‘Beating Roger Federer at Wimbledon meant everything’

Over the course of his incredible career, Rafael Nadal earned countless notable victories and trophies. However, his 2008 Wimbledon triumph over Roger Federer stands among his greatest achievements, and Rafa never misses a chance to highlight it. 

Nadal spoke about that legendary match in his recent interview. He admitted it changed his career and made him a believer on surfaces outside clay. The Spaniard lost the Wimbledon finals against the Swiss in 2006 and 2007. 

Rafa kept pushing and finally ousted his great rival in the 2008 title match. Nadal scored a memorable 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 8-7 triumph in four hours and 48 minutes! Thus, the young Spaniard achieved the ‘Channel Slam’ at 22. 

🤯🌱🇪🇸🇨🇭 Whenever I think of grass court season, I think of these two passing shots that Nadal and Federer hit BACK-TO-BACK during the Wimbledon final in 2008!

The second one saving CHAMPIONSHIP point! pic.twitter.com/l7klfXjLZA

— Olly Tennis 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) June 15, 2024

Federer played for his sixth consecutive Wimbledon crown. However, Nadal gathered confidence at Queen’s and used that momentum en route to his fifth Major trophy, the first outside Paris. Roger found himself in a challenging position after the opening two sets. 

However, the five-time winner bounced back in sets three and four, forcing a decider and giving everything to prevail. Rafa kept his composure and sealed the deal with a late break, holding a couple of minutes before complete darkness and celebrating his career-best moment. 

Thus, he ended Federer’s streak of 40 wins at Wimbledon and became the first owner of ‘Channel Slam’ since Bjorn Borg. Rafa collected five points more than Roger. The younger player denied 12 of 13 break points and provided four breaks. 

The Swiss hit more winners and errors. He presented a nice turnaround before falling in the closing stages and suffering his first All England Club loss…