'I never imagined something like this' - Nadal reflects on Wimbledon 2008 win

It remains arguably the greatest men's match ever played.

>The drama, the quality, the implications of victory for either Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer - it all contributed to an unforgettable masterpiece which concluded as darkness descended on Wimbledon's Centre Court, nearly seven hours after the 2008 singles final began.

>It ended in a seismic five-set victory for the then 22-year-old Nadal, and one the 22-time Grand Slam champion now sees as being crucial to his future success.

>"To be able to beat the best player on grass in a final, after all the things that happened during the match, was something to be proud of," Nadal told the BBC's Sporting Witness earlier this year.

>"But I was a player that, because of my character, I was never 100% in peace.

>"I had achieved that, but now I have to keep going. That's the way my mind worked all my tennis career - and that's what I did."

>Rafael Nadal lost his first two Wimbledon finals to Roger Federer before beating the Swiss great in 2008

>During his career, Nadal established his status as the undisputed 'King of Clay'.

>The Spaniard won 14 of his 22 major titles on that surface at Roland Garros, where a plaque bearing his footprint was unveiled on Court Philippe Chatrier in tribute to his achievements.

>Because of his superiority on clay, some doubted Nadal's ability on other surfaces. While he did not have those same doubts internally, a statement Slam triumph away from the French Open felt crucial to silencing the critics.

>"I always had in my mind that I need to play well on grass and in every surface to become a complete player," Nadal, 40, said.

>"I was not that bad. The truth is, I was achieving a lot on hard and grass courts but, because I was winning on clay, people considered me a clay-court player."

>After winning his first French Open in 2005, Nadal lost his sole grass-court match in his only tournament before Wimbledon, before suffering a shock second-round exit at SW19.

>Nadal did not practise on the grass after his maiden Roland Garros win - something he now regards as a mistake.

>Listen to Sporting Witness: Nadal on his historic Wimbledon win over Federer

>Nadal won another French Open title in 2006. The day after lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires, he was already practising on the grass.

>That year, he reached the first of what would be three successive Wimbledon finals against Federer, who had not lost at the grass-court major since 2002.

>Federer had beaten Nadal in four sets in the 2006 Wimbledon final - including a first-set bagel - and five sets 12 months later. He arrived at the 2008 championships as the five-time defending champion.

>But, four weeks before their Wimbledon showdown, Nadal had destroyed Federer 6-1 6-3 6-0 in the Roland Garros final to give him the confidence he could dethrone his rival.

>"I lost already two finals. In 2008,
I arrived to the tournament ready. For me, it was a huge goal to win Wimbledon," Nadal said.

>The final between the pair was one of the most anticipated of their rivalry - but few could have predicted what unfolded in a five-set, near-seven-hour rain-delayed epic that is etched into history.

>Nadal entered the Wimbledon final on a 23-match winning streak, a run that included lifting the Queen's title and his fourth straight French Open triumph.

>He picked up exactly where he had left off in Paris against the Swiss, storming into a two-set lead.

>The Spaniard inflicted the first blow on Federer's serve in the third game and then saw off two break points to serve out the set at 5-4.

>And he took complete control as he battled back from 4-1 down in the second, winning five games in a row to go two sets up.

>"I started the final playing well - first set very well, second set
was a little strange and Roger made a couple of mistakes," Nadal reflected.

>"But then as the match starts to become more level, Roger raised the level of his tennis. He was more and more aggressive."

>Federer appeared on the ropes as he trailed 0-40 on serve at 3-3 in the third set but recovered with five straight points to hold. Then, at 16:51 local time, with Federer leading 5-4, the rain began to fall.

>"I was ready to keep going, to be honest. I was confident that I will not fail: Roger could beat me, but I will not fail," Nadal said.

>"If he plays better than me, OK, but I cannot fail mentally. That was my real goal.

>"I went back on court with the determination to stay 100% ready to fight until the end."

>Nadal reflects on first Wimbledon victory in 2008

>The players were able to return to the court after 18:00 and both held serve to take the fourth set to a tie-break.

>A missed backhand from Federer left Nadal just two points from the title at 5-2 - but the Swiss won the next four points, including a double fault from the Spaniard.

>Federer had a first set point at 6-5, Nadal a championship point at 7-6, and another at 8-7 following a stunning passing shot, but Federer eventually forced a fifth set after 18 points.

>"I lost the third set. All good - he played very well, served very well. But the fourth set tie-break was a heartbreaker for me," Nadal said.

>"You feel seconds away to win Wimbledon and, after that second, you need to fight for another set after losing two sets in a row against the best grass-court player in history.

>"Mentally, to organise all of this was a challenge."

>Rafael Nadal climbs into the stands on Centre Court after winning Wimbledon in 2008

>As the tension ramped up, the rain returned shortly before 20:00 with the deciding set poised at two games apiece.

>Nadal and Federer returned half an hour later, with about an hour's playable light left once they resumed.

>Darkness crept in as the match stretched beyond 21:00, the set continuing on serve until Federer faltered on a fourth break point in the 15th game at 7-7.

>Whatever happened when Nadal walked out to serve for the championship, the referee had already decided that would be the final game of Sunday's play.

>Nadal reached a third championship point - but Federer escaped with a stunning backhand. A huge first serve set up his fourth and, this time, Federer sent a forehand into the net.

>An exhausted Nadal collapsed on to the grass in celebration, before climbing up into the stands to celebrate with his family and team.

>The scoreboard read 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7 to Nadal. After four hours and 48 minutes of tennis, Wimbledon had a new champion.

>It would be the last match to be played on Centre Court before a roof was installed. No final at SW19 would ever be quite like it again.

>Rafael Nadal hugs Roger Federer at the end of their epic Wimbledon final in 2008

>"It's impossible to explain what I felt in that moment," Nadal said.

>"It was a dream playing on this court. But win? I never imagined something like this.

>"That helped me to become number one in the world, without a doubt. It helped me to keep believing in my abilities, that I can win in other places.

>"2008 was an amazing step forward in my career, because I showed myself that I was able to win outside of clay in a Grand Slam.

>"It's one of the most emotional matches in my career, without doubt."

>A year later, Nadal would win his first Australian Open title. 2010 brought him a first US Open to complete the career Grand Slam.

>He would win Wimbledon once more and play Federer many more times - but it is the 2008 final that has lived long in the memory.

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