It might be a sport of elitist, out-of-touch millionaires but once in a while, a tennis match goes to another level and becomes one of the greatest sporting events you've ever seen.
Such was the case yesterday in the Wimbledon gentleman's final as Rafael Nadal, the pride of Spain, outlasted five-time defending champion Roger Federer of Switzerland, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7.
The 4-hour, 48-minute marathon lived up to the hype and then some, as the English crowd patiently waited through three rain delays to see some of the best tennis they could ever imagine.
At 26-years-old, Federer has been nearly invincible the last few years. 22-year-old Nadal is the master of clay at the French Open but with his win on the grass of the All-England club, he can stake a claim as the world's top player at the moment.
Federer is still at the top of his game, as his ridiculous comeback attests to, the difference is that Nadal has closed the gap to the point where they're equal for all intents and purposes.
Each player has his strengths. Federer has a hard serve and his shot-making is amazing. Nadal is in top shape and can chase down any shot while also putting more top-spin on his shots than any other player on tour.
The next big event on the tennis circuit is the US Open which is at the end of August in Flushing Meadows, NY. Hopefully Nadal and Federer can roll through their matches and meet up once again in another final. Odds are it won't be as good as yesterday but with those two, you can never be sure.
No comments:
Post a Comment