| Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer produced their | | | | The result has many consequences, most notably |
| second great Wimbledon Final in a row. Nadal won 9 - | | | | Nadal is currently the best player in the world and |
| 7 in the fifth set in a classic match. "Rafa" became the | | | | Federer only just holds the #1 ranking. Historically Nadal |
| first man to claim the Wimbledon - French Open | | | | has failed to perform at the US Open, injuries robbing |
| double since Bjorn Borg in 1980 and is now laying siege | | | | him of full preparation and fitness while Federer comes |
| to Federer's coveted number 1 ranking. | | | | home full steam ahead. Nadal already seems to have |
| A combination of factors had led to Nadal claiming | | | | picked up a knee problem at Wimbledon and his game |
| favouritism for the tournament, despite Federer's | | | | certainly takes its toll physically on hard courts. |
| dominance of the event for five years. Nadal's stunning | | | | Djokovic will come back into the frame on the US hard |
| performance in losing last year's final; Federer's flat | | | | courts were he took Federer close last year. |
| start to the 2008 season [due to illness]; Nadal's | | | | Federer's reputation at the best ever is in question. The |
| crushing victory in the recent French Open final; and | | | | relentless Nadal has beaten him in 4 slam finals now |
| the Spaniard's improvement on all surfaces this year | | | | and has denied him the missing jewel in his crown, the |
| had caused authorities as respected as Bjorn Borg to | | | | French Open. There is still some work to do yet |
| favour Nadal before the tournament. | | | | before he is undisputedly considered the best ever. |
| The match itself was severely affected by rain delays, | | | | Opportunity Points - There are many statistics taken |
| gusty winds and finally bad light as the match | | | | at a tennis match, Federer hit an incredible 99 winners |
| stretched into a fifth hour. Despite the difficulties both | | | | including 25 aces, but in a contest as close as Federer |
| players produced superb displays. Each set was its | | | | v Nadal the most important stat is converting the big |
| own drama and key turning points worth studying. | | | | points. The most obvious flaw in Federer's match was |
| The first set was decided by a careless Federer | | | | his 1 / 13 break point conversions. Break points are the |
| service game early on. Nadal was his usual clean self, | | | | most obvious examples of big points, but there are |
| committing just 2 unforced errors for the set and | | | | many others, 30 - 30 second serve, 15 - 30 etc... The |
| ready to pounce on any slight lapse in Roger's game. | | | | truth is Federer played tense tennis on the big points |
| Federer had more chances but didn't play the | | | | during the first 2 and half sets and paid the price for he |
| important points well, he did however turn the | | | | should have been 2 sets to 1 up given his opportunities. |
| momentum in his favour late in the set holding serve | | | | Improving performance on big points is one of the |
| comfortably and pressing Nadal's serve constantly. | | | | toughest issues facing a developing performance |
| The momentum continued at the start of the second | | | | player. It is extremely difficult to simulate the pressure |
| set as Federer jumped to a 4 - 1 lead. It was some old | | | | of a final during training, so players really have to go |
| fashioned grass court tactics of slicing and net rushing | | | | out, play tournaments and find their nerve through |
| combined with some of the most stunning inside out | | | | experiencing different and uncomfortable situations. |
| forehands that saw him reach a winning position. Nadal | | | | Federer has been in so many big occasions that he |
| relentless pounding of Federer's backhand began to | | | | was able to shake off his early big point nerves and |
| pay dividends and he reeled off the last five games to | | | | play extremely good tennis in two tight tie breakers. |
| take a two sets to love lead and a hand on the trophy. | | | | Tactical Framework, Pounding the Backhand and |
| The third set contained two remarkable momentum | | | | Strengths and Weakness. Nadal's tactics during the |
| changes. At 3 - 2 up Federer held 4 break points | | | | course of the match were predictable and didn't |
| against Nadal and failed on each occasion to capitalise. | | | | change. He virtually hit every serve and every brutally |
| Disturbingly on 3 of those points he lamely dumped | | | | spinning forehand to the Federer backhand. This tactic, |
| backhands into the net. Nadal held and the furious | | | | otherwise known as "pound the weakness", paid |
| Federer found himself down 0 - 40 in the next game. | | | | enormous dividends through the match as Federer's |
| The match was quickly becoming a repeat of the | | | | struggled to hit high backhands off the back foot. |
| 2007 French Open where Federer won 1 / 17 break | | | | Federer on the other hand played from the baseline, |
| points during the match half, way through the second | | | | charged the net, sliced his backhand and showed he |
| set he was 1 / 12 in this final. But the Swiss is a great | | | | can be a true all court player. Unfortunately when the |
| player; and he recovered to win that game and then | | | | he let the match slip during the first two sets, Roger |
| take a tie breaker with some trade mark serving and | | | | too often rallied from the baseline, especially hitting |
| forehands. Two sets to one. | | | | topspin backhands. The difficulty is that Roger can |
| The forth set produced the most dramatic tie breaker, | | | | cruise through an entire tournament, not dropping a set, |
| this time it was Nadal who failed to capatilise. With two | | | | playing from the baseline but against Nadal he must |
| serves at 5 - 2 Nadal produced a double fault and an | | | | adjust. Many respected commentators were imploring |
| unforced error, he later held two match points which | | | | Federer not just to mix his game up against Nadal, but |
| he failed to convert. The excruciating sequence of set | | | | to mix it up in the lead up matches so as to polish that |
| and match points that followed evoked memories of | | | | style of game. |
| that famous Borg v McEnroe tie breaker many years | | | | For developing performance players the ability to |
| ago. The quality of tennis late in the tie break was | | | | recognise and play to your own strengths; must be |
| breath taking. Federer levels at two sets all. | | | | complimented by a capacity to assess your |
| The fifth set was a fitting finale to the great match, | | | | opponent's weaknesses and form a counter attack. |
| first Federer then Nadal holding break points before | | | | For example the great Federer tried to counteract |
| Nadal was the one to convert. The darkness that the | | | | Nadal's attack to the backhand court by hitting his |
| match finished in was a talking point for the press after | | | | inside out forehand with great effect, making Nadal hit |
| the match, and certainly Federer was far from happy | | | | with more accuracy and risk. It almost tipped the |
| with the light and the time Nadal was taking in | | | | match to his favour, but that left handedness allowed |
| between points late in the match. | | | | Nadal to generate the necessary extra angle. |