2008 Wilmbledon Final
Dan Same
Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
It has all come down to this. World number 1. and five-time reigning Champion Roger Federer and world number 2., two-time reigning Runner-up and Queens Champion Rafael Nadal are facing off against each other in today's (or tonight's here in Australia) final of the 2008 Wimbledon Championships. 
I love Federer, but I think I would prefer Nadal to win, and I think that he is capable of doing so. It should be a wonderful final, especially as there really is no favourite or underdog. I'm a massive tennis fan, and I can't wait to watch this year's final.
Last year's final went to five sets, and although I'm going to hoping that Nadal wins, I would be happy if this year's final simply went all the way. It's going to be fantastic.
So what about you? Will anyone else be watching? If so, who do you want to win? Or would you prefer to simply see a great match?
I love Federer, but I think I would prefer Nadal to win, and I think that he is capable of doing so. It should be a wonderful final, especially as there really is no favourite or underdog. I'm a massive tennis fan, and I can't wait to watch this year's final.
Last year's final went to five sets, and although I'm going to hoping that Nadal wins, I would be happy if this year's final simply went all the way. It's going to be fantastic.
So what about you? Will anyone else be watching? If so, who do you want to win? Or would you prefer to simply see a great match?
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Comments
Well good predictions so far, he's winning at the moment {[]
I was wondering what time it was in Oz, that is dedication for you
(Oh, and come on Nadal!).
Venus
Incredible stuff in a true epic - looks like Nadal may be the new top dog in not too long.
Certainly Federer wasn't as elegant as he was last year, but he saved three match points and got himself out of trouble more times than Harry Houdini. I was barracking for Nadal, and to watch Federer fight was both a source of frustration as well as amazement. Plus, Nadal never allowed self-doubt to creep in, even when Federer had fought back from 2 sets down. Both players were awesome IMO, with Nadal emerging the deserved winner.
It's funny. At the start of the match, I was barracking for Nadal, but I wouldn't have minded who won. However, once the match started, I was firmly in Nadal's camp, to such an extent that I would have been extremely disappointed if he lost. When he did win (
Congratulations Rafael Nadal; 2008 Wimbledon Champion! {[]
I agree that in raw tennis terms the quality was *very marginally* lower, in the sense that I think there were comparatively more unforced errors and it took Federer a while to get fully involved, however some of the shots were unbelievable, such as Nadal's extremely angled two-handed forehand which gve him break point at 7-7 in the final set.
Most people would argue that it was the best final at least since 1980, but, taking nothing away from Borg or McEnroe, *I* think it was better than that one!
Indeed, both had the hunger to succeed to the point where I wondered when someone would break in that final set!
Absolutely. Another year to wait as no other Grand Slam is quite like Wimbledon!
You are. It has been an official Olympic sport since 1988.
I would rate yesterday's match slightly better than that 1980 classic, as the best match of all time -- the reason being that the "challenger" won, whereas in 1980 Borg prevailed, only to finally be dethroned by Johnny Mac the following year.
What an amazing display by both men. Nadal's movement in the fifth set was nothing short of remarkable. In the end, Federer was undone by unforced errors -- 52 to Nadal's 27 in all, and a whole bunch in the last few games as he finally seemed to tire. For Nadal to track down as many balls as he did, and hit winners off them, yet still make less than 1 unforced error for every 2 games played is extraordinary.
I have always thought Federer to be a class act, but it's easy to be classy when you're mopping the court with everyone else. His post-match demeanor yesterday elevated him even further in my eyes, far more than in any of his wins. This had to be devastating -- he could blame the Australian on mono, he could blame the French on clay, but this one he can only blame on Rafa's superiority. I hope he uses this disappointment to motivate himself to reclaiming his position of the best in the world. Tennis needs this rivalry.
Sadly, tennis in this country has become a has-been sport -- a victim of poor management and marketing by the sport's overseers, an increasingly crowded sports environment, Americans' impatience with sports we don't dominate, and Tiger Woods. That's too bad, because not only is it fun to play and a great source of exercise, but when played at the highest level it can be absolutely riveting to watch, as was the case yesterday.
Tennis fans will never forget this one.
Federer was very gracious in his defeat, Nadal was humble to his opponent in his victory. Great match, made the entire tournament!
(And no, I wasn't behind Andy Murray, despite being Scottish, I don't see Wimbledon as a nation v. nation event rather an individual v. individual event, and as an individual, I really can't warm to him or his playing style).
As for the Olympics, Federer was the Swiss flag bearer in Athens, probably will be in August. 17 of the top 20 men and 18 of the top 20 women will compete in Beijing.
Well said Sir H. I was raised on tennis and have always had immense respect for the game. It's such a gentleman's sport, I love the history, the pomp and the the ceremony of it. It saddens me too that it's not as popular as it once was. The matches have been bounced around the networks so much these last few years, it's just become all about the revenue, and sadly it can't compare to the likes of football. That is such a shame. This year was riveting I totally agree, it was really great for the game, and for those of us that love it!
Nonetheless I actually do consider Nadal's Wimbledon victory to be more stunning as, with Woods, it was just more of the same. It was extraordinary and it inspired me to tell my mother about it which is pretty rare,
With Nadal, it was different. He had never won Wimbledon before, and although he had made the final in 2006 and 2007, who's to say that he wouldn't meet the same fate in 2008 that Federer met at the French Open? Although I personally predicted Nadal would win Wimbledon, based on the way he destroyed Federer at the French and his winning Queen's, I wasn't entirely sure as Nadal still had to beat one of the greatest grass courters of all time, and quite possibly the best player of the past 35 years (IMO Federer is the second greatest player of all time, after Rod Laver.)
The fact that Nadal did so and did it in such an impressive manner (I don't think his winning in straight sets would have been nearly as impressive) made what was, for me, the *sporting highlight of 2008.
*Thus far.