The Best That’s Ever Been

I do not claim to be an expert on anything, really (especially writing regular columns on BSB).  I have loved baseball my whole life–playing it, watching it, reading about it, etc.–but, in my days growing up in the United States, I have met people that I would consider bigger baseball fans than me (not many, but they exist).  I have also loved basketball and football my whole life, but, again, I have met people that are more “into” each of those sports than me.  This is all mainly because these three sports are so incredibly popular in mainstream America.  You would be hard-pressed to find someone who calls himself a sports fan that does not follow the “Big Three” sports, in some fashion.  That is just the way of America.  And, honestly, they are my three favorite sports as well, but as I said, I have met people who are “bigger” fans than me for each of those sports.  However, I can honestly say that I have never met a person who keeps a closer eye on, enjoys more, or follows as deliberately the game of tennis than myself.  That is not to say that I am a tennis expert or anything close to that.  I am just an American sports fan who, for some odd reason, fell in love with the sport of tennis at a young age and has never looked back.  To me, there is a “Big Four Sports,” and the fourth sure as hell is not hockey–it is tennis.  With that segue, I feel strangely qualified to, at least attempt, to put into perspective what happened in the world of tennis on Sunday morning/afternoon at Wembley Stadium in downtown London.

By now, I am sure that most people have heard the result of the 2008 Gentlemen’s Final at Wimbledon.  Rafael Nadal, the young Spaniard, halted Roger Federer’s 41-match winning streak at Wimbledon with a thrilling 5-set victory 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7.  If that score line does not mean much to you and/or you had other things to do on a Sunday from 9:00 in the morning until about 4:30 in the afternoon, let me put this match in its proper context:  This was the greatest tennis match ever played!

For two and a half sets, it looked like Rafael Nadal had become what Roger Federer has been for six years now.  He was facing a fearsome opponent, coming up with incredible shots at the most opportune moments and winning every, single big point.  At one point in the middle of the third set, Nadal had saved 12 of the 13 break points against his serve in the match, while converting 3 of the 4 he had earned against the Federer serve. 

But then, the tide shifted and Federer was the one that looked like the old Federer.  Down 2 sets, serving at 3-4, Federer faced three break points in a game that would have led to a straight-set Nadal victory.  Federer dug deep, hitting back-to-back aces (very Sampras-like) and finishing off the game with some monster forehands to remain on serve in the third.  Four more thrilling holds of serve later and we were on to a third set tiebreak, in which the champion showed why he has won 5 straight Wimbledon titles.  He even resorted to a counter-punching style against the vicious Nadal forehands, but he held on to win the 3rd set. 

The fourth set was more of the same, which if you are a fan of sports, was a true gift.  The level of play was extraordinary and these two giant competitors went at it, point after point after point.  Again, though, a whole set was played without a break (though there were chances), and Federer’s title streak rested upon winning another tiebreak.  He won the first point on Nadal’s serve, going up a mini-break, but Nadal came back and won both Federer’s serves to take a 2-1 lead.  Federer won a point back on Nadal’s pair of serves and took the balls on serve in the tiebreak, 2-3.  This is where Nadal stepped up by again taking both of Federer’s serves, to take a commanding 5-2 lead, only having to serve out the match to be crowned Wimbledon champion.  But, the young Spaniard started to feel the heat.  He double-faulted and then hit a forehand into the net, letting the champ back up off the mat–AGAIN!  The next five points were breathtaking.  Nadal hit two ridiculous winners to garner himself a match point on his serve at 7-6.  Federer answered that match point with an immortal backhand (his weaker side all day) up the line to even things at seven.  He then hit a blistering forehand to put the set on his racket, eventually serving out the fourth set tiebreak and forcing a deciding fifth set.  [Foreshadowing alert:] In Wimbledon, they do not believe in final set tiebreaks.

So, the fifth set was an absolute joy to watch.  It was two men, at the absolute peak of their sport–and their sport’s history–drilling forehands at one another.  It was a battle of heart between two ferocious competitors on the grandest of stages.  Back and forth they went, until Rafael Nadal finally broke through in the 15th game of the set, to take an 8-7 lead and could serve for the match.  But, Nadal’s nerves hit him again, as he dumped a forehand into the net on the first point.  But, this guy the heart of a champion and, for the first time ALL MATCH, he came up with a serve-and-volley.  Federer, obviously not looking for that, hit a return right into Nadal’s racket, which he returned for a winner.  With calm nerves, he won the next two points, to gain himself a pair of match points.  On the second one, Federer hit a forehand into the net and Nadal collapsed–a champion.  The first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.  It was unbelievable.

I wish I had the words to truly give this match justice.  The only phrase I can think of is to say that this was the greatest tennis match ever played!