Rafael Nadal Takes Wimbledon Crown

In my thirty-three-plus years of being in the game of tennis, the gentlemen's final at Wimbledon 2008 was the most incredible Grand Slam final I have ever witnessed.

Are there adequate words to fully convey the wonder of the Gentlemen’s final at Wimbledon? If there are, then my vocabulary is woefully inadequate. Although I participated on the couch and in spirit only, I am physically and emotionally spent in the aftermath of one of the most amazing men’s Grand Slam tennis finals ever played.

Discussing who won and lost seems almost trivial in light of the transcendent play displayed by both warriors (for certainly that’s what they are) throughout the match, particularly from midway through the fifth set to the penultimate point. It seems an injustice that it ended on an unforced error.

I predicted Nadal would win the match, and was pleasantly surprised that the real Roger Federer showed up from the third set on to battle Nadal to such an incredible finish. Despite rooting for Federer, like a good book, I didn’t want the match to end, and was saddened when in ended with a missed Federer forehand.

Kudos to Federer who had many opportunities to wilt under the unrelenting heat Rafa applied. Despite being two sets down, the former “King of Wimbledon” made Rafa hit incredible shot after incredible shot before passing his scepter.

And Nadal? He possesses the greatest weapon in tennis: his indomitable will, his mind metal-forged in Mallorca. There is no doubting his strength and speed or his dominating strokes. But dominating strokes are fairly common, and speed a given for top tier players.

The ability to compel your opponent to crumble when it counts most, to deliver the devastating blow when the moment demands belongs to Rafa now, as it once belonged to Roger. The new “King” has been crowned, but Roger remains royal in defeat. I’m picking Federer for the US Open. Game, set, match, I’m out.