ALL PHOTOS FROM ASSOCIATED PRESSIs there a more appropriate place for two kings to wag war—their common goal to dethrone the other—than at the All England Club at Wimbledon?
As of this afternoon, the only answer that comes to mind is “No.”
In what is sure to go down as the greatest Grand Slam final and longest Wimbledon final in history, Rafael Nadal (Clay’s King) defeated Roger Federer (Former Grass King) today in a “To the Death” battle in England.
The four hours and 48 minutes, five-set match ended 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7, the Spaniard crowned as the new king.
All I can say is who needs movies? This match, one that I was sure couldn’t beat last year’s final—which I was very wrong about—generated enough stress, tension, and suspense to outshine any movie at the box office. I really deserve my money back for all the show’s I’ve seen recently.
Spain’s Nadal, 22, became the first man since 1980 (Bjorn Borg) to win both the French Open and Wimbledon back to back, and the first Spaniard since 1966 (Manolo Santana) to win a Wimbledon title.
His opponent, Switzerland’s Roger Federer, 26, was unable to win his sixth consecutive title there, and move one step closer to tie Pete Sampras for 14 Grand Slams.
Federer has 12.
Now to the match.
Nadal broke Federer’s serve early in the first set bringing it 2-1. It didn’t take him long to win the first set 6-4 after a third set point. It was the first set Federer dropped the entire tournament, but it wouldn’t be the last.
Nadal also won the second set 6-4.
Conditions weren’t particularly favorable, wind and rain caused Federer to look up at the sky as if pleading with nature to cut him a break after losing points.
Nadal’s enemy was himself, playing with time violations.
It was the third set when things got exciting.
I wondered if this set was going to be a repeat of last year’s fourth when Nadal experienced some knee injuries. Though he called the trainer, Nadal bounced back.
At 5-4 and deuce, Nadal serving, the match was suspended by the usual showers. This wasn’t loved by Nadal who was ready to bring it to 5-all,
Federer won the set 7-6 after a tiebreak.
In the fourth set, Nadal had two Championship Points, but lost them to Federer who wasn’t about the go down quite so easily. Federer saved those points and went on to win the set 7-6, again after a tiebreak.
At 2-all in the fifth, rain again caused the tent to go up on Centre Court, but not for long.
Federer’s forehand unbelievably got in the way of him winning the match, giving Nadal another chance to break.
In the course of the match Federer broke Nadal only once in 13 times. Nadal broke Federer four out of 13.
Federer, like Sampras, saved many points with aces—He scored 25 aces in the match to Nadal’s 6.
But Nadal didn’t need aces to win. His ability to cover the court and his lethal backhand proved supreme.
At 7-7 in the fifth, Nadal broke Federer. And then, like a flash of lightening, at deuce, Federer hit a return into the net, and then Nadal fell to the ground—he had won his first-ever Wimbledon.
Nadal, a family man, scaled the stands to embrace his mother, Ana Maria, father, Sebastian, and Uncle Toni—the man responsible for telling Nadal he would do best to switch as a lefty, though he does everything with his right hand.
Other Wimbledon.org Match Statistics
(Federer first, Nadal second)
1st Serve %: 128 of 195 = 66 %; 159 of 218 = 73 %
Aces: 25; 6
Double Faults: 2; 3.
Unforced Errors: 52, 27.
Winning % on 1st Serve: 93 of 128 = 73 %; 110 of 159 = 69 %.
Winning % on 2nd Serve: 38 of 67 = 57 %; 35 of 59 = 59 %.
Receiving Points Won: 73 of 215 = 34 %; 64 of 193 = 33 %.
Break Point Conversions: 1 of 13 = 8 %; 4 of 13 = 31 %.
Net Approaches: 42 of 75 = 56 %: 22 of 31 = 71 %.
Total Points Won: 204: 209.
Fastest Serve: 129 MPH; 126 MPH.
Average 1st Serve Speed: 118 MPH; 113 MPH.
Average 2nd Serve Speed: 98 MPH; 91 MPH.
Both Nadal and Federer were in tears today after the five set match that was stopped twice for rain delays, but they were tearing up for very different reasons.
In an interview with John McEnroe after the win, Nadal told him “I cried for 10 minutes.” Though the 4-time French Open champ is this sport’s best clay-court player, he’s been dreaming about winning Wimbledon since he was a child.
McEnroe said he had to keep his interview short with Federer because he could see the tears pooling in his eyes.
He also said he is now willing to move Nadal above Federer in his ranking of the G.O.A.T.S. (Greatest(s) of All Time).
Though on paper, we won’t know if Nadal is really able to move above Federer in the rankings until the end of the year.
No matter who you rooted for in a match that seemed more painful for the spectators watching than the players, you can’t deny that Nadal is closer to Federer on grass—obvious with is win today—than Federer is to Nadal on clay.
The Spaniard all but literally massacred Federer in May’s French Open final, Federer only winning four games.
No two men in history have played in so many Grand Slam finals.
In three years, Nadal and Federer have played each other in every French Open and Wimbledon final.
I can agree with John McEnroe that if this rivalry doesn’t do something great for this sport, nothing can.
Both Nadal and Federer were so humble, and respected each other before, during, and after the match.
I believe that there will be more to come from these two men, and there are many records yet to be broken.
All I can say is please, oh please, let the rivalry continue.
