| Sunday, 6 July 2008 Written by Drew Lilley Scores
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Wimbledon LIVE! 11.10 pm: The press are currently interviewing a cool, calm and collected Rafa Nadal while I had the dubious honour of sitting in on Roger’s conference. Absolutely disconsolate. Thoroughly miserable. In the days, weeks, months and years to come however, he will look back on this tournament in a different light, and I am already looking back on it in awe. Momentous is the only way I can describe it. And thank you for sharing it with us! It’s been a pleasure (never a chore!) blogging and writing for you over the past fortnight. Thank you for reading and posting. Keep enjoying your tennis, wherever you are. 9.37 pm: Four hours, 48 minutes. Two rain delays. What a match. 9.34 pm: Bob Bryan and Sam Stosur defeat Mike Bryan and Katy Srebotnik 7-5, 6-4. 9.32 pm: I wasn’t here for last year’s final, meaning that I have only ever reported on Nadal wins (French 2006 – 2008, Wimbledon 2008!) What a final though – what a match.
9.30 pm: Deuce on the Stosur serve. Bob then puts away a smash. Ad Stosur at 1-0 and 4-3. And they hold. 5-3! It’s pitch black out there but they’re carrying on.
9.25 pm: The first French Open – Wimbledon double since Borg in 1980. Wow! Ha, he’s biting the trophy, as he always does with the Roland Garros trophy. Rafa now has five Grand Slam titles – and he’s only 22!
9.23 pm: Rafa thanks the crowd. Calls Roger “the best player in history”. Great mutual respect. “Thank you very much Roger – he’s very good for tennis.”
9.22 pm: “Rafa’s a deserving champion,” says Federer.
9.21 pm: Rafa hoists the trophy aloft! 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7 – what a match!
9.20 pm: Ah, they’re playing on on No. 1 Court. 9.18 pm: Bob Bryan and Stosur lead 7-5, 3-1 but it may have to be called off due to the light – or lack thereof. 9.18 pm: Rafa clambers into the guest box and embraces his family as a million cameras flash and twinkle in the twilight. And then he walks across the roof to the royal box! FEDERER NETS - NADAL WINS!
9.15 pm: Best return I’ve ever seen. Deuce. Unreturnable serve! Another match point!
9.14 pm: Rafa takes an age to serve, Roger complains but the ump. says nothing. Fed then screws one wide. Match point… 9.13 pm: Federer hits one way too high which is going out and Rafa – in unfamiliar territory at the net – tries for it and fluffs it! 30-30.
9.13 pm: Big serve, Rafa comes in. 30-15… 9.12 pm: 0-15 as Rafa nets. Great serve and volley - the first he's done! 15-15. 9.10 pm: New balls. Rafa needs four points… 9.09 pm: 8-7 Nadal. Roger nets! Break point again. Roger’s looking exhausted. And he looongs it! Roger has been broken! 9.09 pm: Ace! Boom! 9.08 pm: Rafa slips then loooongs one. Deuce-alicious. Great cross-courter – Ad Rafa and another break point. 9.07 pm: Best cross-courter I’ve ever seen. Two break points. Ace! 30-40. 9.06 pm: Rafa again gets to 0-30 after a Roger netted forehand. Second serve… Rog comes to the net and puts it away. 30-15. 9.04 pm: 7-7. Rafa comes in and smashes. Roger somehow gets it back and it lands on the line, Rafa then puts it away and pumps his fist – Vamos! 9.03 pm: That net-cord turns a Roger backhand into a drop. Rafa gets there but Rog puts it away. 40-30. 9.03 pm: Second serve, rally and Rog nets! A wasted opportunity. 40-15. 9.02 pm: Great body serve. 30-15. 9.02 pm: Fed loooongs one. 15-15. 9.01 pm: Fed forehands a winner. 0-15. 9 pm: Rafa again comes out to serve to save the match. Such a big ask every time. 8.58 pm: 7-6 Federer. Big serve and follow-up. Ad Fed. Second serve: Rafa nets the tenth shot of the rally. Poor pregnant Gwen Stefani in the Federer guest box must be exhausted. 8.57 pm: Rafa looongs one. Ad Fed. Second service, Rog cross-courts juuust out. 8.56 pm: Two big serves, Nadal can only net both. 40-30. There hasn’t been a break since 4-4 in the second set. Rafa spins around to get a forehand back, Rog dives and nets! Deuce! What a point. 8.55 pm: Rafa is 0-30 up! Roger aces! This is simply the best. 8.54 pm: 6-6. Biiig serving from Rafa, so gutsy. The number of challenges is now back up to three each. 8.53 pm: Rafa makes Roger run hither and thither and it’s 40-15.
