Federer conjures old magic to beat Nadal
11 years after their epic duel in finals, 2 tennis titans put on a show in semis
WIMBLEDON, England — The business at hand, when thousands of tennis fans jammed onto the All England Club’s grounds and global stars of sport and screen alighted in the Royal Box, was determining the finalists for Sunday’s Wimbledon men’s singles championship. But the subtext of every dazzling stroke, when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal reprised their 2008 Wimbledon final in Friday’s semifinals, was who will go down as the greatest tennis player of all time.
At 37 and 33, Federer and Nadal are nearing the end of their brilliant careers. And they have never been bunched closer together in the measure of greatness that matters most: Grand Slam titles. Federer has a men’s record 20 majors to Nadal’s 18.
And world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who had clinched his spot in the finals earlier in the day, has inserted himself into the race for greater-player status by winning three of the last four majors, to bring his tally to 15.
So when Federer turned
back time Friday, four weeks shy of his 38th birthday, to defeat Nadal, his career-defining rival, 7-6 (7-3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, the stakes and significance were profound. With it, the third-ranked Swiss moved within one victory of a ninth Wimbledon championship and a 21st major that would put his legacy further out of reach.
Federer raised both arms in triumph upon vanquishing Nadal, who fended off four match points before succumbing on the threadbare grass of Centre Court, where the two contested three consecutive Wimbledon finals from 2006-08.
They were 27 and 23, respectively, when they weathered rain delays and encroaching darkness in what many believe was, and remains, the greatest match in tennis history: Wimbledon’s 2008 final, which Nadal won, 9-7 in the fifth set, in a triumph of physical toughness, tactical reinvention and heart.
Friday’s semifinal was the 40th time Federer and Nadal have met, but it was first time they’d met at Wimbledon since 2008. (The Spaniard entered the match with a 24-15 overall lead head-to-head, including 10-3 at Grand Slam tournaments.)
The true marvel, 11 years later, isn’t that they have maintained their fitness and ranking among the world’s top three players. The marvel is that they have improved — sharpened their serves, altered tactics, added shots and, perhaps most stunning of all, maintained their hunger and drive after amassing more than $100 million each in career winnings.
For roughly 15 years, Federer and Nadal have been pushed by something more powerful than money, trophies or fame. They have been pushed by one another and, of late, Djokovic.
Tennis likely won’t see a trio of contemporaneous champions again.
Nadal said after Friday’s defeat that he was proud to be part of it.
“We know that every time, (there) is less chances to play against each other in this high quality, high important matches,” Nadal said. “Today is sad for me. I know chances are not forever.”
Nadal could barely contain himself when he and Federer stepped onto Centre Court to a standing ovation. He bounced like a boxer during the coin toss, while Federer projected serenity.
What followed was a battle of excellence vs. excellence. With neither able to assert an upper hand early, the opening set was settled by a tiebreak. Federer took it 7-3.
If anything, the early setback stoked Nadal, who ramped up the pressure on Federer’s serve and leveled the match by claiming a 37-minute second set.
At that stage, it wasn’t clear if Federer was conserving energy or feeling fatigue.
It was the former, as quickly became clear. Federer conjured magic in the third set, winning a battle of wits and reflexes at net to break Nadal early, then fending off a clutch of break points to maintain his advantage.
Federer seemed to have an answer for every situation, whether well-placed lobs, irretrievable overheads or unreturnable serves. He also won most of the long rallies — the 20- and 25-shot ordeals that are typically Nadal’s strong suit.
“I’m exhausted. It was tough at the end,” Federer said. “I’m just
very relieved it’s all over.”
Nadal explained afterward that he never felt confident in his backhand, which had a way of undermining how aggressively he hit his forehand. He also didn’t return serve as well as he had earlier in the tournament. But the difference was that Federer was the better player.
“He is always able to do the most difficult things easy,” Nadal said, beautifully summing up the defining quality of Federer’s genius.
Federer, for his part, credited a good, aggressive game plan that had him fielding Nadal’s heavy blasts from inside the baseline, taking the ball on the rise and seizing openings to come to net.
By the time Federer served for the third set, just past the twohour mark, shade had crept across all but a small corner of the court. He held with ease, presenting Nadal with a must-win fourth set.
Though Nadal battled on, he never reclaimed the momentum. Federer remained in control, almost maddeningly serene, as Nadal summoned his bravest shots to deny match point four times. But the resurgence came too late.
“There were some brutal rallies in key moments that went my way,” Federer said. “I think those might have made the difference.”