Tennis Europe | Wimbledon 2008

Wimbledon 2008

Rafael Nadal has been crowned as Wimbledon champion after the longest final in the tournament's history. Twice interrupted by rain delays and completed with both players straining to see the ball as darkness fell, Nadal becomes the first Spanish man to win Wimbledon in the Open era, having finally wrested the title from five-time defending champion Roger Federer at the third attempt.

Pundits are already calling the match one of the greatest finals in Grand Slam history. Aside from the quality of the tennis, the sheer drama of a match that lasted close to five hours and included a comeback from a two-set deficit, the saving of two championship points in the fourth set, the intervention of the weather (a mischievous last laugh for the rain before the club's new roof comes into operation for the 2009 event), an injury scare and the possibility of play being suspended for the day was exhausting for the absorbed spectators, never mind the two players involved.

With the five-set win, Nadal inches closer to usurping Federer's world #1 ranking, having finished three consecutive seasons in second place. The left-hander is now comfortably ahead in the ATP Race, having become the first player since Bjorn Borg to win both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. Nadal described the win as "a dream… For me, it was the most emotional match I ever played in, probably the best"

The entire men's event had been a triumph for European players, who accounted for all eight quarterfinal spots for the first time in the Open era. Marat Safin and Rainer Schuettler combined to bring the event its first unseeded semi finalists since 1997 before being despatched in straight sets by Federer and Nadal respectively.

The women's tournament has traditionally been a less successful hunting ground for Europe's players, and the pattern was repeated as Venus Williams defended her title with a hard fought straight sets win over sister Serena for her fifth Wimbledon title overall. Both players were back to producing their best tennis during a curious fortnight which witnessed some of the biggest shocks in women's tennis history, with all of the top four seeds losing prior to the quarter finals for the first time ever. Pre-tournament favourite Maria Sharapova went down to 123-ranked Alla Kudryavtseva, #2 Ana Ivanovic lost to wild card and eventual semi finalist Jie Zheng, #3 Jelena Jankovic to Tamarine Tanasugarn and #4 Svetlana Kuznetsova to Agnieska Radwanska, the newest entry to the world's top ten.

Venus' win marks the eighth time in ten years that an American woman has won on the lawns of SW19. Serena will have taken some consolation from winning the doubles title together with Venus for the third time in their careers. The pair, who were confirmed a spot on the US Olympic doubles squad during the Championships, overcame the US/Australian partnership of Lisa Raymond and Sam Stosur in less than an hour to win the championship without the loss of a set. It was the fifth consecutive year that the women's doubles would go to a non-European team.

Playing with a broken bone in his left wrist, Nenad Zimonjic continued Serbia's run of winning titles at all Grand Slam titles so far this year by winning the men's doubles event, partnering Canada's Daniel Nestor to a four set win over Kevin Ullyett (ZIM) and Jonas Bjorkman (SWE). Zimonjic injured himself running into a line-judge in the semi finals but ignored the pain which affected his ball toss to record his maiden Grand Slam men's doubles victory. The win was arguably bigger news for Nestor, who ascends to the world #1 spot and becomes only the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam of doubles titles.

Sam Stosur recovered from the disappointment of losing the women's doubles final to partner America's Bob Bryan to the mixed doubles title, beating his twin brother Mike and partner Katarina Srebotnik 75 64 in a match moved to court #1 and completed as the light faded for the last time on the 2008 Championships. The win was the second mixed doubles Slam for Stosur, and a fifth for Bryan, though their first at Wimbledon.

The junior events gained more than their usual share of publicity, largely thanks to 14-year old Brit Laura Robson (pictured), who gave the home crowd something to cheer as she blitzed her way through the girls singles field to become the first home winner in 24 years. Ranked just #36, Robson - usually more at home on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour's 14 & Under circuit - capitalised on a solid grass court season, avenging a loss to top seeded Melanie Oudin (her conqueror in the Rohemapton final just prior to Wimbledon) in the second round before recording a string of upsets to reach the most important final of her young career. The final was televised live on BBC television and played in front of a busy Court One, even though it took place simultaneously to the women's final. Despite some mid-match jitters, Robson did not disappoint, defeating 17-year old Thai Noppawan Lertcheewakarn to become the youngest Wimbledon winner since Martina Hingis in 1994.

Wimbledon 2008

Final Results - Wimbledon 2008