8.50 pm: Roger loooongs one. 30-0 Rafa. 8.49 pm: 6-5 Federer. Ace! 30-40. Forehand into the corner, Rafa gets it back but Rog puts it away – deuce. Big serve, Ad Federer. Kick serve, rally, Rafa nets. 8.46 pm: The record of longevity (McEnroe – Connors 1982, 4 hours 16) has been beaten. 15-15 on the Federer serve. Then Rafa claws back an incredible return and Federer tries to dig it out but can’t. 15-30. Great serve next up but Rafa’s second shot is pure brilliance, right in the corner. Two break points! 8.45 pm: 5-5. He can serve big, that’s what. 40-30 and this is now the longest ever Wimbledon final. Rafa serves big again. Gutsy play. 8.43 pm: Rafa loooongs it. 15-15. Rog is three points from tennis immortality… Ah, Federer’s turn to looong. 30-15. 8.42 pm: Second serve ace to the forehand side! What a man! 8.41 pm: 5-4 Federer. Great second serve, great return, great cross-courter from Rog. Great tennis. Super stuff. Right, here comes Rafa, serving to save the match… 8.39 pm: Great rally which Nadal finishes off, but Roger follows up with one of his serve, follow-up into the corner jobs. An ace makes it 40-15, then he fluffs an easy one. 40-30. 8.38 pm: 4-4. Big serve out wide and Rafa holds, to much “vamos”-ing from the crowd and in particular the Nadal entourage. 8.35 pm: Forehand winner from Rog! Break point! 8.34 pm: Cross-court back-hand from Federer that just creeps over the net. 30-30. 8.33 pm: Big serve, 15-15. Top-spin from Rafa and Roger’s return goes off the splice of the racquet, 30-15. Ace… no! Let! 8.32 pm: Challenge from Nadal on the opener. Just out. 0-15. Rog gets his nose in front. 8.28 pm: 3-3. Rafa serves big to make it 40-0. Fed gets behind the next one and forehands past Rafa, who can only net. 40-15 but Rafa serves big again to win the game. 8.26 pm: Roger dominates, comes in and Rafa passes him! French Open-esque. 8.24 pm: 3-2 Federer. Roger serves… an ace! Sooooo cool! And another one! In. Credible. 8.23 pm: I can barely type, I’m so excited! How are you guys bearing up? 8.17 pm: Mixed doubles final soon to start on No. 1 Court with unrestricted access for those in the stadium. And here come Roger and Rafa, back out to finish things off! 8.13 pm: Covers off! 8.08 pm: The first rain delay ended up helping Federer, maybe the second will help Rafa. What do you think, lads and lasses? Federer will have to come out and serve at deuce – that won’t be easy. The score is 2-2, 2-2, deuce, but Rafa has the tiny advantage of being two points from a break as opposed to two points from holding. But if anyone can handle the pressure, Roger can. 8.05 pm: Hopefully the covers will come back off at 8.20 pm. When they do, the mixed doubles will be on No. 1 Court. 8.01 pm: This apparently should only the briefest of showers. Perfect timing – I’ve grabbed some dinner. Pasta obviously – I need the carbs for when we get back on court. 7.55 pm: Play suspended. 7.53 pm: Two challenges. Nadal hits a line-clipper to make it 30-30 then challenges one called out and it was indeed in. Point replayed, Federer aces. 40-30. Second serve, Federer comes to the net and Rafa takes it to deuce. And the rain starts again! 7.51 pm: Federer comes to the net twice to make it 30-0. 7.50 pm: 2-2. Big serves from Nadal – a lot of guts from the Majorcan. Incredible stuff. 7.49 pm: Rafa drops waaaay too deep but Roger comes in and totally skies one! A chance missed. 30-15 on the Nadal serve. 7.47 pm: 2-1 Federer. Roger sends a first service wide but his second one kicks up and Rafa nets it. Rog thinks that that deserves a change of shirt. No sign of the cardigan though. 7.44 pm: Roger’s Ad but Rafa gets it back with a sublime drop. 7.43 pm: Break alert! Rog double faults to make it deuce. 7.42 pm: Air shot! The ball keeps low and shoots under Roger’s forehand. 30-15 Fed. 7.41 pm: 1-1. Nadal wins a Hawk-Eye challenge but then puts one wide. 40-30, second serve and Roger loongs it. 7.39 pm: Nadal and Federer each hit one long. 15-15. And the wind gusts up again… 7.35 pm: 1-0 Federer. Nadal top-spins one that still hasn’t landed yet. 30-15, then Rog drops one into the net. Big wide serve makes it 40-30. And then ditto. 7.32 pm: Rog pops off for a well deserved toilet break. I think I need one as well… 7.31 pm: 9-8, Roger to serve after another classic point, dominated this time by the Swissie. Roger serves – net. Second serve: Rafa longs it! Federer takes the tie-break 10-8! We will have a fifth set! 7.30 pm: Rafa comes to the net and Roger passes him back! The two best points I've ever seen! 8-8. 7.29 pm: Second serve, Roger comes to the net and Rafa plays the shot of his life to pass him. 8-7 Rafa.
