GAME, SET AND
BY ELEANOR CROOKS BORIS BECKER reckons every tennis player will be glued to their TV when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal clash again.
The pair face each other for the 40th time in the semifinals today but the first at the All England Club since Nadal’s famous final victory over five sets in 2008.
And former champ Becker said: “It’s the one match where every tennis player alive is going to tune in. It’s two ultimate warriors, one with 20 majors, the other 18.
“Everybody remembers the final of 2008. Of course the other semi is as important but just the numbers, the history in the making is something we want to see.”
Federer was looking for a sixth consecutive title and a third final victory in a row against Nadal when they took to Centre Court in 2008.
The Spaniard claimed a two-set lead but Federer fought back to level, saving two match points in a fourthset tie-break.
Nadal eventually got the crucial break to win 9-7 in the decider after four hours and 48 minutes.
John McEnroe said: “It was the best match I’ve ever seen in my life. I was lucky enough that people used to talk about the match I had with Bjorn Borg in 1980 but this one, everything surrounding it, the way it ended, the quality of tennis, to see Rafa finally get his first Wimbledon, was amazing.”
Nadal leads the head to head 24-15 but has not beaten Federer on any surface but clay since 2014, losing five matches in a row on hard courts before stopping the rot in the semi-finals of the French Open last month. That took Nadal to 18 slam
titles overall, only two behind Federer’s all-time record, and McEnroe believes it is too close to call.
The American added: “It’s Roger’s court, like Paris is Rafa’s. But Rafa is playing unbelievable.
“If Nadal wins this and wins the tournament he’s only one away. The last time it’s been this close was when it was 2-0. So this has got so much importance historically as well as just a classic match-up between a lefty and a righty. Everything about it is amazing.”
There is common consensus the grass at Wimbledon has never played slower than this year, which would appear to favour Nadal. But 1996 champ
Richard Krajicek is sure Federer will still come through. He said: “It’s still grass, even if it’s slow grass.
“Roger has to fight for it, it’s not going to be as easy as I thought before the tournament but he’ll still win against Rafa.”
Former British No.1 Greg Rusedski disagrees. He said: “Nadal has been phenomenal. It’s the best I’ve ever seen him play on a grass court.
“I had Federer originally to win but now the grass is slower so now I pick Rafa.”