England -- It was match that was virtually matchless, a sporting competition that squeezed every bit of emotion and excellence from two men who battled each other and the elements to a point of no returns and many backhand winners.
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| Rafael Nadal shows off the spoils of his five-set victory. (AP) |
Rafael Nadal held on to his nerve and his serve, defeating once unbeatable Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 on a Sunday that turned history on its ear, Nadal halting Federer's streak of five consecutive Wimbledons and installing himself as the best in the game.
In perhaps ending what might be called the Federer Era, and certainly ending Federer's string of 65 consecutive grass-court victories, 40 here at the All-England Club, Nadal, 22, became the first person since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to take both the French Open, on the red clay, and Wimbledon, on the turf.
The instant Federer whacked a forehand into the net, so uncharacteristic of a man who had controlled the sport for a stretch of 4½ years, Nadal tumbled onto his back, as much in elation as disbelief.
"It is impossible to explain what I felt at that moment, no?" Nadal, the kid from the Spanish island of Majorca said in his charming and heavily accented broken English.
"Just so very, very happy to win this title, my favorite tournament for me. It's a dream to play on this court. But win, I never imagine this. Thank you so very much, everybody."
Nadal has won the French four consecutive years, including 2008, but he lost to Federer at Wimbledon in 2006 and '07. This was the year, the tennis mavens predicted. Federer was in decline and Nadal in ascension. Indeed, this was the year.
And that was the match. Four hours, 48 minutes, the longest final, spread over 6½ hours, a late start, two rain delays, no converted break points from then ninth game of the second set until the second-to-last game, and magnificent shots by the dozens.
"I tried everything," said Federer, still with his 12 Slams, two short of Pete Sampras, but strangely none this year.
"But look, Rafa's a deserving champion."
Federer is No. 1 in the world rankings, Nadal No. 2. You put the two best on the most famous stage in tennis and hope for meeting worthy of their standing. And that's what we got.
Nadal won the first two sets, and then the downpour arrived. Then Federer arrived. The champion, two months from his 27th birthday, battled as a champion should. He won the next two sets in tiebreakers.
