Memorable Wimbledon moments: Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal, 2008 final

When the players teed off, Nadal took control with a break in the third game of the first set. The five time champion made consecutive errors off his backhand to let Nadal take the wheel. Federer had his chances too, but three break points amounted to nothing, including one in the tenth game. A hassled looking Federer shot a cross court backhand into the net to surrender the first set to Nadal.

The second set got off to a breezy start for Federer, who broke serve in the second game with a blistering forehand winner. With a 3-0 lead, Federer looked like he was up for a contest. But Nadal was relentless and the Spaniard chipped away with characteristic determination to peg Federer back.

A general view with dark rain clouds as Rafael Nadal plays a return during the men’s singles Final against Roger Federer at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 6, 2008 in London, England. (Getty Images)

The world No.1 gave him an opportunity in the seventh game when he sent a forehand into the alley. Not one to spurn the scent of blood, Nadal pounced on it by striking a thundering backhand that forced the error from Federer at the net. In the next game, Federer had the chance to snatch another break, but Nadal stubbed it out with a big serve.

The relentless pounding from Nadal rattled Federer, who fell to 0-40 in the ninth game. The Swiss genius saved the first break point with a forehand winner. Nadal responded by sinking Federer in a deluge of punishing forehands to take control of the set. As Nadal served for the set, Federer unleashed a couple of aesthetic volleys to earn a break point.

Playing with clinical precision, Nadal put out the flames before taking the set. Surely now, many felt, it was end of the road for Federer. He had just lost a sixth straight set to his arch rival, and Nadal responded to everything Federer threw at him with gay abandon and complete disdain.

In the fourth game of the third set, Nadal slipped to 15-40. Yet again, the Spaniard raised his game just when he needed to – stroking a ferocious forehand cross court winner to stay in the game. Federer made an unforced error on the next point to slip back to deuce. The opportunity was lost to the Swiss when he sailed a backhand long to end the game.

With Federer failing to take his opportunities, the set slipped into a tie-breaker, but only after the players were forced indoors for about 80 minutes at 5-4 on serve. The break seemed to have liberated Federer, who fired four aces and a service winner to take the third set. It was a detour that wasn’t expected, but it offered much needed respite to the troubled Swiss.

Roger Federer looks dejected during the men’s singles Wimbledon Final against Rafael Nadal at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 6, 2008 in London, England. (Getty Images)

The fourth set was largely eventless; both players holding serve with a degree of certainty as it meandered into an inevitable tie-breaker. Intense drama followed, with the quality of play touching ridiculous levels of brilliance. Federer retrieved a backhand smash to skim the line for an unlikely winner, but Nadal stormed right back to take a commanding 4-1 lead.

When Federer sent a backhand wide to hang by a thread at 2-5, it appeared to be all but over. Incredibly, the indefatigable Spaniard proved to be human – throwing in a double fault before dumping a backhand in the net to offer a glimmer of hope for the defending champion. A forehand winner helped Federer draw level at 5-5.

At 6-6, Federer sliced a forehand long to offer Nadal his first championship point. With his back to the wall, Federer produced a thundering serve to stay alive at 7-7. Not to be outdone, the Spaniard struck a forehand pass on the run to earn his second match point. Federer produced a stunning backhand pass on the brink of defeat to claw back to 8-8.

A forehand winner finally gave Federer the set point he so craved and Nadal obliged for once, by driving a backhand long to set up a thrilling fifth set. The crowd was on its feet roaring unanimous approval, even if the intensity on the court was draining them of their energies just as much as the players themselves.