A Play for the Ages

By K. L. Kim: SPM TX Writer (Commentary)
Posted Monday, July 7, 2008

On grounds which have seen the passing of the game’s greatest players, it seemed fitting that rain, Wimbledon’s oldest and most punctual visitor, would delay the start of the last match played on Centre Court without a retractable roof. In fits and drizzles, rain served as a curtain for three acts of ballet on grass, starring Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal: two men destined to walk into tennis history together.

For both, a win today would have meant another footnote in their already huge legacies. And from the start, Nadal, trying to become the first man in 28 years to win the French Open and Wimbledon in a calendar year, served notice to a capacity crowd that he was ready to play lead. With his heavy shots skirting lines on both sides of the court, Nadal put a backpedaling Federer on the defensive to earn the match’s first break point in the third game. From there, the Spaniard held serve to seize the first set, but not without, first, facing some anxiety on his last service game. In what would become a running theme in the match, Federer sniffed out a bit of light only to commit a flurry of uncharacteristic errors to snuff the spark. After denying Nadal his first set point, Federer earned a break chance to level the match, but sailed a volley just out-of-bounds. A moment later, a second break chance ended when the edgy champion dumped his backhand into the net. Following a spray of three consecutive Federer backhand errors, Nadal finally seized the opening set. It would mark the first time since 2004 that the five-time champion had failed to win a first set.

In years past, Federer would convert his frustration into steely resolve and elevate his game to superior levels. History seemed to hold form again, when, on Nadal’s opening serve, Federer torqued his torso and smacked a forehand cross-court, earning his first break-point of the match. But just as the Swiss appeared poised to take the second set, he blinked--an almost unthinkable act for a man who has been so unflappable during his magnificent reign. Sensing his opponent’s edginess, Nadal muscled a spinning pass up the line while on a dead sprint. It was perhaps the most brilliant shot of the young match, and earned Nadal a break chance. Like a prize fighter after an unexpected blow to the body, a stunned Federer muffed his volley to hand his opponent a break-point. Rallying quickly, Federer won the first two points off of Nadal’s serve. The crowd, which had become decidedly pro-Federer, urged the champion on, but was left in hushed awe as Nadal turned back Federer’s best efforts. With his trademark defense, Nadal twisted and turned like a practiced contortionist to deny Federer two break chances. And though averse to gifting his opponent with breaks, Nadal proved an accommodating recipient as he easily broke Federer on the very next point. Nadal now had a two-set lead on his racquet. In a nod to what had occurred, and a portent to what was to come, a gale of wind snapped up Nadal’s forehand, and Federer had his fourth break chance. But, once more, Federer’s backhand failed him, and the disgusted champion watched as his shot clipped the bottom of the tape. If he was to complete his bid as the first man since 1886 to capture six consecutive Wimbledon titles, he would now have to win three consecutive sets.

Displaying a champion’s pride, Federer continued to plow on, but as his seventh, eighth, and then eleventh and twelfth break chances passed, Federer, and a crowd ready to erupt for him, must have wondered if the earth had yet been exhausted. When, on Federer’s eighth break chance, Nadal stopped play, midpoint, to defer to Hawk-Eye, and won the challenge, it appeared a new Wimbledon era--filled with computer technology, retractable roofs, and baseline sluggers in pirate shorts--had dawned. A champion for the ages, and traditions that marked the ages, were reeling. Yet it is always hard to part with old friends, and in a spasm of protest, a dark band of clouds moved over Centre Court as Nadal inched closer to victory. Nadal would now have to fight Federer and the elements to earn a victory.

After the rain ceased, both men returned, and held their serves to force the match’s first tiebreaker. At 4-2, Federer finally got his nose ahead after ripping a forehand to earn a minibreak. With his 14th ace of the day, Federer captured the tiebreak and third set. It was a repeat of last year when he won two tiebreakers against Nadal on his way to his fifth title.

The fourth set would also end in a tiebreak. This time, however, Nadal looked to have the edge. He answered Federer’s minibreak with three straight points, and had two service points to claim his first Wimbledon title. Toni Nadal, his uncle and longtime coach, sensing victory, rose from the Player’s Box to urge on his charge. But maybe the moment was still too big for Nadal, as he uncharacteristically double faulted away his first set point. Federer pounced on his opponent’s rare mental lapse to deny a second set point, and went on to capture the tiebreaker at 10-8. In a game featuring play at the highest level, where both men displayed his championship mettle, it seemed only right that this day demanded a fifth set.

A current of electricity enveloped the stadium as the crowd anticipated a brilliant ending to top what was already an incredible match. As if to remind the spectators that they were, indeed, watching mortals at play, Federer badly whiffed a forehand during his first service game. It was a brief comic respite in an intense match. Later, with Federer facing deuce point at 2-2, rain provided a longer intermission. The crowd watched as a phalanx of grounds men covered Centre Court in ten seconds, a familiar sight playing out for, perhaps, one last time.

Returning from the break, both men continued to hold, but Nadal seemed to be making greater headway on Federer’s serve. Finally, at 6-5, he earned three break chances and forced Federer to, again, dip into his champion’s reserve. In a display worthy of Pete Sampras, Federer followed strong first serves with whipping forehands to deny Nadal. On Federer’s next service game, however, it seemed he, the elements, and tradition could no longer stem back the tide of change. In an untimely miscalculation, Federer ran around a backhand, and dumped his shot into the net. A forehand that sailed wide followed, and Nadal flexed his bicep in celebration of his break point. He had his massive arms wrapped around the match, and this time there would be no letting up. With the final point won, Nadal dropped to his knees in exhaustion and exaltation. A privileged audience rose to their collective feet to greet a new champion, and salute a glorious former one.

It was to the longest Wimbledon match ever played, clocking in at four hours and 48 minutes. But time, or words, could not quantify what had occurred on Centre Court. This match, and its leading men, already belonged to the ages. In the fading evening, a flurry of camera flashes provided the brightest source of light as Nadal wet the hallowed grounds one last time with tears of joy. Encore, please.