Federer vs. Nadal at Wimbledon 2008 - The greatest game in tennis history
Eleven years after the legendary final of 2008, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will cross the blades again at Wimbledon on Friday. The memory of the classic still lives on today.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jul 11, 2019, 05:24 pm
By Jörg Allmeroth from London
The darkness had long fallen on Wimbledon on that memorable July 6th, 2008. And so it was only thanks to a battery of flashlights from the photographers that one could at least vaguely see how Rafael Nadal in the famous at half past nine in the evening Winner's cup bit. As if he had to make sure that everything was true and real. Or just a dream, an illusion.
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But yes, it was true: Exactly 4023 days ago, in the “greatest game in tennis history” (John McEnroe), he became ruler of the green lawn on Church Road for the first time - after a four-hour and 48-minute marathon duel against Roger Federer A spectacular 6: 4, 6: 4, 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 7 (8:10), 9: 7 win ended. “Spiel, Satz, Sternstunde” was the title of “Spiegel” at the time about the historical match, to which a film was later dedicated, with the title “Strokes of Genius”. Only now, on July 12, 2019, will the long-awaited reunion of the tennis titans in Wimbledon come to the now 40th duel of "Fedal" - but already in the semifinals.
Roger Federer's reign ends
In 2008, last year without a “rain umbrella” over Center Court, 15,000 fans not only experienced the longest Wimbledon final of all time. But simply "the best match you have ever had," said three-time champion Boris Becker: "I was so captivated by this game that my hands trembled afterwards." Whoever followed the drama was Australia at the time Legend Rod Laver on record, “it will never be forgotten. That was tennis from another planet. "
The long reign of the seemingly eternal Wimbledon King Federer ended with Nadal's triumph. After his first win in 2003, the Swiss had mastered the events on the Holy Lawn for years and also won the titles in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. In 2008 he had the opportunity to make up half a dozen and set the record of Englishman William Renshaw with six victories in a row - but in the epic comparison against Nadal, the Maestro's breathtaking catch-up was ultimately unsuccessful. "It's an experience you can't put into words," said Nadal, drunk with happiness, "emotionally like nothing I've ever had on a tennis court."
Tim Henman - "Ancient Drama"
It was also the biggest tennis between Federer and Nadal. Never before have two champion players balanced so nerve-racking on the abyss of failure and played dream hits at the same time as on the assembly line. As if to survive, the Spaniard and the Swiss fought for this title, popping aces and passing balls around the other's ears - whenever it mattered the most at the big points. The game appeared to the British Tim Henman as “antique drama”. Only Federer was heartbroken: "It is the worst defeat of my career," said Federer afterwards, "I have rarely felt much worse."
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