14 Thursday 10th July, 2008 has time on his side. being, but this is fresh territory for 10 key Wimbledon moments Nadal fully deserved his moment him. It was never more in evidence of triumph and he showed, in his com- than in the Wimbledon final that these ments afterwards about Federer still two push each other to greater and Murray muscles being the best, what a humble man he greater extremes, and this will have to ‘Nadal's Wimbledon could be. But beyond their mutual continue if Federer wants to stay at in on new order respect everyone on tour realises that the top and to prolong this great rival- they will head into the rest of the sea- ry. by Mark Hodgkinson son with Nadal established as the offi- Still, I think, that as the defeated cial world No 1, and Federer as No 2. finalist we have to salute Roger. I must 1. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal put Nadal has finally shown, after four confess that I was a little disappointed on a greater show than the John French Open victories, that his game in his performance in the first two McEnroe and Bjorn Borg classics. win decided by the Even McEnroe agreed with that. "It is about far more than clay court ten- sets, when his first serve seemed to was the best final ever. There was nis and that he can beat his main rival desert him and Nadal looked as if he so much drama, there was class on the surface where Federer has been might win easily.But Federer never from both players and their levels supreme. stopped fighting - not only did he come were incredible. People talk about The one concern is over Nadal's back from two sets down, he came my matches with Bjorn, but this physical state. I am not at all sur- back from three championship points was better. It was an incredible degree he raised prised that he has pulled out of this down. effort from both players. I've never week's event in Stuttgart on clay, But then I knew Federer would seen tennis like it. I don't know how because over the next month he has have to come out swinging after those Nadal did it because Roger was the Olympics and US Open for which first two sets, putting the pressure on playing brilliant tennis after the to prepare. Nadal's serve. But Nadal's first-serve first two sets. At 2-2 in the fifth set, We saw how he constantly needed percentage was very good throughout I didn't know who was going to win. grass game’ his knees strapping up at Wimbledon and he kept serving to Federer's back- But Rafa held his nerve and I'm and so he has, for the sake of his body, hand, the weaker side. For Federer the sure this is the changing of the to stop for a while. He has had a sum- only option when he could not break guard," the former Wimbledon by Boris Becker mer of non-stop tennis - three days the serve was to make Nadal play one champion said. after winning at Roland Garros he was more shot, to get himself into the ral- "Federer has dominated on grass, afael Nadal won the best final at Queen's Club. Something you lies and eventually take his chances. but now he has someone to equal in Wimbledon history not just can always be sure of with He did that in the third and fourth sets him. Will Federer win Wimbledon Rbecause of the drama but Nadal is that he will never but Nadal is the marathon man; he again? I don't know. He's obviously because of the stakes. At stake was be lazy about his status. loves the long matches. got a chance if he plays like that. Roger Federer becoming the first man Perhaps an even big- Both of them, playing for more But after several years, he has a in more than a century to win the ger question is where than four hours, must have been feel- player who can match him." tournament six years in succession. Federer goes ing strain in their legs. With the rain 2. We are going to miss the rain- At stake was Nadal becoming the first from here, how he delays there was the issue of moisture delays. Next year, Wimbledon's Spanish men's champion in 42 years, adapts to his new on the court, which tends to benefit Centre Court will have a sliding roof in place, to shut out an English and the first man since Bjorn Borg to position as arguably the attacking player - and that, as we summer's incontinent skies, and to claim the French Open and the world's second have seen so many times, is Federer. guarantee to television executives Wimbledon titles in the same season. best player. He will But Nadal was equal to him, even that play will continue, but wasn't For all those reasons this was the stay at No 1 in when he had just lost two tie-breaks the men's final in some way best final, across all the grand slams, the rankings narrowly.It did not surprise me that enhanced by the two rain breaks? that I have seen. for the he had the mental strength to gather Imagine if the roof had been ready The outcome was decided time himself for the fifth, but this was still for this year's tournament, and not, ultimately, by any clear an incredible match to win. We have a Federer and Nadal had effectively dip in form from Federer new king of tennis. played an 'indoor' match under arti- but by the degree to which (C) The Telegraph Group, ficial light, walking out at 2pm and Nadal improved on grass. London 2008 finishing just before 7pm. It would- Both players knew how n't have been the same. close the outcome had The two rain breaks built the ten- Classic duel: former Wimbledon champi- been last year, when sion, and also ensured that the tour- Nadal lost in five sets, on Roger Federer congratulates his nament was completed in near- and this time he came Spanish heir, Rafael Nadal darkness, with Nadal almost unable into Wimbledon with to see the ball as he served for the more skills and more match. If this had been played shots. under a roof, it simply wouldn't I had doubted, unlike have reached the heights it did, and many, whether he would be wouldn't have been described as the able to dethrone a five-time greatest match of all time. There champion and yet on Sunday he were three factors in making this still outperformed perhaps the arguably the best match of all time best player the game has known. - Federer, Nadal and autumn com- The margins were fine but there ing early to south-west London. was a sense of a changing of the 3. Federer's backhand pass down the line, that staved off Nadal's second order because Nadal, at the age of 22, championship point in the fourth- set tie-break, was the shot of the tournament. But only just, as the forehand winner that Nadal had by Andrew Baker potential, but I think we just have to of the United States, in the second smoked through the court on the be patient." round, and the No 3 seed, Thailand's preceding point would be a close im Henman may never have Robson will not be playing the Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, in the Wimbledon roof ready to second. won a title at the All England junior tournament at the US Open final. 4. Since Federer lost the final, the TClub, but he was instrumental but she is likely to appear at the These achievements, as well as end Centre Court delays in prize for the best fightback of the in the development of Britain's latest Australian Open in the winter. Her Robson's youth and impressive calm- tournament went to Britain's Andy schedule is being worked out by ness on court, have inspired great Wimbledon champion. Murray for coming back from two Laura Robson, who won the girls' Robson's coach, Martijn Bok, who is excitement not only in this country time for 2009 sets down to beat Richard Gasquet, title in sensational style at the week- determined to follow a prudent but abroad as well. A leading end, was inspired by an encounter course and not rush the young left- American college scouting website, Championships of France, to make the quarter- with Henman in 2004, when she was hander. tennisrecruiting.net, has noticed her finals for the first time. Murray was Robson's minders have a difficult record against high-ranking players back in the top 10, moving up two the top-ranked nine-year-old in the after which there is likely to be a time ahead as they attempt to damp- and observes that she may be eligible by Andrew Baker UK. further pause while an air-condi- places to ninth. en down the excitement to start higher education in the The pair played doubles together tioning system removes residual 5. Nadal's celebration was a first, the caused by her run to the United States in 2012. ust think how different it all at a promotional event at a London condensation from the arena. Spaniard walking across the roof of sports centre, and Robson's might have been for Rafael the television commentary boxes to Nadal and Roger Federer.