2008.. A MATCH FADE IN HEAVEN
Rafa and Roger meet again today 11 years after they served up a cracker in the dark.. a final regarded as the greatest ever
BORIS BECKER called it the best Wimbledon final ever while John McEnroe claimed it was the greatest match he has ever seen.
The 2008 final between Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer finished in the dark (before the roof was built) and seems to belong to a different era.
But the two “ultimate warriors” with a combined age of 70 will play it again today in the second semi-final on Centre Court.
It is their first Wimbledon meeting since the Spaniard won his first title here in unforgettable style. “Everybody remembers the final of 2008,” said Becker. “I thought 2008 was the best final I have ever seen.”
McEnroe said: “It was the best match I’ve seen in my life. People used to talk about the match I had with Bjorn (Borg) in 1980 but this one, the way it ended, the quality of tennis, Rafa finally getting his first Wimbledon, was amazing.”
Federer against Nadal (right) has always been a contest of contrasting styles: the elegant Swiss gentleman against the swashbuckling Spanish matador. And the drama in that five-set final lasting 4hr 48min – the longest ever – was gradually increased by rain and the race to get finished. Nadal eventually won 9-7 in the final set. “My over-riding memory was of it being more than a tennis match and beyond sport,” recalled commentator Andrew Castle. “It exposed their personalities, frailties and strengths. I remember going for a toilet break at 2-1 during a break in the fifth with Tim Henman and I said to him: ‘The worst mistake we can make now is to speak too much.’
“I remember the flashing bulbs at the end, and Rafa scampering across the roof of Johnny Mac’s commentary box and giving the Queen of Spain a hug and a kiss. It was just unbelievable. Let’s do it all again tomorrow.”
A pair of Centre Court tickets for their semi-final clash was trading at £7,600 on the official Wimbledon debenture site yesterday.
After an ordinary men’s tournament so far, it is the match everyone wants to see. Federer is seeking a ninth title here and Nadal his third – and first for nine years.
And there is also the title of the greatest of all time at stake with the French Open winner now only two behind Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles, although favourite Novak Djokovic is set to await the winner on Sunday.
“You can overhype a match but I don’t think you can overhype this one,” said McEnroe. “Everything about it will be amazing.”
Becker added: “They are two ultimate warriors. I think it’s the one match every tennis player alive is going to watch.”