It’s Federer vs Nadal in Wimbledon final
Roger Federer gets another rematch, and this one will be on his terms on his court.
The evidence leaves no room for reasonable debate. Rafael Nadal owns Federer. Of late, Nadal has beaten Federer on tennis’ other two surfaces, clay and cement, five times in a row — an astonishing feat considering the Swiss star’s status as the finest player in the world today. But Nadal hasn’t yet encountered Federer with grass under their feet, and the gap between them Sunday would appear to be a chasm.
ederer hasn’t lost here in 48 months. And though Nadal is already a two-time French Open champion, the 20-year-old Spaniard wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near ready to compete for the Wimbledon title.
But Nadal, clearly a quick study, put his learning curve on fast-forward this fortnight. So there they will be again, the Ali and Frazier of the serve-and-volley set, having conspired to script the most captivating rivalry in sport today and facing off on Centre Court for the latest heavyweight championship of tennis.
Here’s the weird part. Even if the computer says Federer is No. 1 — and has been since early 2004 — the belt is Nadal’s to lose. Federer’s 55-0 record vs. the rest of the field this year means little considering his 0-4 record vs. the matador from the island of Majorca.
There is very little the 24-year-old Federer has left to prove to himself or anybody else. But with Nadal across the net, the burden of proof will be on Federer’s slender shoulders as he goes for a fourth consecutive Wimbledon championship, which would match Pete Sampras for second-best streak at the All England Club.
Federer is hardly shrinking from the stiff challenge Nadal presents despite Nadal’s status as a lawn-tennis novice. Nadal and Marcos Baghdatis had barely begun exchanging blows in the second semifinal when Federer, off the court in 77 minutes against the hopelessly overmatched 34-year-old Swede, Jonas Bjorkman, cut straight to the chase.
And said Federer: “I know I can beat him.”
Rafael Nadal is shrieking her way nicely through Wimbledon. Can he beat Roger Federer once again? Win or lose, you can bet on it! Get all your ATP and WTA tennis matchups in the Bodog Sportsbook!
Wimbledon Finals Tips: Federer to win in straight sets.
