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

In the fifth set, Federer displayed a sign of nerves, throwing in a double fault at 40-30 in the third game. He held serve though to ensure there wasn’t a break since late in the second set. Federer, behind for much of the match, had a golden opportunity to seal a decisive break in the eighth game.

A scorching forehand pass set up break point, but Nadal fought fire with even more fire. He struck a blistering forehand winner, which matched Federer’s previous stroke in its intensity and purpose. Danger was met with poise and the set remained on serve. The next big opportunity courted Nadal, who had two break points in the eleventh game.

Rafael Nadal celebrates winning match point and the Championship 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)

But playing with remarkable resilience, Federer sent down an ace to save one and a powerful forehand winner on the next to avoid staring defeat in the face. This was two gladiators at their very best and inevitably the set remained undecided as they headed into overtime.

Federer was under immense pressure in the fifteenth game, as the match entered a climactic phase. A brilliant backhand volley at 0-30 gave some respite to the defending champion. But the relentless Nadal extracted the fatal break with a thundering backhand winner that blew past a stranded Federer.

With the light fading away, Nadal followed his serve to the net for the first time in the marathon match. Pumping his fist in delirium, Nadal struck two winning volleys as he neared the culmination of his biggest dream. The Swiss sent a backhand wide to surrender a third match point. Unwilling to give up his throne, Federer unleashed a backhand winner to claw back to deuce.

Eager to get his teeth on the trophy, Nadal mustered a service winner to earn his fourth match point. Nadal snatched away Federer’s most coveted possession with beastly force when Federer dumped a short forehand in the net on the next point.

“I think I’ve already proved that I’m not just a clay-court player,” Nadal said. “But to win in Wimbledon is very special to me. Of the four Grand Slams, it’s the most traditional. It’s really the tournament.”

“I’m disappointed, and I’m crushed,” Federer said. “He played a super match, and I’m sure it was a great match to watch and to play, but it’s all over now. I need some time.”

Roger Federer holds his runners-up trophy after losing 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)

But Federer’s most telling comment was this: “There’s not even a comparison,” he said. “This is a disaster. Paris was nothing in comparison.”

We can argue long and hard about whether this was the greatest match of all time or not, but one thing that needed no opinion was the sheer quality of the game on offer – Federer had 89 winners to Nadal’s 52 but the number that proved vital was the unforced error count.

Nadal had just 27 over nearly five hours of brutal tennis, to Federer’s 52, some of which came on the 12 of 13 break points that he failed to convert. Incredibly, Nadal won nearly twice the points Federer won at the net – 42 to 22, having made 75 forays to the forecourt compared to just 31 by the Swiss.

It is a moment in tennis history that will forever be remembered as the night that Nadal usurped more than just the Wimbledon crown from Federer. It was a loss that almost robbed Federer’s soul and established Nadal’s reputation as an all-court player.