7.27 pm: Roger hits one juuuust long. Challenge… Hawk-Eye says out – match point!
7.26 pm: Second serve, 18-shot rally and Federer shoves a forehand wide! 6-6 at the change-over! 7.24 pm: Great Federer serve, 5-5. Ditto, 5-6, Nadal to serve. 7.23 pm: Double fault with the help of that net-cord! 5-3. Rafa nets - double mini-break-back mountain! 4-5, Federer to serve. Will Nadal rue that? 7.22 pm: Mega rally and Roger punts one wide! Rafa to serve at 5-2… 7.21 pm: Big serve and Fed gets it back to 2-4 at the change-over. Tension… 7.20 pm: Nadal aces! 3-1! Unreturnable serve as the ball hits the line and shoots low! 4-1 Nadal! 7.19 pm: Nadal mini-breaks up as Rog, after a second service, punts one wide. 2-1 Nadal. 7.18 pm: What a point! Drops, volleys, nets, lobs and Federer takes it on a forehand down the line. Mini-break! 1-0 Federer. Rafa then mini-breaks back straight away. 1-1. 7.17 pm: 6-6. Federer gives Nadal the run-around, before the Spaniard gets a lucky net-cord. Second serve, Rafa hits one long and we’re into another tie-break. The crowd is going wild out there. 7.15 pm: Federer puts an easy forehand wide: 0-15. Second serve, Rafa then puts one wide after a 15-shot rally. Rafa challenges but Hawk-Eye confirms. 7.13 pm: 6-5 Nadal. Roger will again have to serve to stay in the tournament after the change-over. Nervous times for the Champ. 7.12 pm: Rafa miscues a forehand: 15-30. Roger then has an open court but puts a forehand wide. 15-40. 7.11 pm: Serve and drop from Rafa: 15-0. Roger nets one: 30-0. 7.10 pm: 5-5. Another second serve but Rafa longs one, 40-30. Yet another second serve and a Federer forehand zooms like a heat-seeking missile towards the T of tram and baseline for a winner. What a match. 7.08 pm: Big serve, 15-30. Second serve, Roger puts away a belter of a forehand. 30-30. Still only two points away for Rafa though. 7.07 pm: Great rally. Roger drops, Rafa gets there and Roger nets. 0-15. Second serve, Fed comes to the net and is passed! Two points away… 7.06 pm: 5-4 Nadal. He’s not giving an inch on his service, Nadal, as he munches on a banana. Federer is about to serve to stay in the tournament. 7.04 pm: Nadal slices one wide. 15-15. Second serve, Roger comes in and Rafa passes him with a backhand beaut. 30-15. 7.02 pm: 4-4. Roger’s getting hardly any of his first services in but if Rafa doesn’t manage to pounce on his second service, Roger is smashing away some deep, strong forehand winners. 7 pm: The widest of second serves sends Nadal way out to make it 30-15, but Roger’s really having some bother with his first service. 6.57 pm: 4-3 Nadal. Nadal wins the psychologically huge seventh game to love. 6.56 pm: Second serve, Roger comes to the net and Rafa hits one right at his feet. 30-0. 6.55 pm: 3-3. Roger’s first service is looking shaky but he’s kicking the ball up on his second offering. Crucial seventh game coming up. 6.53 pm: Roger nets and it’s deuce. A sniff of a chance for Rafa? 6.52 pm: Nadal gets his nose in front on the first point but a big Federer serve evens things up. In fact make that two big serves – 30-15. 6.50 pm: 3-2 Nadal. Fed gets caught at the net and Rafa bludgeons one past him. They’re racing through this set. 6.49 pm: Nadal lays down a drop which just fails to creep over the net. Roger nets next up, however: 30-15. 6.47 pm: 2-2. Federer wins to 15 in a game including an ace but also some first serves into the net. 6.44 pm: 2-1 Nadal. This match could go all the way. 6.42 pm: Rafa in unforced error shock! Straight into the net. Federer drops next up but it’s too deep and Rafa puts it away. 30-30. 6.41 pm: This game is red hot. 15-15 after each player dominates a point, only to be passed to perfection. 6.39 pm: 1-1. Feds does likewise, serving out to 15 with some powerful strokes right past Nadal through the forehand court. 6.38 pm: 1-0 Nadal. The Spaniard serves out to 15. He’s unflappable, is Rafa. He won’t let the rain delay affect him. The only debate is, will the break have allowed Roger to calm his nerves and up his game? Hmm, well there’s a 15th ace to start the second game… 6.36 pm: Neither player seemed to have been affected by the rain break at the end of the third set - both served out to take it to a tie-break. Let’s see what happens in the fourth though. Roger wins the first point but fluffs the second, finding the net for the umpteenth time. 6.32 pm: An unreturnable serve from Rafa makes it 6-5, Federer to serve for the set. And he does! With an ace! Federer stays alive and wins the third set! 6.31 pm: Big serve, Rafa comes and smashes. 4-6. 6.30 pm: Incredible rally, cross-court-tastic and Roger hits one just wide. Challenge, but Hawk-Eye says no this time. Big serve next up and it’s 3-6 Nadal to serve.
