Federer defeats Nadal in four sets in Wimbledon final

WIMBLEDON, England (Ticker) - Roger Federer took advantage of finally facing Rafael Nadal on his favorite surface.

In a matchup of the world’s top two players, Federer defeated Nadal, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, to win his fourth straight Wimbledon crown and snap a five-match losing streak against his Spanish rival.

Federer, 24, joined Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras as the only players in the Open Era to win four consecutive titles at the All England Club and extended his grasscourt-record winning streak to 48 matches.

“It’s fantastic, I never thought it possible but I’ve done it,” Federer said. “It’s an incredible feeling. I was doubting myself early in the tournament with the draw and the expectations, and to get through and play Rafael in the final is fantastic.

“Borg and Sampras are heroes of the game and this is the most important tournament. To win four is out of this world and I will come back and try for a fifth.”

But, as expected, it did not come easily against the 20-year-old Nadal - who had won six of their seven all-time meetings, including in the French Open final last month - even after a most impressive beginning for the top seed.

Federer stormed through the first set in just 24 minutes, breaking Nadal in the second game - the Spaniard’s first loss of serve in 81 games - and again in the fourth and sixth, claiming the set with a crosscourt backhand winner.

In the French Open final, Federer dropped just one game in the first set but was broken in the opening game of the second set and Nadal pulled away thereafter. Federer again was broken to begin the second set and though the Swiss star failed to convert a break chance in the fourth game, he got back on serve with a break in the 10th game.

A winner of a record 60 straight matches on clay, Nadal was up a mini-break at 3-1 in the ensuing tiebreak before Federer won the next five points. The Spaniard won the next two points on serve but he netted a forehand return on Federer’s third set point, giving the Swiss star a crucial two-sets advantage.

Neither player dropped serve in the third set, setting up another tiebreak. This time Nadal prevailed, taking the final five points after Federer hit a backhand passing shot winner to make it 2-2. When Federer sent a forehand long on set point, Nadal pumped his arms and ran back to his chair. It was the first set Federer had lost the entire tournament.

But rather than get discouraged, Federer got determined, breaking Nadal in the fourth game, ending the fifth and breaking again with a volley winner for a 5-1 advantage. He needed the second break after dropping his serve in the seventh game, but after Nadal held to get within 5-3, Federer held at love to earn his eighth Grand Slam title, raising his arms and dropping his head back in relief when the lefthander sent a slice backhand wide.

“I’m very well aware of how important this match was for me,” Federer said. “If I lose, obviously it’s a hard blow for me. He wins French, Wimbledon, back-to-back. I was twice in the finals. That already hurt alone, but it was still great tournaments for me.

“It’s important for me to win a finals against him for a change and beat him for a change. At Wimbledon I knew it was gonna be the place for me to do it the easiest way. Turned out to be tough and it shows how much he’s improved over maybe an entire year.”

Nadal failed to become the first man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back since Borg in 1980, but he had a sensational run here, where he never had progressed beyond the third round until this year.

“This is a difficult surface but I played my best tournament of the year here, that’s unbelievable,” Nadal said. “I hope any year I come back here in the final and win, I hope one year I don’t play against a guy like Roger. He played unbelievable on this surface and I improved a lot this year, so I am very happy for that.”

“I would just like to say it’s a great tournament for Rafael,” Federer said. “I honestly did not think he would reach the final but it’s a fantastic effort, so congratulations for coming so far.”