Over the course of his incredible career, Rafael Nadal earned countless notable victories and trophies. However, his 2008 Wimbledon triumph over Roger Federer stands among his greatest achievements, and Rafa never misses a chance to highlight it.
Nadal spoke about that legendary match in his recent interview. Headmittedit changed his career and made him a believer on surfaces outside clay. The Spaniard lost the Wimbledon finals against the Swiss in 2006 and 2007.
Rafa kept pushing and finally ousted his great rival in the 2008 title match. Nadal scored a memorable 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 8-7 triumph in four hours and 48 minutes! Thus, the young Spaniard achieved the 'Channel Slam' at 22.
Federer played for his sixth consecutive Wimbledon crown. However, Nadal gathered confidence at Queen's and used that momentum en route to his fifth Major trophy, the first outside Paris. Roger found himself in a challenging position after the opening two sets.
However, the five-time winner bounced back in sets three and four, forcing a decider and giving everything to prevail. Rafa kept his composure and sealed the deal with a late break, holding a couple of minutes before complete darkness and celebrating his career-best moment.
Thus, he ended Federer's streak of 40 wins at Wimbledon and became the first owner of 'Channel Slam' since Bjorn Borg. Rafa collected five points more than Roger. The younger player denied 12 of 13 break points and provided four breaks.
The Swiss hit more winners and errors. He presented a nice turnaround before falling in the closing stages and suffering his first All England Club loss since 2002. Nadal stayed in touch with Federer in the shortest range up to four strokes.
He improvedhis initial shot and earnedthe holy grail of our sport a couple of weeks after turning 22. Rafa was off to a great start, securing a break in the third game of the encounter and serving for the opener at 5-4.
He saved two break points and held after deuces following Roger's backhand error. Federer forged a 4-1 lead in the second set and looked good to level the overall score. However, the Spaniard broke back in game seven after drawing the rival's volley error.
The young gun gained a boost and delivered another break in the ninth game with a forehand winner. He served for the set in game ten and faced a break point. Nadal saved it with a forced error and welcomed the rival's loose backhand on a set point.
Thus, Rafa opened a 6-4, 6-4 lead in just over an hour and a half, moving closer to his first Wimbledon crown. With no room for errors, the Swiss claimed the third set in the tie break and extended his chances. They reached another tie break in the fourth set.
Nadal forged a 5-2 lead and moved closer to the top. However, the five-time defending champion bounced back and created a set point at 6-5. Federer sprayed two unforced errors and faced a match point at 6-7.
Roger denied it with a powerful serve before Rafa landed a forehand winner for the second match point. Federer denied it with a backhand winner and landed two more direct points to steal the breaker 10-8 and force a decider.
The players left the Centre Court in the fifth game of the decider due to rain. They returned half an hour later and extended a brilliant encounter. Rogerpainted a forehand down the line winner at 4-3 for a break point.
Rafa saved it with a smash winner and locked the result at 4-4 with a direct point from his forehand. The Spaniard attacked with his forehand in the 11th game and generated two break points. The Swiss saved them and remained on the positive side.
The battle continued beyond 6-6, and Roger clinched the 13th game after two deuces. The famous Centre Court became more darker with every game, with two rivals pushing each other to the limits. Nadal clinched the 14th game with a forehand winner and made a push on the return in the next one.
Federer played a loose service game and offered his rival break chances. The defending champion saved three before netting a routine forehand on the fourth, sending Rafa 8-7 in front and closer to the finish line.
Nadal served for his first Wimbledon title in game 16. The game reached a deuce before the Spaniard created a match point with a forehand winner. He converted it after the Swiss' loose forehand, falling to the ground and starting a massive celebration of his first Wimbledon crown.
