Wimbledon: Federer vs Nadal

[Canadaleaf]

A lot of people are saying this was the greatest Tennis Match ever played and im not a tennis fan but serisuly i tunned in right when the tiebreaker started during the 4th set and man was it intense heres an article now

From foxsports.com

Nadal beats Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7


Fifth set


Federer's at his serve-and-volley best as we start the fifth set. It's 1-0 Federer, his first lead since the first set.
Nadal grinds out a hold in response to level the set. Federer goes up 15-0, then swings and misses at a forehand attempt — don't get too used to that sight. A double fault gives Nadal a whiff of a break at deuce, but Federer holds again to go up 2-1.
Federer wins the first point on Nadal's serve but no more. It's 2-2. We get to deuce on Federer's serve before the rain comes again and forces another delay.
And we're back. With Federer serving at deuce. And what a serve it is, cracking a pair of aces to win the game and go up 3-2. Nadal holds without incident to tie it back up, 3-3. Federer surges through with a hold at love and it's quickly 4-3 as we head down to the wire.
Federer, just 1 for 12 on break point chances in this match, gets his 13th crack in the eighth game. Once again, Nadal wins the clutch point and goes on to get the crucial hold. Four games apiece. Federer holds comfortably for a 5-4 lead. Someone will have to crack the other to win the title. Who will give first? Nadal looks a little better this time out on his serve, winning two straight points after a 30-30 start and we're all square again, 5-5. A beautiful passing shot and a solid forehand winner give Nadal a double break chance in the 11th game. Federer saves the first with an ace, then gets a bit lucky on the second, failing to put away an easy forehand near the net. Nadal mishit the return, Federer earns the deuce and closes out the game for a 6-5 lead.

Fourth set


Nadal starts the fourth with the serve and wins rather easily. You have to admire the poise of the Spaniard, still staying focused despite a crowd desperate for a classic and an opponent that's gaining steam.
Just as Federer looked like he was headed for a hold at love, he pushes an easy forehand volley wide. His game is a little rough today, but he's in decent position, all things considered. He holds for 1-1. The two continue to trade some remarkable shot making in Nadal's service game. Federer had a window of opportunity at 15-30, but Nadal grinds out the hold for a 2-1 lead.
Federer's serve is in a groove as he jumps out to another 40-0 lead and notches an easy hold for 2-2. Nadal refuses to bend, though, topping off a nice hold with a solid backhand passing shot for a 3-2 lead.
Nadal forces a deuce — his first sniff of a break chance in quite some time — but Federer quickly slams the door on that and levels the set, 3-3. Nadal gets a hold at love as both players begin to establish serve dominance. 4-3 to the Spaniard.
Federer flexes his muscle again at 30-30 and holds for 4-4. Nadal's 13th backhand winner is a doozy, a beautiful passing shot on a tough angle that clips the sideline and helps him secure the hold for 5-4.
Nadal uses his legs to run out a point and get a 0-15 lead on Federer's serve. Another gorgeous backhand shot deep gives him a 0-30 lead, and he's suddenly two points from the match. As close as he's been to losing at Wimbledon in six years, Federer responds by reeling off four straight points (three on his second serve) to even the set, 5-5.
A drop shot finally goes Nadal's way as he takes the quick 15-0 lead and cruises to a 6-5 lead. Federer gives us our second straight tiebreak.
A pair of crowd-pleasing rallies end with the players tied 1-1. Then Federer misses a forehand and gives Nadal a mini-break at 2-1. Nadal kicks an ace wide for a 3-1 lead, then gets another winner on the serve for a 4-1 lead. Federer whips a forehand winner to cut it to 4-2.
An errant Federer backhand gives a Nadal a 5-2 lead and two serves for the championship. A costly double fault gives Federer one of those points back. Nadal hits a backhand into the net to make it 5-4. Huge break for Federer. He roars on with two big serves and goes up 6-5 for set point. A long rally ends with Federer missing a forehand wide, and we're even at 6.
Federer sends a shot long and Nadal has a championship point. Federer gets it to 7-7, but Nadal hits the shot of the tournament — a running forehand winner to give him another crack at it. Nadal comes to the net after the serve, but Federer rips a backhand winner down the line. More solid hitting from Federer, and he's got a 9-8 lead. Nadal rips a return long and Federer has won a thrilling fourth set.
One more set at Wimbledon. How can they top this?
Third set


Federer is down two sets at Wimbledon for the first time since he last lost here — the 2002 first round against Mario Ancic. Let's see what the champion has left.
A quick hold to start gives Federer a 1-0 lead. Nadal holds to level the set, then takes a spill during the third game, apparently tweaking his knee. He hops up and continues, but Federer holds again to go up 2-1.
Nadal goes down 15-40 on his serve, saves the first, then the second on a gutsy challenge in the middle of a baseline rally. He wins the next two points for 2-2. Federer caps a hold at love with a textbook serve and volley and a 3-2 lead in the third set.
Break points have been the difference in this match. Nadal is 3 of 4 and Federer is 1 of 12 after blowing four more in the sixth game of the set. 3-3. In another stunning turn, Nadal follows his gritty hold by earning a triple break point on Federer's serve. But Federer saves all three of them and wins the next two points for a match-saving hold. He leads 4-3.
Nadal comes right back with a quick hold for 4-4. A big serve at 40-30 gives Federer a fairly comfortable hold as well, and he leads 5-4 as we go down to the wire in the third set.
The covers are now out on the court as the threatening skies finally delivered. Stick around for updates.
I've heard an hour. I've heard 30 minutes. Bottom line: Tennis by 1 p.m. ET...we hope.
Now the players are back on the court. We're moments away from resuming this match. Back on with Nadal serving at 4-5, and he sure has come out strong. Three first serves, three points, and he's up 40-0 without having to play a shot. Federer finally makes Nadal play a couple shots and gets back in the game, but Nadal holds for 5-5. Federer looks sharp on his serve and takes a 6-5 lead.