6.29 pm: Hoo cha cha! Great return from Roger followed by a forehand into the corner. 5-2. 6.28 pm: Second serve and Roger pounces – right at Rafa’s feet. 2-4 at the change-over. 6.27 pm: Out, says the line judge. Challenge, says Roger. In, says Hawk-Eye! Point replayed and Federer aces! Twice! 2-3, Nadal to serve. 6.25 pm: Fed aces, then sends one long. Great Rafa serve but Roger has a chance to pass him and… nets! 1-2, Fed to serve. 6.24 pm: 6-6. Ace-tastic right back at ya, says Rafa! We’re into a tie-break. 6.23 pm: A double-figure rally ends with Federer screwing one wide. 30-0. 6.21 pm: 6-5 Federer. Ace-tastic to finish it off. 6.19 pm: Great wide serve from Rog. 30-15. Then he double faults! No, challenge, and Hawk-Eye gets him an extra life! Which he takes. 6.18 pm: 5-5. Nadal wins with the widest cross-court shot I’ve ever seen (and I’ve been round the block a few times). 6.17 pm: Game point Nadal, Federer hits a deep return then a forehand winner. Deuce-mongous. 6.15 pm: 40-30 after a great return from Federer right at Nadal’s feet. The crowd like that. They want to see plenty more tennis tonight. Second serve, and it’s a double fault! Deuce. 6.12 pm: Big serve first up. No sign of nerves from Nadal. Second ace of the game right after that. 30-0. 6.10 pm: Pascal Maria calls time. Here we go. Rafa will no doubt have got some advice from his coach and uncle Toni during the break. Here he comes to serve… 6.06 pm: The warm-up starts in bright sunshine. Hurrah for that. Roger’s warming up in his cardigan – maybe he’ll play in it, as I suggested. If he does, I’m claiming all credit for any subsequent comeback. Rafa’s not got any extra strapping on that right knee of his that he hurt earlier. 6.02 pm: Here come the players! 5.57 pm: The covers have been deflated on Centre Court and are now being removed! It’s looking pretty bright out there. Some people are asking why there is so much support for Federer down below – that’s the respect you earn as a five-time champion. 5.46 pm: We’re aiming for a 6 pm start. I reckon Rog’ll come roaring out of the blocks and will break Rafa to take the third set. There’s plenty of tennis left in this match, mark my words. (I hope. Pleeeeeeease…) 5.42 pm: It’s stopped raining out there but it’s mighty chilly. Maybe Rog’ll play in his cardigan when they come back out. And that should be soon, as I can see the ground staff underneath the inflated cover on Centre Court removing some of the protective matting. Hopefully they’ll deflate soon and we’ll be able to get back under way. 5.33 pm: The rain is now easing off, so hopefully Rafa and Roger are warming up. Rafa has taken his chances better than Rog so far, hasn’t he? Apart from those three break points that Roger saved just before the rain break, Rafa has been merciless whenever an opportunity has knocked. 5.15 pm: Who was the last lefty to win here? Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. Will Rafa emulate him today? Highly likely at the moment. 5.12 pm: Still raining out there. Set to rain til 5.30 pm apparently. Who is the oldest ever champion, I am asked. 41-year-old A.W. Gore in 1909, a year after Mrs A Sterry won the ladies’, aged 37. Boris Becker was the youngest of course. 4.56 pm: So many break points, so few taken. Fed has been far from his usual incisive best today. He’s got his back to the wall now and no mistake. What a match so far though… I’ll obviously keep you up to date with the weather forecast as soon as we know a little more. 4.52 pm: Rain! The covers come on! 4.50 pm: 5-4 Federer. Fed serves up his first double fault since last Monday… 30-30. My oh my… are we six points from the changing of the guard? No, because Rog takes the next one so it’ll take at least seven points… in fact make that eight as Rog holds. He ain’t beaten yet. 4.50 pm: 5-4 Federer. Fed serves up his first double fault since last Monday… 30-30. My oh my… are we six points from the changing of the guard? No, because Rog takes the next one so it’ll take at least seven points… in fact make that eight as Rog holds. He ain’t beaten yet. 4.49 pm: 4-4. Roger pings one seemingly off the splice of his racquet and Rafa holds. 4.47 pm: Rafa drops, Rog just gets it but the Spaniard is at the net to put it away. The last time Roger Federer came back from two sets down to win was in Miami in 2005, against… ooh, Rafa Nadal! It took a third set tie-break as well… 4.45 pm: Federer 4-3. Big serve and Rog has saved three break points to win the psychologically crucial seventh game. 4.44 pm: Big serve and Rog has saved all three. A turning point? 4.43 pm: Now it’s Roger’s turn to try to save three break points after Rafa wins a battle at the net. The Spaniard nets the first… and then fires one way out on the second.
