The Serve

Federer wins an epic to equal Borg

Roger Federer needed to produce all of his sublime skill and nerve to withstand countless Rafael Nadal challenges and equal Bjorn Borg’s record of five consecutive Wimbledon titles.

Wimbledon had its first men’s final to go the distance since Goran Ivanisevic defeated Pat Rafter in 2001, with today’s epic lasting almost four hours.

In what is becoming habitual in grand slam finals between the pair, Federer started like a rocket as Nadal battled nerves. Federer quickly opened a 3-love lead as a repeat of last years opening set bagel became a possibility, before Nadal rallied to break back and force a tie break. Federer would win it 9-7 but Nadal had stunted the momentum.

The Spaniard has found his zone by the second set, picking off winners with ease. He leveled the match and had Federer worried. Nadal had chances in the third to break but it went to another tie break, with Federer cruising through 7-3.

Thoughts that the third set would be a decisive blow perished almost immediately, when Nadal broke in the first game of the fourth. Nadal continued to pick up the tempo, racing to a 4-love lead. Federer was growing increasingly frustrated and preoccupied with Hawk-Eye. One call late in the fourth set riled him in particular, when the chair umpire had indicated he didn’t believe a Nadal challenge was worthy, yet the computer disagreed. Federer vented rare anger at the umpire during the next change of ends.

Nadal closed the set out comfortably. This was the first time Federer would be extended to a deciding set during his five year unbeaten run at the All-England club.

Before the start of the fifth, Nadal received treatment on a knee injury. It didn’t appear to hamper him, although fatigue was becoming a factor.

Federer struggled to hold serve early in the final set, relying on his first serve to consistently bail him out of trouble. Twice he faced 15-40. The key moment came in the sixth game when Nadal faced three break points. The Spaniard saved one, before a Federer forehand winner down the line gave him the crucial break. The Swiss pumped both fists in jubilation.

The end came quickly. Federer won his next service game to love, then after spraying a forehand on his first match point, the world number one raced to the net and ended the contest with an overhead cross-court volley. Federer collapsed to the ground, lay on his back then burst into tears, showing even more emotion than usual.

“I’m happy (with) every one I get now, before he takes them all”, Federer said at the presentation. The pair have now split their four grand slam final battles, with the previous three contests lasting four sets.

“I told Rafa at the net (that) he deserved it as well”.