A truly epic final

Published : Jul 12, 2008 00:00 IST

The rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is likely to continue for years to come. And this is good news for tennis. By Paul Weaver.

At last the BBC can stop replaying Bjorn Borg versus John McEnroe finals in the direction of infinity. Only when the Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer match was all over, in the gloaming, and its truly epic nature had unravelled, could it be properly appreciated for what it was. By then, after almost five hours of tennis that took the breath away from the spectators if not the remarkable players, it didn’t really matter who had won the longest men’s singles final at W imbledon for both men were gloriously triumphant.

Before then it had rained on Wimbledon. For the first two sets it had rained on poets too. And on aesthetes, stylists and all those with a keen sense of the refined. For Federer, the world’s greatest player — until now, at least — and the most exquisite talent the beautiful game has seen, appeared to be going out of this momentous final in straight sets and then had to save two match points in the fourth.

It would be churlish not to appreciate the extraordinary energy source that is Rafael Nadal, his astonishing speed, muscular strength and indomitable spirit. His is an aggression that is devoid of hostility and because there is humility about everything he does, he too must be celebrated. But on July 6, in the blustery dampness of south-west London, the light that is the tennis of Roger Federer flickered and was in danger of being extinguished in three sets. And tennis, indeed the world of sport, felt slightly impoverished by the likelihood of his tame going.

In the middle of the royal box, Boris Johnson, who knows a thing or two about the changing order of things, nodded in approval and did not look in the least surprised. To his right Bjorn Borg, who had anticipated the fall of Federer after equalling his record of five consecutive Wimbledon titles, appeared unsurprised to the point of boredom. No one looked surprised. In retrospect, the first two sets of this final, both won by Nadal, felt inevitable. Federer had beaten Nadal in four sets two years ago. Last year it was five sets.

This year Nadal returned stronger still, with a better forehand and backhand and also with an appreciation that a net can be used for something other than wrapping a fish supper. Federer, on the other hand, had returned with many of his weapons — apart from his extraordinary serve, which had got stronger match by match — in decline. And in the final, even his service was only fitfully as strong as it had been in the semifinal. The conditions did not help and the wind scoffed at the precision of his game. Nadal certainly didn’t help him. The 22-year-old Mallorcan scampered and muscled his way to almost every ball.

Federer’s error margins are narrower than Nadal’s because of the style of his game and they were squeezed ever narrower by the Spaniard’s breathtaking mobility. But this threatened to be as much about an empire imploding as being overthrown. Federer’s considerable mental strength is, essentially, manufactured — Nadal’s comes naturally — and the Swiss player looked fragile when he missed a succession of break points.

Federer, of course, is tough enough, as he has proved in 12 Grand Slam title victories and a winning streak of 65 matches on grass going into the final at Wimbledon. But Nadal, who had won their three previous meetings this year, had been allowed to infiltrate his psyche.

When rain sent the players to the locker room, with Federer leading 5-4 in the third set, the champion had 75 minutes to consider the fact that he had won only one break-point in 12 while his rival had won three from four.

When the players returned the sun came out and, for a few games at least, the wind dropped, which was to the advantage of Federer’s more subtle game. More than that, we saw his true fighting heart. He had saved three break-points to avoid going 5-3 down, took the third set in a tie-break and then, in the fourth, we saw the seemingly impregnable Nadal falter. With no breaks of serve once again it went down to another tie-break and this time the challenger led 5-2. Federer battled back to have a set-point at 6-5. But then, at 8-7 and 9-8, Nadal twice had match point and spurned them both.

How, one wonders, will this compelling rivalry develop. This is the real battle, the epic tennis tussle. Borg-McEnroe didn’t last for long, while Federer-Nadal is already a more substantial contest than that. And the great news for tennis is that it should run and run and run for some years yet.

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2008

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