July 07, 2008

RAFAEL Nadal beat defending champion Roger Federer in five sets to win an epic Wimbledon men's singles final that was interrupted by rain and lasted for almost five hours.

The Spaniard won 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7 to add a first title at the All England club to his four French Open victories.

Nadal's victory, in what was the longest final in the tournament's history, ended Federer's 65-match unbeaten run on grass and denied the Swiss the chance to become the first man since the 19th century to win six Wimbledon titles in a row.

For Nadal, it was a case of third time lucky as he turned the tables on his great rival after losing out to him in the 2006 and 2007 finals.

The 22-year-old, who demolished Federer in last month's French Open final, becomes the third man to win titles at Roland Garros and the All England club in the same year in the Open era, emulating the achievements of Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg.

He was the first Spaniard to win a Wimbledon title since Manolo Santana in 1966.

"It's impossible to explain what I felt when I won. I'm just very happy to win this title. I never thought I could win but to do so is a dream,'' said Nadal.

"I had match points but Roger is very tough. I want to congratulate Roger because he is great for tennis, win or lose.

"He's still the number one, he's still the best. He is a five-time champion and I have just the one.''

Federer conceded he had been beaten by the better man on the day.

"I tried everything,'' he said.

"Rafa is a deserving champion - he just played fantastic. It is a pity I did not win but I will be back next year.''

Nadal got his nose in front when he broke Federer's service in the third game of the opening set and went on to clinch it 6-4.

He came from a break down to claim the second by the same scoreline.

Federer kept the defence of his title alive by clinching the third set in a tiebreak after a rain break of more than an hour at the end of the ninth game.

He then saved two match points before clinching the fourth-set tiebreak to force the match into the decisive fifth.

But Nadal was not to be denied and finally claimed victory in the 16th game of the fifth set after four hours and 48 minutes on court in a game which finished at 9.15pm local time.