Rafael Nadal is tennis king - Wimblendon 2008

Posted by bumeral

July 8, 2008

The party, which brought together the giants of tennis Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, was extended until unsuspected limits. Finally, Nadal took the fifth set for 9-7 with a final score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8) and 9-7, this being the longest final in Wimbledon history (4 hours, 48 minutes).
At Wimbledon 2008, one can say that Nadal reached comfortably until the final, winning in first round by Andreas Beck 6-4, 6-4 and 7-6 (0). In second round match was more difficult path to the final against Ernests Gulbis who defeated with partial 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (2) and 6-3. Already in third round was a better Nadal against German Nicolas Kiefer whom defeated by 7-6 (3), 6-2 and 6-3.

In fourth round continued to demonstrate a high level, this time the victim was the Russian Mikhail Youzhny, who fell 6-3, 6-3 and 6-1. In the quarter-finals he met the Briton Andy Murray who was supported by the public for being the last British tennis player who was alive, but what Rafa easily surpassed with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Already in the semi-finals, Nadal will face the surprise of the tournament the German Rainer Schuettler who, with 94 placed eighth in the ATP, managed colarse until the semifinals. Nadal showed no great tennis this time, but we overcame with relative comfort with partial 6-1, 7-6 (3) and 6-4.

In the end, turned to face with Roger Federer for the third consecutive time, the beginning of the match had to be delayed by rain. Nadal started very well the encounter taking the first two-sided by an identical 6-4. Already in the third sleeve, Nadal had the opportunity to break the Swiss service in the seventh game when he was in a 0-40 advantage, but Federer was able to recover and there were no more mistakes throughout the third sleeve.

The match was suspended by rain when Federer was leading 5-4 in the third set. When it resumed, they had to decide on a tie-break which Federer took a 7-5. In the fourth there were no breaks of serve neither players, and came to another tie-break where Nadal was two points for the first proclaimed champion, but Federer was able to be replenished and took the set by 7-6 (8 ).

The fifth September was a recital of good tennis, but again the rain was presented and was re-suspend the game when the score was tied 2-2 and Federer pulling 40 to 40 in the fifth game. The match was extended to unsuspected limits, but Nadal finally took the fifth set for 9-7 with a final score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8) and 9 — 7, this being the longest final in Wimbledon history (4 hours, 48 minutes).

This is the first time a Spanish male gets Wimblendon since Manuel Santana as consigueira in 1966. Rafael Nadal has become the third player to win the tournament since Roland Garros and Wimbledon last time, how the Swedish Björn Borg did it in 1980 and Rod Laver in 1962.

What people said at Buenos Aires ? - Historic. Spectacular. Vibrating. Drama. Unpublished. The 2008 Wimbledon Final had everything. And will be remembered forever as one of the greatest duels ever. With an end not imagined by the majority, with Rafael Nadal celebrating for the first time in the grass of London, in her first Grand Slam crown away from the clay of Roland Garros, and cutting the number of five titles in a row to Roger Federer in Cathedral -

Yes, all that, in a match for the heart attack. Each in his style, with many more mistakes of the Swiss (52 against 27) and the defence of the Spanish master, the clash, decided by 9-7 in the fifth set, four hours and 48 minutes, ended up being the longest definition Mayor in the history of English. The backlash aguerrido Nadal, winner and more happy than ever, against a Federer who has missed opportunism. Everything, everything, in an unforgettable battle.

There are many things to count: gusts, milestones, feats … The first thing is clear, as a brief explanation of why Federer against Nadal was on the surface that dominated pleasure, was that these years of the legendary London grass is slower and then the high pique favors to Spanish, helping to paste more comfortable, with much top-spin and stopped being able to get better and with more time to many balls.

In this context it is understood better how Nadal could do to cut the number triumphant Federer of 40 consecutive victories at Wimbledon and one of 65 matches unbeaten on grass. And, obviously, we must recognize the great progress in the Majorcan fast courts, being more aggressive from the base and committing few mistakes, forcing the opposition to force it permanently with nearly perfect shooting and running huge risks.

The other key to really understand this feat of Nadal on Federer, and in terms of what happened at each other in this marathon and sensational end, was that the Spanish took advantage of better opportunities to break the great service of the Swiss, while the king faltó be more timely and effective at decisive moments. And that, in the end, at the highest worldwide, among rivals of the highest ranking, earned gold.

Of course, this item was decisive and not beyond question. Even when it appears the percentage of low-break points converted by Nadal (31%), with four of 13 chances, we see that 8% achieved by Federer, with only a concrete opportunity on 13 was insufficient. And ended up being lethal to the aspirations of the Swiss.

Therefore, there passed the keys. That, boosted by easier Nadal to move into the English lawn, between the slow surface regarding the high speed of other times and its evolution through tennis that goes beyond its ally brick dust, caused prove a real headache for the aggressive and offensive Federer. Thus, it was expensive and mint in a duel really unfit for heart disease.

Numbers that speak for themselves
Now a little repos, in numbers and feats, which meant this incredible success of Nadal, 22 years, and this great disappointment Federer (27 will meet next month). The Spanish became the first man to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in sequential order, since we did the Swedish Björn Borg in 1980. Having achieved this double crown is the most complete example of its more responsive to the fast courts, because it is beyond any discussion of its supremacy in clay.

