Roger Federer Wins Wimbledon Crown
The King of Grass Rebuffs Rafael Nadal, The King of Clay
Roger Federer, the top-ranked tennis player in the world, served his way to victory with 24 aces against World No.2 Rafa Nadal in five tough sets to equal Bjorn Borg.
One of All-Time Best Matches
There have been more dramatic matches at Wimbledon and there have been closer matches that went longer. But few matches rival the sustained high quality of play as the one played today by top-seed and World No.1 Roger Federer and second-seed and World No.2 Rafael Nadal on Centre Court at the All England Club.
Splendiferous shot-making and champions’ chutzpah graced the not-so-green grass of Wimbledon in the men’s final. The tennis world watched in awe, as two of the best to ever don tennis shoes waged racquet war. Had anyone ever seen a player hit a passing shot from his derriere? The shot didn’t get by Federer, but it drew an error, and was the cherry atop the treat that all who watched digested.
Federer's Serve a Major Factor
In the end, the outcome spun on the axis of Federer’s serve. Although Nadal broke Federer more than the converse, Federer used big serves to dig his way out of deep holes and rode his 24 aces, many of which came at critical moments, to his second grand slam title of the year, and fifth consecutive Wimbledon championship. Only living legend Bjorn Borg had previously accomplished “The Feat of Five.”
Nadal's Serve No Weapon
Nadal’s serve was hardly a weapon. He had only one ace and used the serve primarily to get points started. Their first serve percentages were equal (71% for each), but Federer had a higher percentage of points won on serve. Federer won 71% to Nadal’s 69% on first serve points, and 62% to Nadal’s 57% on second. In a match this close, an ace or service winner on a key point or two usually makes the difference, and it did in this case.
Although Nadal served the fastest of the two during the match, 131mph to Federer’s 130, Federer’s first serve was nine miles per hour faster than Nadal’s on average (120mph - 111mph), and his second serve averaged seven miles per hour more (99mph to 92mph). In other words, Federer brought the heat, and Nadal struggled to stay in the kitchen.
Nadal Hangs Tough Despite Knee
Yet, stay in the kitchen is precisely what Nadal did through five of the most brilliant sets of tennis one will ever see. Despite Nadal's calling for the trainer to treat knee problems in the fourth set, those who predicted that Nadal would dethrone King Federer, were looking pretty good when Federer was serving at 1-1, 15-40 in the fifth set, and again at 2-2, 15-40. Instead, Federer came up with excellent serves, forcing returns that allowed him to dictate the points and win both games.
Federer Forehand Clinches the Deal
After those two service games, one had the sense that Federer would not be denied his place in history, and his forehand, the stroke that has offered him feast or famine most of the year, yielded only delicious morsels for the rest of the match. Receiving serve at 3-2, Federer ripped three forehand winners to break Nadal at 15, and it was a huge forehand approach that yielded match point.
Federer Feasts on Wounded Nadal
With break in hand, at 4-2, Federer’s fins broke the surface of the water, and with the scent of blood in his nostrils, he reeled off three aces at 125, 124, and 123mph with a 92mph second serve thrown in at 15-0 that drew an error. The wounded Nadal was warrior-like through the final point, making a terrific get off what appeared to be a forehand winner by Federer. But Federer was awaiting the weak return and volleyed it off before falling to his back and releasing the tears of relief and joy.
Wimbledon Final Worth the Wait
Waiting was the primary theme during this year’s very wet and wacky Wimbledon, but few tennis fans wouldn’t wait out a wet fortnight to watch a match like the one Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played today. If they only cross paths in two of the four grand slams per year, that will be plenty to maintain the sizzle that their rivalry has brought back to the men’s game.