4.42 pm: Rog has two goes at finishing off a point at the net but ends up being passed by Rafa: 0-15. The reigning champion then looongs one: 0-30. 4.38 pm: 3-3. Rog challenges one that is right on the line, no doubt in anyone’s mind. Deuce. Rafa then dominates and is very lucky with his smash which hits the line as the clouds begin to amass over Centre Court. Big serve and Nadal holds. 4.37 pm: Rog approaches but Rafa virtually passes him, forcing him to net. And then in a carbon copy of two points ago, Rog slides a beaut of a forehand down the line. Break point number 12… 4.36 pm: Deuce as Roger nets a second serve with what is a very poor shot indeed. 10 break points carved out, one taken. That stat tells a story… Ah, great forehand gives him break point No. 11... 4.35 pm: Roger wiiides one. 30-40. 4.34 pm: Some of you are asking about the warnings. Chair ump. Pascal Maria could dock Rafa a point next time he takes too long – unlikely, but theoretically possible. Good grief – 15-40 as Rog hits a belter of a rip-snorter of a forehand. 4.31 pm: David Spearing is the be-hatted gentleman that many of you keep spotting in the players’ box, and he is the steward in charge of those particular seats. 4.30 pm: 3-2 Federer. Rog holds at a stroll but that’s not enough at the moment. 4.29 pm: 2-2. What a gutsy call on that break point and Hawk-Eye challenge. 4.28 pm: 30-40 and Nadal challenges mid-point. And the ball was indeed out by half a millimetre! Incredible eye-sight! Deuce. If the call had been wrong, it was a break for Federer. 4.26 pm: 15-40 as Federer makes half an approach and swipes a volley into the corner. 4.25 pm: How will this hopefully minor injury affect Nadal’s play? We shall see. A huge gust of wind takes a Rafa sliced backhand out to make it 15-15, then Fed comes to the net and puts one away. 15-30. And apparently a huge rain cloud is hoving into view… 4.22 pm: 2-1 Federer. The trainer is on and putting some sort of cream on the back of Rafa’s right knee. No medical time-out though – a quick massage and we’re off again. 4.20 pm: Federer wrong-foots Nadal and the Spaniard slips and stays down a while. He’s up now but the trainer is poised… He twisted his knee there. Is this match in for another twist (pardon the pun) and turn? 4.18 pm: 1-1. Federer’s going for his shots. Will he play high-risk tennis now or stick to his game plan? 4.15 pm: 1-0 Federer. The crowd is subdued, as you would expect when a king is only six games away from being dethroned. Rafa’s intensity thus far has been absolutely incredible. 4.11 pm: Nadal leads two sets to love. In a carbon copy of the last game of the first set, a titanic struggle sees Nadal emerge on top and take the set as Roger nets at a crucial moment. Federer must be praying for rain, but nothing but blue skies do I see, as the song goes. 4.09 pm: The wind gusts up and Nadal tries to play what looks like a badminton shot which drifts way out… Break point and an incredible point ensues. Federer all but passes Nadal and comes to the net, Nadal all but passes him back. Federer returns but Nadal puts it away. Deuce. 4.07 pm: Not that Nadal cares about the warning as he claws back a backhand and converts it into a winner. Set point but Roger saves it. Deuce. Oh the tension! 4.06 pm: First warning from Pascal Maria for Nadal for taking too long to serve. 4.04 pm: Federer needs to hit two winners just to win a point. Which he does – 0-15. 4.01 pm: Nadal 5-4. Three break points. Roger saves the first with a big serve, but the second one sees a titanic rally which Nadal concludes by wrong-footing Federer than banging an enormous forehand past Rog. 4 pm: 0-30. Rafa draws out the rallies then pounces. Five-time champion in serious danger alert. 3.57 pm: 4-4. Federer dominates, comes to the net and… longs it! And he roars his disapproval. Big Rafa serve and it’s 4-4. 3.56 pm: Rafa wides one and challenges. Hawk-Eye shows that it was a quarter of a millimetre out. Break point, but a big serve next up saves it. 3.55 pm: Deuce as Rafa nets. What a passage of play. Such intensity. 3.54 pm: Ace from Rafa right down the middle. Roger asks but Hawk-Eye confirms. What a serve at a crucial time. 3.53 pm: Incredible point. Federer wins it at least three times but Rafa gets everything back before netting. It’s still 30-15 on the Spaniard’s serve. Make that 30-30 as Rog makes him do shuttle-runs along the baseline. 3.50 pm: 4-3 Federer. Second serve, Rafa pounces and passes Rog at the net (Federer gets a racquet to it but it flies way out). Rafa breaks and wins the crucial seventh game. An enormous psychological blow. 3.49 pm: Rog pings an easy forehand wide and it’s break point. 