Roger Federer was looking for the fifth Wimbledon Cup in a row and in 2007 won everything to reach Björn Borg’s record! In the title fight 12 months earlier, Federer defeated his closest rival Rafael Nadal in four sets, with the world’s top players facing each other again in July 2007.
Nadal defeated Federer a few weeks earlier in the Roland Garros final and followed the “Channel Slam” in London, but had to be satisfied with second place in a row, although he had given everything. After three hours and 45 minutes, Federer took a 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 triumph to write the record books and extend his winning streak at the All England Club.
Roger fended off seven of eleven break chances, prevailed in the closing stages of sets one and three and produced his best tennis when the most important thing in the fifth set was to cross the finish line first and defend the title.
Nadal had a small advantage in the advanced rallies, which wasn’t enough to protect him in the last set, despite early chances that could have put him in the lead. When Nadal talked about the final, he said it was a crushing defeat at that moment, that he had done his best and was still finished with empty hands.
After breaking 40-0 in the second game, Rafa suffered a break on Federer’s third break and recovered 3-1 to get back on the positive side of the scoreboard.
At Wimbledon 2007, Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal in five sets
The returnees got only six points at the end of the set and reached a tiebreak, which Federer demanded 9: 7 for a massive boost.
The Swiss saved the break chances in the sixth game of the second set before Rafa put in a break of 5-4 with a backhand winner, improving the total score and improving his chances. The Spaniard fended off a break opportunity at the beginning of the third set, with both players serving well until another tiebreak.
Roger won 7-3, forging two sets at an advantage, hoping to seal the deal in the fourth set. Instead, Nadal started from the beginning and achieved a 4-0 lead. He played at a high level to force a fifth set after losing seven points in four service games!
Federer had to dive deep into the serve early on, fend off four break chances and gain momentum, which led him through the win. The Swiss won the last four games with breaks in games six and eight to seal the deal in style and join Bjorn Borg on five consecutive Wimbledon crowns.
“It hurt a lot to lose the 2007 Wimbledon final. I was ready to win it this year and I thought this might have been my last chance to win the Wimbledon trophy,” said Rafael Nadal.
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