Game, Set, Match Mr. Federer

A packed Centre Court at Wimbledon, 2pm on a Sunday, two men emerge through the green doors. The first, tall and lean, wearing white in the tradition of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club walks with poise, grace and determination. The other, also in white, with his long brown hair almost prances behind the first, his muscles bulging - ready to face the challenge. As they enter the court, the thousands light up and cheer.

Welcome to the Gentlemen's Singles Championship - Mr. R. Federer (1) vs. Mr. R. Nadal (2)

As I watch my favourite sporting event at home, at 6am in the morning, I can't help but wish I were there, watching the two best in the sport at the time and one of the all-time greats (if not the best ever) battle it out for tennis' most prestigious tournament. Even through the screen of the tv, I can sense how momentous this match is for both players. Federer, who I have admired since he ended Sampras' four-title win-streak at Wimbledon in 2001, is playing for his 5th straight title. Bjorn Borg, the same man who phoned Federer after the above match in 2001 to thank the Swiss for preventing Sampras from equalling his 5 straight titles record, is here to watch Federer attempt to do the same.

Nadal, on the other hand, is in the quest for another of Borg's records - that of winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year - a grueling task. But Nadal, as many say, is made of krypotonite. Never does he seem to falter physically. But he's played here 7 days in a row. Will his body let him down when he needs it most?

The part of me that admires Federer wanted the match to be an easy one for him. Honestly, when this match began, I was not a fan of Nadal. I found his game too physical, devoid of the beauty of the game - the various spin shots, the unthinkable angles, the soft feet, the volleys at net. Whereas Federer has always been a master. After some shots, one can only say 'wow.'

But there was another part of me that wanted to see Federer challenged, that wanted him to have to earn the title, that wanted him to proclaim to the world that he was truly the best in the world and not someone who used his skill to finish off matches quickly, that he could fight and that he could fight when he most needed it. Having lost at the finals of Roland Garros to Nadal two years in a row, and with speculation that Nadal would win Wimbledon before Federer would win Roland Garros, I wanted Federer to show Nadal what he was made of.

The match started well for Federer, with an easy hold and an easy break of serve. But after that, the fighter in Nadal emerged -ready for battle - and Federer was broken. They fought each other to 6-all and Federer emerged from the tiebreak, with his serve, victorious.

1-set to love. Mr. Federer.

The second set was tense. Federer was unable to keep his momentum for long and Nadal pounced. Unable to break Nadal, Federer had to make sure that he held his own serve. But Nadal, always the fighter, pounced like a cat and took the set 6-4.

1-set all.

Third set. When this one started, I was scared. I thought that if Federer lost this one, Nadal would gain enough momentum and pull it out in the fourth. Both players played amazing tennis in this set. For me, not usually the religious type, it was as if god was battling satan for control over paradise. God, the established one, was fighting for his home - which centre court has become for Federer - satan, the rebel, the one with the unorthodox game, was attempting to usurp paradise from god. Both - almost equal - waiting for the other to falter - unable to expel the other one easily - wanting it so much.

Game and Set Mr. Federer. Mr. Federer leads 2-sets to 1.

Fourth set. I thought it was all over for Nadal at this stage. Having watched Roger play since 2001, I've seen him take control of a match at this stage. But Nadal should get credit for the way he came back in the first few games of the set. Serving first after the third-set tiebreak, Rafa held easily. Now it was Federer's turn. He had won the tiebreak with the help of his serve and it was expected that he would hold easily. But Rafa broke him. How? I have no idea. It happened so fast that I was in shock. 2-0. Then 3-0. Wait. It was Nadal who was supposed to be down 3-0. But upon reading the scoreboard again - it was Federer who had faltered. So what happened? It seems as if Federer was unnerved by Hawk-eye. The electronic line machine. Having opposed the implementation of the technology since its inception, Federer became frustrated when the Hawk-eye made a couple of calls against him. Now, Federer has amazing eyes when it comes to calling lines - he rarely makes a mistake. Hawk-eye on the other hand, is 90% correct and has a range of +/- 3 mm. The calls made against Federer were all in this range, and so, it's possible that Federer was correct and Hawk-eye was wrong. Federer went up to the chairperson, demanded that Hawk-eye be turned-off. But the chairperson refused and Federer went back to the baseline. 4-love, fourth set, Mr. Nadal.

Game and Set Mr. Nadal. 2-sets all.

And so, Roger, Rafa, and the thousands of fans prepared for a fifth set. In the four previous years that he'd won Wimbledon, Roger hadn't played a fifth set. No-one had had the ability to push him to one. Rafa had already played two in this particular championship, and with his physical strength and with the momentum he had gained during the fourth set, one wondered whether he'd be able to wrest the championship from Roger. It seemed, as well, that Roger had become somewhat human, and Rafa had elevated himself to semi-god status. Could Roger fight and bring out the best in his tennis game for this occasion? Did he have the fitness and the nerves and the mental strength to win this championship, with so much history involved?

Roger started the fifth set and held serve. And then it was Rafa's turn. He held as well. 1-1. And then, Roger started serving again, and all of a sudden was down 15-40. Double break point to Nadal. Somehow, Roger was able to muster up powerful serves and won the game. 2-1 Roger. And then Nadal held serve again, quite easily. With no tiebreak in the fifth, who would break first? Roger hadn't broken Nadal since the first set. And Nadal had had many chances against Federer. Would Nadal win it? It sure seemed that way. 2-2 Nadal.

Fifth game of the fifth set and again Roger saw himself 15-40 down. I stopped breathing, and it sure sounded as if the spectators at Centre Court had stopped as well. 30-40. Deuce. And finally- Game Federer. 3-2 Roger.

And then the moment I'd been waiting for. Break point Federer. And he did it. Finally. 4-2 Roger. Would he be able to hold again? Yes, yes, YES! 5-2 Federer. Four points away from another spot in the history books. It was Rafa's serve and John McEnroe wondered if Roger would finish it off during this game. Championship point Federer. Deuce. Championship point #2. At this stage, I'm staring intensely at the screen. So engrossed that now I can't even remember whether Roger hit a winner or Nadal hit it into the net. But I remember Roger coming to the net, volleying, and then on his knees. Game Set Match Mr. Federer. Finally. The champion had prevailed, and Nadal would have to wait one more year to win on grass.

I've watched the Gentlemen's finals at Wimbledon every year since I was 5. I saw mortals like Krajicek and Ivanisevic win here, and tennis gods Sampras and Agassi and Federer lift the trophy. I hope Roger wins next year so that he can surpass Borg's record. Before today, I wouldn't have said this but, if Nadal wins the year after, I won't mind - maybe I'll even be glad (perhaps provided that he lets Roger win in Paris)

That's it for now...ciao, adios, au revoir...and remember...to be born again first you must die.

~me