3.48 pm: Great forehand passing shot down the line turns defence into attack for Nadal who is two points from a break. 3.47 pm: 4-2 Federer. Rafa holds to 30 with some big serves waaaay out to Federer’s backhand. 3.44 pm: Great rally but Federer’s drop is again too long and Rafa pounces on it. 3.41 pm: 4-1 Federer. Nope. Ace from Federer. Followed by another ace from Federer (his sixth and seventh this afternoon). And it’s Hopp Suisse as Roger holds to love. 3.39 pm: 3-1 Federer. Rafa holds to 15. Right – big game coming up here. Can the Majorcan lefty do some serious vamos-ing on Roger’s serve? 3.36 pm: 3-0 Federer. Storming passing shot from Rafa on a deep service return but the next one is sent way out by the Spaniard. 3.33 pm: 2-0 Federer. Rafa’s first serve has gone to pot and Rog finally capitalises, getting round onto the forehand and hitting a passing shot which Rafa can merely send wide. And he breaks! Rafa comes to the net – alien territory for him – and Roger does a French Open in reverse and passes him! Game on! 3.32 pm: A kicking second serve is netted by Federer, 15-30. Second serve again, Rog comes to the net but can’t volley short enough and Rafa passes him. 30-30. 3.31 pm: 0-30. The Swiss is hopp-ing as a volley at the net followed by a great forehand down the line get him two points from a break. 3.29: 1-0 Federer. Rog cruises to hold. What can he do now? He’s not a five-time champion for nothing – if he can’t turn it around, no-one can. 3.27 pm: Great first set there. Rafa has nipped off for a toilet break, leaving Federer to reflect on missed chances and wonder how he can get around onto his forehand more easily. Swiss Federal President Pascal Couchepin is in the royal box, as is Mayor of London Boris Johnson. 3.25 pm: Nadal takes the first set. Nadal pummels the Roger backhand and Fed succumbs, netting. First blood to the Majorcan! 3.23 pm: If Rog can get onto the forehand, he can dominate. Break point. Second serve… And Federer nets a weak backhand. It was as if Federer was expecting a stronger service… Deucemongous. 3.22 pm: Second serve, Rog gets round onto the forehand and saves it. Deuce-alicious. 3.21 pm: Fed comes to the net and puts away a volley. Break point. A great rally ensues and a Roger volley is juuuust long. Big serve and Rafa has another set point. 3.19 pm: Set-point Nadal. Roger saves it with a great inside-out forehand and despite that net cord helping out the Spaniard. Deuce. The pressure’s on. 3.18 pm: 15-30. Roger hits one well long but challenges anyway, to give himself 30 seconds to compose himself. 30-30. 3.16 pm: Nadal finally nets a forehand.15-15. Can Rog get a sniff of a break? 3.14 pm: 5-4 Nadal. Rafa does that Federer trick of not really bothering on an opponent’s serve in order to save his energy for the next game. 3.13 pm: 5-3 Nadal. Federer drops and then lobs Rafa, who can only play a through-the-legs shot way out. That’s what Rog needs to do. Rafa pummels his backhand again next time up and takes the game. Gwen Stefani in the Federer guest box is looking concerned. 3.10 pm: Very windy out there. Rafa is relentless on the Roger backhand. The Fedster then comes to the net and puts an easy volley right into the rigging. He’s looking flustered out there… 3.07 pm: 4-3 Nadal. Federer holds to 30 but he’s got his work cut out. He has two more chances to break if he’s going to avoid going a set down. 3.04 pm: 4-2 Nadal. Roger puts a backhand into the tramline and the game goes to the Majorcan. 3.03 pm: Rog comes to the net, Rafa passes him. French Open all over again. 3.02 pm: Federer comes to the net but nets a backhand. 30-15 on the Rafa serve. Roger will need to play perfect tennis and take every chance if he is to get back into the first set. 3 pm: 3-2 Nadal. Federer holds to love but the damage has been done. 2.58 pm: 3-1 Nadal. Deucetastic game. Roger pounces on a serve that he can finally take on the forehand and powers the follow-up into the corner. Federer ends up netting a backhand and Nadal finally takes the game and leads 3-1. 2.55 pm: Break point Rog. Rafa has to second serve, Roger’s forehand just misses the line. Deuce. 2.53 pm: Roger battles to deuce. What a match, already. 2.52 pm: Nadal is still pummelling every serve onto the Federer backhand. 40-0, Nadal then challenges an out call and Hawk-Eye says “Si Rafa, you were right!” The point is replayed and on the second serve, Federer finally takes one on the forehand and wins the point. 2.50 pm: Incredible play from Nadal. Sheer power and accuracy on the forehand. 30-0. 