An easy hold for Nadal puts us into a tiebreak in the third set. Roger Federer's run is officially on the line. Federer nearly sends a shot long at 1-2 but challenges and later wins the point, keeping us on serve in the early going. An amped up Federer attacks Nadal's second serve and earns a mini-break and a 4-2 lead.
And he's not done there. Federer rips a crosscourt forehand to the far corner as the bounce literally returns to his step. Nadal gets one of those lost points back after an incredible rally, but a big serve than gives Federer a 6-3 lead and three set points. Nadal saves the first two on his serve, but then Federer rockets an ace out wide to force a fourth set. The champion's not done yet.

Second set


It's certainly too early to count Federer out as he roars to a 1-0 lead with a hold at love.
He looks like the Federer of old all of a sudden, smacking a forehand winner to the deep corner on the run to go up 0-30 on Nadal's serve. He earns a break point soon after and takes advantage. He's up 2-0 in the second. Federer keeps it up, following with a powerful hold as the look of confidence comes back to him. 3-0 Federer.
Not about to go away, Nadal comes back with a strong hold to cut the deficit to 3-1. Federer shows him up by holding at love for 4-1.
Nadal holds again to cut it to 4-2, but the momentum is favoring the five-time champ. The ball's starting to pop off his racquet better. ... And just as I say that, a bad miss from Federer at 30-30 gives Nadal a break point, and the Spaniard takes advantage. We're back on serve at 4-3.
Point of the match so far. Nadal hits a scorcher to the sideline, Federer lunges to send it back, Nadal sprints back into position, wheels around, and gets it back to Federer. A few strokes later and Nadal punches a drop shot attempt into the tape. Federer earns a break chance, but a strong Nadal serve down the middle gets it back to deuce. Federer comes to the net and takes a full swing at a floating shot from Nadal but misses it. A strong serve from Nadal then levels the set 4-4.
Nadal strips the first three points off Federer on his serve and suddenly the five-time defending champion is in serious trouble on Centre Court. Three break points. Federer saves the first after coming to the net, but Nadal finishes a long rally with a strong forehand to the corner. In three paragraphs the momentum has swung squarely back to the three-time Wimbledon finalist. He's up 5-4 and will serve for a two-set lead.
Nadal definitely brings something out in Federer that we rarely see with any other opponent. We'll see if Roger can turn the emotion into something positive — and quickly enough to save himself in this match. Even when Federer's controlling a point, Nadal is finding ways to hit winners. He earns a set point after a beautiful slice backhand that catches Federer out of position. With the pressure heaped on, Federer saves the set point and earns a break chance. Nadal swings it right back for a second set point. This time, he gets it. Nadal wins the set 6-4.
Don't go anywhere.

First set


There's a buzz on Centre Court as we get set to watch what should be a fascinating final. We'll get history either way — Federer's sixth Wimbledon title or Nadal's big breakthrough off the clay courts.
Sharp quality right away to start. A long rally ends with Nadal blasting a forehand to the baseline for a quick lead on Federer's serve. But Federer storms back, dictates the rest of the game and holds for a 1-0 lead, finishing on an ace.
Why is Federer the best on grass? He just turned defense into offense in a heartbeat, taking a point that Nadal should've won for 15-15. But Nadal jumps right back and holds for 1-1. Then an errant Federer forehand at 30-30 gives Nadal his first break chance of the match, and he capitalizes, forcing a Federer mishit. Interesting early development as Nadal goes up 2-1.
The ball is not coming true off Federer's racquet, particularly the backhand. Nadal jumps out to a 40-0 lead, but Federer fights back to force our first deuce of the match. Another long rally ends with Nadal missing a running forehand, giving Federer the break chance right back. But Nadal shows some grit, fights through three deuces, and holds for a 3-1 lead. Federer responds with a quick hold at love. Nadal up 3-2.
Nadal's service game goes much better this time, capped by a Federer backhand miss as he takes a 4-2 lead. Federer holds right back, but Nadal makes him work for it. We're in for a good match.
Another game ends on a Federer mishit as Nadal puts himself one game away from the first set at 5-3. Federer holds at love, but he'll need a break to stay in the first set, down 5-4. Nadal briefly gets in trouble in the next game, falling behind 15-30, but he rallies and soon earns a set point. An extreme-angle rally ends with Federer rocketing a backhand up the line to force deuce. Federer comes to the net to finish another point and gets his second break point of the set. Nadal wins a thrilling rally, then smacks an ace to get his second set point. Federer punches back, earning another break chance. The pendulum then swings back to Nadal. He finally capitalizes on set point number three. It's the first time Federer has lost the first set at Wimbledon since the 2004 final against Andy Roddick.

[thilianwij]

just watched it. amazing match. is all i have to say.

[Chubz]

what a great match that was. Federer was a gentleman in defeat.

[nyG]

Tennis? I just LOL'ed

[FSUViking]

Originally Posted by nyGMen3xChamps

Tennis? I just LOL'ed

So did I. At your ignorance.

[nyG]

Originally Posted by FSUViking

So did I. At your ignorance.

coming from the guy who already has the Yanks out of the playoff race

[FSUViking]

Originally Posted by nyGMen3xChamps

coming from the guy who already has the Yanks out of the playoff race

Good correlation.

[KobeBryant_24]

Well, I didn't have time to watch this match, actually I wouldn't have anyway, lol. But I saw the highlights and it looked like both players gave it there all to the very end, there both winners in my book. Congrats to both of them!