There is more to come soon, I just wanted to get something out there now. Check back.
Thanks,
Sarah Stegall
As of this afternoon, the only answer that comes to mind is “No.”
In what is sure to go down as the greatest Grand Slam final and longest Wimbledon final in history, Rafael Nadal (Clay’s King) defeated Roger Federer (Former Grass King) today in a “To the Death” battle in England.
The four hours and 48 minutes, five-set match ended 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7, the Spaniard crowned as the new king.
All I can say is who needs movies? This match, one that I was sure couldn’t beat last year’s final—which I was very wrong about—generated enough stress, tension, and suspense to outshine any movie at the box office. I really deserve my money back for all the show’s I’ve seen recently.
Spain’s Nadal, 22, became the first man since 1980 (Bjorn Borg) to win both the French Open and Wimbledon back to back, and the first Spaniard since 1966 (Manolo Santana) to win a Wimbledon title.
His opponent, Switzerland’s Roger Federer, 26, was unable to win his sixth consecutive title there, and move one step closer to tie Pete Sampras for 14 Grand Slams.
Federer has 12.
Now to the match.
Nadal broke Federer’s serve early in the first set bringing it 2-1. It didn’t take him long to win the first set 6-4 after a third set point. It was the first set Federer dropped the entire tournament, but it wouldn’t be the last.
Nadal also won the second set 6-4.
Conditions weren’t particularly favorable, wind and rain caused Federer to look up at the sky as if pleading with nature to cut him a break after losing points.
Nadal’s enemy was himself, playing with time violations.
It was the third set when things got exciting.
I wondered if this set was going to be a repeat of last year’s fourth when Nadal experienced some knee injuries. Though he called the trainer, Nadal bounced back.
At 5-4 and deuce, Nadal serving, the match was suspended by the usual showers. This wasn’t loved by Nadal who was ready to bring it to 5-all,
Federer won the set 7-6 after a tiebreak.
In the fourth set, Nadal had two Championship Points, but lost them to Federer who wasn’t about the go down quite so easily. Federer saved those points and went on to win the set 7-6, again after a tiebreak.
At 2-all in the fifth, rain again caused the tent to go up on Centre Court, but not for long.
Federer’s forehand unbelievably got in the way of him winning the match, giving Nadal another chance to break.
In the course of the match Federer broke Nadal only once in 13 times. Nadal broke Federer four out of 13.
Federer, like Sampras, saved many points with aces—He scored 25 aces in the match to Nadal’s 6.
But Nadal didn’t need aces to win. His ability to cover the court and his lethal backhand proved supreme.
At 7-7 in the fifth, Nadal broke Federer. And then, like a flash of lightening, at deuce, Federer hit a return into the net, and then Nadal fell to the ground—he had won his first-ever Wimbledon.
Nadal, a family man, scaled the stands to embrace his mother, Ana Maria, father, Sebastian, and Uncle Toni—the man responsible for telling Nadal he would do best to switch as a lefty, though he does everything with his right hand.
Other Wimbledon.org Match Statistics
(Federer first, Nadal second)
1st Serve %: 128 of 195 = 66 %; 159 of 218 = 73 %
Aces: 25; 6
Double Faults: 2; 3.
Unforced Errors: 52, 27.
Winning % on 1st Serve: 93 of 128 = 73 %; 110 of 159 = 69 %.
Winning % on 2nd Serve: 38 of 67 = 57 %; 35 of 59 = 59 %.
Receiving Points Won: 73 of 215 = 34 %; 64 of 193 = 33 %.
Break Point Conversions: 1 of 13 = 8 %; 4 of 13 = 31 %.
Net Approaches: 42 of 75 = 56 %: 22 of 31 = 71 %.
Total Points Won: 204: 209.
Fastest Serve: 129 MPH; 126 MPH.
Average 1st Serve Speed: 118 MPH; 113 MPH.
Average 2nd Serve Speed: 98 MPH; 91 MPH.
Both Nadal and Federer were in tears today after the five set match that was stopped twice for rain delays, but they were tearing up for very different reasons.
In an interview with John McEnroe after the win, Nadal told him “I cried for 10 minutes.” Though the 4-time French Open champ is this sport’s best clay-court player, he’s been dreaming about winning Wimbledon since he was a child.
McEnroe said he had to keep his interview short with Federer because he could see the tears pooling in his eyes.
He also said he is now willing to move Nadal above Federer in his ranking of the G.O.A.T.S. (Greatest(s) of All Time).
Though on paper, we won’t know if Nadal is really able to move above Federer in the rankings until the end of the year.
No matter who you rooted for in a match that seemed more painful for the spectators watching than the players, you can’t deny that Nadal is closer to Federer on grass—obvious with is win today—than Federer is to Nadal on clay.
The Spaniard all but literally massacred Federer in May’s French Open final, Federer only winning four games.
No two men in history have played in so many Grand Slam finals.
In three years, Nadal and Federer have played each other in every French Open and Wimbledon final.
I can agree with John McEnroe that if this rivalry doesn’t do something great for this sport, nothing can.
Both Nadal and Federer were so humble, and respected each other before, during, and after the match.
I believe that there will be more to come from these two men, and there are many records yet to be broken.
All I can say is please, oh please, let the rivalry continue.
There is more to come soon, I just wanted to get something out there now. Check back.
Thanks,
Sarah Stegall