2.47 pm: 2-1 Nadal. Break point Rafa as Fed nets! And Rog fluffs a backhand – Rafa breaks to lead 2-1! 2.46 pm: Short swing on a Rafa return and the Spaniard is 15-30 up. 2.44 pm: 1-1. Rog goes for a winner but just misses the line. 1-1. Rafa served all six points to the Federer backhand – a ploy which he used at the French. 2.43 pm: Rafa’s got the top-spin working, causing Fed to send a forehand flying into the crowd. Ooh, first double fault from the Spaniard. 2.41 pm: Rafa to serve. Federer comes to the net and volleys a beaut onto the line. Game well and truly on. 2.39 pm: 1-0 Federer. A 10-shot rally follows with Rafa wiiiding one. Roger serves big, 30-15, then dominates the next double-figure rally and finishes off with an ace. A brilliant game to open up the proceedings. An ace by the way is a serve which the opponent doesn’t get a racquet to. If they get their racquet to it, it’s an unreturnable serve. 2.37 pm: 14-shot rally to begin with which Nadal finishes off with a brilliant backhand which kisses the line! 2.34 pm: Rafa’s got his kneed taped up – as always, merely as a precautionary measure. Right, we’re about to get under way… 2.30 pm: A 13-year-old from a local tennis club gets to shake hands with the players at the coin toss – a moment he’ll never forget. Rafa then does his ritual “racing back to the baseline” routine and the warm-up begins. 2.28 pm: Tournament referee Andrew Jarrett is chatting to Federer at the net as they wait for Nadal to deign to come over… And here he is. Pascal Maria the chair ump. asks Rafa to call, Rafa says Roger can do it. Rog calls heads and heads it is. Roger to serve. First blood to the Swissie! 2.24 pm: And here come the players! Nadal bouncing around like a boxer, Federer strolling out – the epitome of cool. 2.18 pm: To make sure that we can get through all of the matches today, a wheelchair doubles match has been moved from second on Court 3 to first on Court 4, while the boys’ doubles final will now be first up on Court 14. Aha, here come the line judges! 2.13 pm: Wa-hey! The covers are off! 1.56 pm: 2001 was the last time we didn’t manage to complete the programme on the Sunday and went on to the following Monday, with Goran Ivanisevic winning that fairy-tale final. In 2000 we needed an extra Monday but that was just for the ladies’ doubles. Ditto 1996. 1.22 pm: Adrian Sutil has just spun off – oh hang on, wrong screen… The rain has got a little stronger, but we’re still on course for a 3 pm start. 12.49 pm: Showers likely until 2 pm, perhaps 2.30 pm. Looks like the start of the men’s final will be put back a wee while… So, while we’re waiting, post in and tell us your highlights of the tournament (other than this blog obviously! Tee hee, only joking). Helen here’s busy collating an article on our highlights (Clement – Schuettler was mine), but what were yours? Murray’s run to the quarters? Zheng making it to the semis? Williams Day? Laura Robson? The return of the Marat? Write in and let us know… 12.31 pm: More questions: what is Wimbledon used for outside of the Championships? Read all about it here (scroll all the way down). 12.27 pm: Is the grass slower, I am asked below. Marat reckoned yes, Roger reckons no. Rog says that it’s just the way people are playing. 10 years ago, 50% of players would have come here and played serve and volley whereas nowadays, 90% stick on the baseline. 12.05 pm: Journalist Adam: “Rafa’s time has come. Even he will say - in public at least-- that Roland Garros doesn’t matter, because the surface is so different. But in reaching a third Wimbledon final, and winning the Queen’s event, Nadal has already proven he is a close second to Federer on grass. Federer is only human and the ease with which he was dismantled by Nadal in Paris has to prey on the great man’s mind.” 12.02 pm: Helen: “I really can’t decide who is going to win, or who I would like to see lift the trophy so I am abstaining. I like watching them both. They are both true professionals, wonderful athletes and great people so, for me, it is simply a case of may the best man win…in five.” 11.59 am: Editor Adam: “Federer to win in four sets. Not only has he looked ominously superior in all his previous matches, he has a double incentive: a sixth straight title, and revenge for last month’s French. Nadal will win a consolation set but that’s as close as he’ll get.” 11.53 am: Paul: “I think the winner will be determined by the weather. I’m guessing two rain delays which will play in the hands of our defending champion. As soon as Rafa, firing on all cylinders, gets a bit of momentum, the heavens will open and Roger will be able to regroup and adapt his game. For me we’ll have a six-time champion but he’ll look like he’s gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson. It’s not going to be pretty like the last couple of years and it’ll be the battle of Roger’s life.” 11.45 am: Mike: “Today is going to be an unbelievably close final. On clay Rafa reigns supreme but has really taken well to grass this year by winning at Queen’s. Federer is still the master on the grass. My heart wants Federer to win as it is the best opportunity for him to beat the Spaniard, but my head thinks Nadal has never had a better chance to extend his winning head-to-head record over the No. 1.” 