Nadal is the new Wimbledon Champion!

It was the latest finish to a men's final that anyone on Wimbledon's centre court could remember - not to mention one of the most compelling.

Just before 9.20 last night, with the court festooned in semi-darkness after almost five hours of epic, see-saw tennis, Rafael Nadal finally prevailed in one of the sport's all-time classics, vanquishing Roger Federer in his attempt to become the first man since the 1880s to win six consecutive Wimbledon championships.

Onlookers were running out of superlatives by the denouement, and not just about the quality of the groundstrokes. It was Wimbledon's longest men's final, perhaps its greatest, a match Nadal finally won 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7.

Federer, who was thrashed by Nadal in straight sets in the French Open final last month, remains the world number one, but the 22-year-old Spaniard may claim the position by the end of the year.

His win gave Spain its second major sporting victory in eight days, its footballers having won Euro 2008. Nadal became the first Spaniard in 42 years to win the Wimbledon men's title, ending Federer's run of 41 unbeaten matches at the All England club, where he last lost in 2002.

In doing so, Nadal had to beat not just his rival but the weather and the light: downpours twice sent the players running for covers. Lewis Hamilton, another victor over the squally conditions, can count himself unlucky to be thoroughly upstaged on a day when he won the British grand prix.

Nadal was magnanimous in victory: "Roger is always fighting. He's still the number one, still the best, still five times champion here - I've just won one. It's very tough to play Roger. He is excellent when he wins and when he loses."

Nadal survived a scare in the third set when he slipped and appeared to hurt his right knee. Otherwise the only other time he was on his back came at the end when Federer hit a forehand into the net. A victorious Nadal clambered up to embrace his family before walking over the commentary box roof to shake hands with the Spanish crown prince and his wife.

Trivia:

• Nadal’s nickname is “The King of Clay.”
• Nadal has “Vamos Rafa” (”Let’s go Rafa”) written on his shoes, a common exhortation by his fans.
• Rafael Nadal plays tennis left-handed but off the court is normally right-handed.

Sources:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
http://www.rafaelnadalnews.com/