Nadal lifted the trophy for the first time Wimbledon
So, Rafa improved its record in Grand Slam final to 5-2 since coming to triumph in Paris in the last four seasons and had been overtaken by the Swiss in the definitions of London’s previous two years. Meanwhile, Roger was with a mark of 12-4, with the plus that was the first time he fell into a defining game of a Major in fast courts.

The Swiss, who had held over the past five Wimbledon and was crowned four times in the U.S. Open and three in the Australia Open, continues with 12 Grand Slam titles in his career, two of the world that holds the cap U.S. Pete Sampras. And for Nadal, this victory was reported a double feat: Spanish is the most Mayors (5) to its credit and the second man from his country win the trophy in London, after they get what Manolo Santana in 1966.

Thus, Federer lives a particular situation: is the first year since 2004, which is not the man who managed more Grand Slam in a season since that time including, in 2006 and 2007 got three of the four. In 2008 did not win any Major then just played the U.S. Open. Meanwhile, Nadal is now unbeaten in 24 matches since losing to fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the debut of Rome.

In addition to the historic double crown of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Spanish was the first to celebrate in the middle, at Queen’s, the traditional championship on grass prior to the Cathedral. Therefore, this year already won six titles: four clay and two grass (the first two of his life) and accumulated a total of 29 crowns as a professional. Instead, Federer only won two crowns in 2008 and already has 55 in their showcases.

In the personal duels, Nadal now has a 12-6 mark against Federer (9-1 on clay, 2-3 and 1-2 in a cement lawn). This was the clash of two 14 ° in the end, with the advantage of 10-4 Spanish, who also leads the definitions of clashes in Grand Slam by 4-2. This superiority is due to its unmatched defense, his combative attitude and a game that left-handed and with very few errors not forced, greatly complicates the Swiss.

If some unsuspecting believed that with this castling actions at Wimbledon in relation to last year, Nadal could overtake Federer in the ATP ranking, this does not happen, at least for now. While the advantage of the Swiss fell on his escort to less than half the tennis player winning more than those who today are still active on the throne uninterruptedly since it became king in February 2004.

Reasons that are forceful
Returning to the game itself, everything that we gave these two great monsters of different patterns of play, there were reasons to show why Nadal won and why Federer lost. The end result is tilted to the Spanish, undoubtedly the best in the world this year, just in the weaker of the Swiss season since leading the ranking, which carries more falls account for such a hierarchy.

This, in other words, shows that the king is human, not as in previous years, it was a robot, a machine masterfully programmed to win and almost always raze. Federer himself admitted that suffered probably its toughest defeat. And he lost many opportunities in the first two sets. Intelligent play and generally to resolve in the stadium, so is the time of analysis.
Federer was unable to celebrate for the sixth year in a row….
To reach his posthumous joy, Nadal, who never had imagined power crowned at Wimbledon, started strong and determined from the start. It came from crushing for the first time Federer in the recent definition of Roland Garros, and that could help the Spanish in the psychological aspect and upset the Swiss. Break the pentacampeón out of London in the third game and, after lifting two breaks in the tenth and took the first set by 6-4.

In the second part, Federer paid a very dear price for his lack of punch in certain critical moments, with strange flaws. Let’s see: was ahead 3-0 and then 4-1, but got so many first serves as he normally and, in a blink of an eye, it was 3-4. Again face and mint on the chances of breaking, not because the Swiss took advantage of a chance in the eighth game and another at the tenth, did so easy breaking Nadal in the ninth and won 6-4 unthinkable.

Of course, instead of achieving equality in sets, Federer encountered a disadvantage before Nadal unusual in fast surfaces, with a 0-2 difficult to digest. In the six previous wins, the Swiss had run a total of four hours unless the Spanish and connected more than twice as many aces (84 to 40), but nothing seemed to serve this respect imposing usual in the very Cathedral.

In the third chapter, the defender of the title he won 7-6. After giving further breaks, came out to pull up the tie-break after a rain interruption. Federer was ahead 6-3 and won the final 7-5. A similar story occurred in the fourth set, to win 7-6, but after a thrilling 10-8, in a sudden death in which the Swiss lifted two match points when Nadal went 7-6 (the Swiss ace) and 8-7 (brilliant passing shot-parallel setback).

In the fifth set, again bad weather forced them to suspend the scoreboard 2-2. Both missed important chances to break, until the Spanish broke service to the Swiss in the 15 th game in the fourth occasion. Cedar somewhat initiative Federer with his powerful service and Rafa did not fail to force it on the setback. Already with her serve and night, minutes that the match was suspended due to lack of natural light for the next day, Nadal held on the fourth match point, when Roger was right on the network.

That marked a 9-7 final double feat. Thus, Nadal won the tournament that he had never dreamed of, having been reared on clay, and to cap it all he did beating Federer. Even against the ropes, the Swiss never gave up and managed to stretch the fight until no more power, losing as a real big. And the Spanish were crowned with their stamp, pure claw, as another big truth. As a corollary, is congratulated each other. Two knights. Two large and few.

Share and Enjoy: