Roger vs. Rafa: The Best Final Ever?

Nadal's 6-4 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7 victory will go down as one of the finest in Grand Slam history

The way the Spaniard redoubled his efforts in the final set after seeing Federer claw his way back from two sets down to 2-2 was as memorable as it was impressive. It was hardly questionable before the match, but surely the 22-year-old is the fittest tennis player in the history of the game. Now though his will to win can enter the same territory

By Citizen Correspondent Sir Stephen

Date Posted: 07/07/08

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The men's 2008 Wimbledon final on Sunday is already being talked about as one of the best tennis matches, if not sporting encounters, in history. It's a tough call to compare sports, or even eras within a sport, but there were many reasons why the epic match on Centre Court will stand out on its own...

THE LONGEST FINAL
At four hours and 48 minutes the contest between Federer and Nadal was the longest final in Wimbledon history. The last shot was hit at nearly 2115 BST with Centre Court almost dark. Given that the rain interrupted play twice, from start to finish the match actually lasted six hours and 40 minutes. That's not to say that the length of the contest on its own was a factor. But the consistently high quality tennis on offer with twists and turns aplenty made this a unique sporting drama. It also proved just how fit the two players were to last that long.

FEDERER CLINGING TO HIS CROWN
At two sets down, 3-3 in the third and the score 0-40, Federer looked like he could kiss goodbye to a winning streak at SW19 which went back as far as 2002. Watching crowds have become accustomed to seeing the 26-year old cruise into the final each year, and just when it is needed most, step up to show his champion's credentials. But here, he was in a completely different place. The confidence, seemingly thumped out of him during the French Open final when Nadal only yielded four games, was brittle and it looked like he would slip to a straight-sets defeat.

In addition, not since 1927 had the winner turned around a Wimbledon final to win in five sets so the world number one looked almost doomed. But as if suddenly calling upon all the finely-tuned memories from his five Wimbledon wins, he went for all-out attack and battled to win the third set in a tie-break, then the fourth to set up a thrilling finale.