11.40 am: Here comes the rain. Fret not, everyone: this is all part of the master plan. It’ll be gone by 2 pm. 11.37 am: Tom’s turn: “Before the tournament began I was sure that this would be the year that Rafael Nadal would take the title away from Federer. However as the tournament has progressed I have been reminded each and every round just how good Mr Federer really is. It's remarkable how easy he makes this game look, so for me, the 2008 Wimbledon champion will be Roger Federer.” 11.34 am: Who is in the chair for today’s showdown, you ask. Pascal Maria from France.
11.30 am: Here’s Beci: “I am a huge fan of Rafa, and his muscles, but sadly I feel Roger Federer will come up trumps today. Both have being playing unbelievable tennis, fully justifying their position as the No.1 and No.2 players in the world, however FedEx's straight sets defeat by Nadal at Roland Garros last month will give him huge motivation for revenge." "I reckon it will be very close, probably five sets, but the way the Super Swiss dismantled Marat Safin in the semi-finals was impressive. He is so desperate to beat Bjorn Borg's record and win six titles in a row and as much as I'd like him to, I don't think Nadal will have enough in him today to win. I was watching Roger Federer practise yesterday and he just doesn't ever seem to miss!” 11.24 am: Ian’s turn: “Who do I think will win? I really don't know. I think this final is just too close to call. It really is a mouth-watering match. Who do I want to win? I want Rafa to. The Spaniard has been excellent all season and it would be good to see Federer's run come to an end.” 11.15 am: Byron’s up first: “For the last five years I have tipped Roger Federer to win Wimbledon and I have been proven spectacularly right, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Rafael Nadal looked scarily good in beating Andy Murray but I think however high he can lift his game, Roger can lift his higher. His economy of movement makes it look like Nadal is doing more on the court, and Roger's serve, sliced backhand and use of angles will win the day.” 11.10 am: Of course, the big question is: what’s the weather like? We’ve had a brief shower and apparently there might be a few more but we should be clear by 2 pm, they say. Highs of 20 C and a fresh southerly wind (it certainly was windy cycling in today). 11 am: Good morning one and all, Drew Lilley here. Yes, I’ve made it through to the final again, and so have Roger and Rafa! Federer is looking for a Borg-beating sixth consecutive title, while Nadal is eager to prove that he can win Grand Slams on a surface other than his favoured Parisian clay. Who’s going to win? I am changing my original pick from the start of the Championships and going for Roger – to the delight of Nadal fans no doubt, as my tips have been lousy so far (Serena in three yesterday for example)! I thought originally that Rafa would take such a confidence high over from the French and then Queens into Wimbledon that he would be invincible, particularly since his serve was so much better than in previous years. And then I saw Roger over the past two weeks. Awesome. Like Nadal at the French. Imperious. I think the final will be a far closer run affair than the French (where Federer won only four games), but Roger has been serving and returning on grass since he first picked up a racquet (or so it seems) and I think he’ll still have just enough to see him through. Federer in three sets (but incredibly close ones – 7-5, 7-6, 7-6), maybe four. I think there’ll be three breaks in the first set – Roger’ll break, Rafa’ll break back and then Rog will sneak the 11th or 12th game to win the set. After that, serve-and-volley-mongous and tie-break-tastic. Throughout the morning, the other writers here in the team will be sharing their thoughts, so why don’t you do the same? Post in and let me know who you think will win this afternoon.
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