Roger’s revenge

THIS TIME FED SEES OFF NADAL TO REACH FINAL

ROGER FEDERER will bid to make it third time lucky in the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic tomorrow after seeing off Rafa Nadal.

Federer came through

7-6 1-6 6-3 6-4 to set up a meeting with the Serb who beat him in the final in 2014 and

2015.

The match with Nadal (right) was a repeat of the

2008 final, which the

Spaniard won. Federer said: “I’m exhausted. It was tough. Rafa played some unbelievable shots.”

BY Roger Federer’s standards, the celebratory punch of the air was particularly violent, the hug with Rafael Nadal almost emotional.

Of all the wins, down all the years, on this court, it is hard to imagine many giving the eight-time champion as much satisfaction.

Sure, those victories in the finals will always be the most treasured triumphs and the most significant.

But this somehow felt special. This was special.

As Nadal rampaged through the second set, having been edged out in a tiebreak in the first, Federer looked momentarily forlorn, fleetingly like a veteran player about to begin his goodbyes.

You wondered, for a minute or two, if this was the end for him at this year’s Wimbledon, you wondered if this was the end for Federer at Wimbledon, full stop.

Instead, this remarkable athlete and talent simply kept the coolest cool in any sport, redoubled his efforts and swept to the final in a blaze of sweet hitting.

It goes without saying Nadal fought to the bitter end, saving four match points in his 6-7 6-1 3-6 4-6 defeat, but Federer simply hit too many winners, forced too many errors.

Not that there were a proliferation of those, as Centre Court witnessed a predictable treat. The deafening, upright ovation was for both players.

Federer now has a tilt at a ninth Wimbledon title and a 21st Grand Slam singles title.

Nadal is stuck on a mere 19 of those, but do not bet against him adding to that number.

The Spaniard just ran into peak, ball-striking Federer.

“That was a joy to play in,” said Federer. “Battles with Rafa are always special and he played some unbelievable shots to stay in the match.

“I had spells when I was serving very well and probably the biggest points in the match went my way. The first set was huge.

“But it was tough. I’m exhausted... but it was nice.”

The final line was delivered with a glint in his eye. He knew the scale of this

achievement, reaching a Wimbledon singles final – his 12th – 16 years after getting to his first.

The longevity of Federer has been truly remarkable, as is Nadal’s endurance.

Even though, at 33, he has almost five years in hand on the Swiss, the physical strain Nadal puts on himself makes his form equally commendable.

The continuing dominance of Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic – who awaits in tomorrow’s final – is persistently used as a stick to beat the younger generation of players.

But perhaps the simple reality is that these players have not allowed their levels to drop, and those levels have long been too high for anyone but Andy Murray.

Apart from Djokovic, no one else in this tournament has got close to the standard of this duel.

Winners from seemingly impossible positions were commonplace, Federer’s forehand a thing of beauty. And the movement around the court was as rapid as we have seen over these past two weeks.

Only when these two giants of the game depart the scene will tennis know how fortunate it has been to have them. But they are going nowhere yet.

Don’t, for one moment, think Nadal (left) cannot come back and win next year.

Don’t, for one moment, think the astonishing Federer cannot come back tomorrow and win yet again.