Nadal, new hero of world tennis

By Al S. Mendoza

LOST in the din of Pacmania was the classic Wimbledon victory of Rafael Nadal only a while back.

You know Nadal, of course.

But to the uninitiated, here’s one for you.

Nadal is the 22-year-old Spaniard with the long, flowing locks out to establish himself as the greatest tennis player that ever roamed this planet.

Nadal has the tools to achieve his dream. He displayed them once again when he outgunned, outlasted, and outhustled Roger Federer to win on July 6 the 132nd Wimbledon, the world’s Mecca of tennis.

* * * *

Before winning Wimbledon, Nadal destroyed Federer in the finals of the French Open in June.

I used the word “destroyed” because Federer, the world No. 1, won only four games in the three-set massacre administered by the second-ranked Nadal.

If it were boxing, Nadal’s victory would have amounted to a devastating first-round knockout.

It was Nadal’s fourth straight French Open triumph in Paris, making him the undisputed King of Clay and increasing his majors total win to 5.

Federer is still way ahead with 12 majors tucked under his belt.

* * * *

The French Open, the only major that has eluded Federer, is the second of four tennis majors every year. The first one, the Australian Open last January, is played on a shell court.

The Wimbledon is played on grass and the fourth and last one, the U.S. Open, is played on a hard court surface – close to cement.

Nadal’s destruction of Federer in the French Open was the third in a row for the Spanish Armada against the Swiss Swoosh, but the last one seemed to usher in the dawning of a new era: Nadalmania.

Before they met for the Wimbledon crown, the odds favored Federer. But, of course.

* * * *

Federer won the last five Wimbledons and, from all indications, he’d win his sixth and tie the record for most Wimbledons won in succession set by William Renshaw in 1883.

But, more importantly, a Federer victory would have broken the five straight Wimbledon crowns – a record he shares with Swede Bjorn Borg. Borg prevailed from 1976 to 1980.

Federer appeared set to achieve that, waltzing to the finals against Nadal without absorbing a single-set loss.

But Borg made a statement that somehow undermined Federer’s ability to score a record sixth Wimbledon victory in the modern era. Before 2008 Wimbledon began, Borg, who eagerly watched the Nadal-Federer finals match at ringside, had placed Federer a mere No. 3.

Sadly for Federer, Borg’s assessment proved providential.

* * * *

Nadal deflected Federer’s historic bid in five classic sets in the longest ever Wimbledon finals, lasting 4 hours and 48 minutes. Nadal won, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7.

Before slugging a forehand to the net to finally yield his crown, Federer seemed set to complete an improbable comeback when he survived three championship points – two in the third set.

Federer even moved within two points of clinching the match, when he tied Game 10 at 30-30 while he was up, 5-4, in the deciding fifth set.

But with Nadal serving – and he was practically out-serving Federer all throughout – the Spaniard held on mightily to forge the tie-break en route to capturing his first Wimbledon in his fourth try.

* * * *

So sturdy were both men that neither showed hints of exhaustion in the marathon match that was interrupted twice by rains.

When it finally ended, the gladiators looked like they were still ready for another grueling skirmish.

They were that superbly-conditioned you had that impression they weren’t humans but Spielberg characters in a sci-fi thriller peopled by men that refuse to die.

It was I who got tired watching. And the excitement saw me go make a pee five times. From around 10 p.m. up to about 4:30 a.m., I clung on to the match like a madman clinging on to the last thread of sanity.

* * * *

When John McEnroe won in 1981 to end the five-year Wimbledon reign of Borg, the deposed champion never lifted a tennis racquet again. And Borg was only 26 then.

Federer is also only 26. Will he also go the Borg way and retire?

“I’m disappointed, I’m crushed,” said Federer after losing to Nadal. “But, no, I’m not retiring. I’ll be back.”

With the U.S. Open commencing shortly, it seems Nadal can’t rest on his laurels. N’yet.

(Readers may reach columnist at also147@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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