NJ Sports Talk

Rafael Nadal won his first Wimbledon title on Sunday while ending Roger Federer’s 5-year reign at the All England Club.  Nadal won a thrilling five-set marathon which could signal a changing of the guard in men’s tennis.  With the victory, Rafa also became the first man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Bjorn Borg did it in 1980.

Nadal won the first two sets but then had to hold off a great comeback by Federer.  Federer rebounded and won the third and fourth sets in tiebreakers but finally fell to the Spaniard, 9-7 in the fifth and final set.  The twice rain-delayed match ended after 4 hours and 48 minutes of play, which was the longest men’s final in Wimbledon history. 

Nadal won his fifth Grand Slam title, which includes his four consecutive French Open championships.  He is the first Spaniard to win the title since 1966 and continues an amazing and memorable summer for Spanish sports.  Rafa is an avid Real Madrid and Seleccion fan who followed every single match of Spain’s Euro Cup triumph in soccer.  It was the national team’s first major championship since 1964.  Que viva Espana!

Mach