Wimbledon Tidbits 2008: Viva Rafa Nadal!
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It took Rafael Nadal nearly five hours of on court time, seven hours of total time, three rain delays, four championship points and a bottomless desire to dethrone the greatest tennis player ever, Roger Federer, from his Wimbledon throne. John McEnroe said it, and for once I agree with him, it was one of the best men's matches ever---if not the best.
And though I like Federer a whole lot, I really wanted Rafa to win this one. He's worked so hard and improved so much, I wanted him to have it nearly as much as he wanted it. I jumped with every thump of the ball, I screeched at every break point, and I nearly died when Rafa double faulted in the fourth set tie-break, two points from the championship.
Federer of course was going for a record breaking sixth straight Wimbledon title while Rafa was going for his very first. The final score that allowed Rafa to collapse to the grass in delight after match point: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7. At four hours and forty-eight minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon men's final in history and the first to go past 9pm. In fact, the impending darkness threatened to carry the match over to a Monday finish.
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But that didn't become necessary as Rafa broke Federer at 7-all in the fifth and then held his own serve to win the championship. By that time the court was bathed in the hazy light of dusk and the awards ceremony on a centre court was lit primarily by flash bulbs.
Rafa's win made him the first man in more than twenty-five years to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year---an astounding achievement. I can only imagine how Rafa and Roger felt after it was all over, but I for one was exhausted.
Image details: The Championships - Wimbledon 2008 Day Thirteen served by picapp.com
And for once, kudos to NBC for sticking with the final and not
cutting away at three o'clock as scheduled to cover the Death Valley
lizard road race, or whatever it was they were supposed to cover at
three o'clock. They realized, as everyone at home watching the match
did, that this was something special and there wasn't another sporting
event at that moment that was more important.
Spare a moment for Roger Federer though. The man was down two sets to love, served like a dream, did everything he possibly could to win the match. His amazing accomplishment of five Wimbledon titles in a row, plus every other stat of his illustrious career are often taken for granted but they shouldn't be. The man is a magnificent player and a class act to boot.
Image details: The Championships - Wimbledon 2008 Day Thirteen served by picapp.com
As for Rafa, he won his first Wimbledon title in front of a packed
centre court, the Crown Prince Felipe of Spain and Princess Letizia of
Spain, Bjorn Borg and a host of other tennis royalty. He's young, he's
beautiful, he too is a class act, and right now he's the best player in
the world.
A hearty congratulations to the new Wimbledon champion, Rafael Nadal!
