JO: “All bets had been off by that time. The momentum was with Federer as a result of he’d received the fourth set. Historical past was with Federer as a result of he was the five-time champion, however there was nonetheless this unknown of what Nadal was going to supply within the decider. He had performed so nicely to that time. Solely a idiot would have written him off. It was clear within the early video games, despite the fact that Federer was serving first, that Nadal wasn’t going anyplace.”
At 19:53, with the decider poised at 2-2, deuce, the rain got here once more. The gamers went off and the covers got here throughout. It appeared like they’d be coming again on Monday to complete it however it might show a brief interruption. Half an hour later, they resumed with, realistically, a most of an hour’s playable mild left. The standard and depth would by no means drop, the 2 males throwing all that they had at one another. It was heart-stopping stuff.
JM: “I used to be lucky sufficient that individuals talked about my match with Bjorn in 1980 as one of many nice matches. However I used to be watching the 2008 closing and sitting again and saying to myself: ‘That is the most effective match I’ve ever seen at Wimbledon.’
“In the direction of the tip, I used to be nearly not saying something within the commentary field. I believed what I used to be witnessing was so nice and the gamers had been rising to the event – anybody watching might inform it was going to be a match that individuals would discuss for generations to come back. To me that is a straightforward gig once you’re watching a match like that. When it’s that good you kind of relax and put your arms again.”
The match moved into its fifth hour. At 4-4, Federer earned a break level however Nadal saved it with an enormous forehand and follow-up smash. “Roger, Roger” and “Rafa, Rafa” had been ringing out concurrently. At 5-5, Nadal acquired to 15-40 on the Federer serve however the Swiss repelled him. The sunshine was fading quick. With the clock having ticked previous 21:00, Nadal received an exhilarating level to carry for 7-7 – Federer by some means flicked a ferocious Nadal smash onto the baseline however the Spaniard put away a forehand and, with adrenaline coursing by his physique, celebrated with an enormous fist-pump. Would they must cease there?
DD: I used to be despatched out about 21:10 for the Charlie Pasarell-Pancho Gonzales match in 1969 (the second-longest singles match in Wimbledon historical past) and you can hardly see the white balls. The supervisor couldn’t imagine they had been nonetheless enjoying. It was the identical that day. I went down about 21:00 and thought ‘they must name this quickly’.
JO: “I at all times suppose tv provides a misunderstanding due to the filters. You needed to be there to understand how darkish it was in these closing video games. When it acquired to 7-7 it was completely apparent there have been two extra video games left. They needed to deliver them off at a degree rating. It will have been unfair to name them again with one particular person serving for the match or serving to remain within the match.”
PM: “Clearly it was getting darkish and the Hawk-Eye went off due to the darkness. Neither of the gamers talked about it earlier than the match ended. I believe the gamers had been a lot into it that they didn’t even realise. We agreed with the referee, Andrew Jarrett, that we must cease the match at 8-8.”
Federer lastly faltered when serving at 7-7. Though he saved three break factors in that recreation, he could not stave off a fourth as a forehand floated lengthy and Nadal had the decisive break. After the change of ends, Nadal got here out to serve for the championship in what was going to be the ultimate recreation of the day no matter occurred. He introduced up a 3rd championship level however Federer raged in opposition to the dying of the sunshine, firing a backhand return that Nadal might barely get a racquet on. It was to show his final salvo – two factors later he despatched a forehand into the web and Nadal collapsed onto the grass in celebration. Lastly, after 4 hours and 48 minutes of compelling theatre, Wimbledon had a brand new champion.
