Wimbledon 2008
Rafa says:
JULY 26TH 2008 - WIMBLEDON, GRASS
I am not capable of putting into words what this victory meant to me. Maybe I need perspective, maybe I still haven't taken it in. Since I came on to the professional circuit, even before his, I related the word 'Wimbledon' with 'Roger Federer'. It is something subconscious and automatic: the All England's Club court is something like his garden.
Back on to the subject. Last year was no stroll. He sweated, he left everything on court and I was close. Very close. And this year I was playing better than ever. I felt exultant and I had just won Queen's against Djokovic. I was out for everything. I could do it.
It is true that this season's Federer was not quite on his best form, although we saw the gala Roger at Wimbledon. And he was waiting for me in the final, on his terrain, after the bitter taste of his severe defeat in Roland Garros.
Once on court, there was no time to think and I preferred it that way: Federer showed his best service and attacked the net decisively, while I punished his backhand and ran across the court without a break, getting back extraordinary balls. The equation seemed to work and the game developed in an equal exchange of shots until, at my first opportunity, I managed to break his service and take advantage to take the first set 6-4. Roger hounded me in the second set, fell back on his aces and showed more aggressive tennis until he got the break. When the set seemed sentenced, I broke his service and levelled the scoreboard and I broke it again the next game. 6-4 once more: not only was I bringing Federer down to my level (and that is a real feat) but I was... I was beating him!
The third set was a duel of powers, a combat with nowhere to hide in which Roger had as many as six(!) break points in the sixth game, but I withstood stoically in my trench. I also had three break points defended grittily by him.
The match was interrupted by rain ("why now?" - I thought cursing the sky). After less than one hour, the match started again and we went to the tie break. You could feel the tension.
Roger got his guns out and dissipated my hopes to be crowned with Wimbledon in three sets. It couldn't be simple.
The fourth set confirmed the delicate balance between us, and was decided in the most anguishing tie break I have ever had, and probably will ever have. My doctor wouldn't allow it. When we changed ends, I passed alongside Federer one point from being proclaimed champion.
ONE POINT. While I hit the ball, my excitement cut short my breath, I felt rigid... and that is not the ideal thing when you are serving. Double fault, the dream vanished. Federer demonstrated why he is five-times Wimbledon champion and the set went to him.
In the fifth and decisive set I thought I was playing my own shadow.1-1, 2-2, 3-3...up to 7-7. It was the longest Wimbledon final in history. My chest was going to explode at any moment and the pressure was overwhelming, not even the best script writer could have imagined such a contest.
Nothing around me was important, time stopped, the voices faded and the stands were no more than mist. Roger and I were alone.
In the extreme equality, I broke his service: match point. I knew I was not going to fail this time. I dried my arms and face, bounced a thousand times and the ball hung in the air. I breathed deeply. Roger returned my service, I moved half way up the court and hit with my sight on his backhand: it was now or never.
"GAME NADAL"
I fell on the grass, collapsed in satisfaction and pride. After a few instants of incredulity and disorientation, I was aware that Roger and I had just played the best tennis match of all time; that I had just won the most prestigious tournament on the circuit; that... I had made my dream come true.
I know that some day I will be able to tell this to my grandchildren... some day, when I am capable of explaining it.
.