Fans have been waiting for a Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal rematch at Wimbledon for 11 years, where these two amazing players played the unforgettable Head2Head rivalry in 2008 which is known as one of the greatest matches ever played.
2006 Final, Federer d. Nadal 60 76(5) 67(2) 63
The big question is could Roger Federer ever be beaten on grass? – In 2006 we saw that the Swiss could lose, two years after Nadal appeared as a worthy challenger to Federer. Both of them heading into 2006 final, Federer, the three-time defending champion was now a 47 grass-court winning streak.
But while Nadal also has proved himself with his impressive background of 17 tour-level titles, two Roland Garros crowns, all before he was even 20 years old, he had yet to prove himself on the grass. This was Nadal’s first Wimbledon final and his previous best finish was just the third round.
They had split the season’s two first Grand slams – Nadal winning Roland Garros (d. Federer) and Federer(d. Baghdatis) with the Australian Open. But at their second meeting in a Grand Slam match, it was Federer who showed his hot form and kept his level.
Federer broke Nadal when the Spaniard served at 5-4 to close out the second set. Rafa rebounded in the third, but the Swiss took control in the fourth breaking the Spaniard at 2-1 and 4-1 and finally winning the Championships when serving at 5-3.
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2007 Final, Federer d. Nadal 76(7) 46 76(3) 26 62
After winning the first set, The Swiss claimed the first set tie-break despite the Spaniard’s courageous effort to save those three consecutive set points at 3/6.
Federer made many strikes to the net, but Nadal had his passed dialed in. Nadal managed to save a break point in the first game of the third set and didn’t even have to face another one until Federer declared a decisive break in the sixth game of the fifth set.
Seeing Nadal save 16 of 17 break points against him to win Roland Garros, Federer twice rallied from 15/40 in the fifth set to stay away from going down in an early break.
Federer who managed to triumph over 65 winners, 24 of them aces and a big number of crosscourt backhand winners, he now equaled the Bjorn Borg record of five consecutive Wimbledon titles.
2008 Final, Nadal d. Federer 64 64 67(5) 67(8) 97
For a third time in a row, they’re here again at Wimbledon. Federer again defending his championship and the Roland Garros Champion, Rafael Nadal.
One of the most awaited matches of their 18-match rivalry, the Spaniard won the first set, but Federer had things in control in the second set with a 3-0 lead. Nadal gave everything he had to fight back and took two sets to zero lead. The third set was unfortunately interrupted by heavy rain, while Federer was in lead with 5-4. The match continued after a long 70-minute delay and despite the windy weather conditions, they held on for a tie-break. Federer eventually clinched the set on his third set point.
The fourth set progressed into another tie-break, which kept the whole crowd in both excitement and suspense. Unfortunately for Federer the two errors he made on the forehand wing gave Nadal his first championship at 7/6, but the Swiss’ serve rescued him and they went on until Federer took the final to a decisive set.
The fifth and final set at 8-7, Nadal finally took the championship point and was victorious after 4 hours and 48 minutes, the longest final ever played at Wimbledon.
