Long Live The King

They say all dynasties eventually fall.  Never has that statement rang more true in the world of tennis than today.

Wimbledon has just crowned a new champion.  In an epic five-setter, Rafael Nadal outlasted Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 to finally break the Swiss maestro’s five year reign over the All England Club.  The match, which lasted 4 hours and 48 minutes, was the longest in Wimbledon history.  In a classic war of attrition, both players battled through numerous rain delays, creeping darkness, and an unyielding opponent.  Many commentators and all-time greats are already calling it the greatest match ever played in the tournament.

In the end, the power and endurance of Nadal prevailed over the finesse and all-court brilliance of Federer.  Though hardly a rout like the French Open final last month, this loss probably hurts Roger more since it was played on a surface which he had been dominating for years.  The breakthrough win also signifies that Nadal finally sheds the tag of clay court specialist, and sets him up as a force to be reckoned with in every succeeding Grand Slam, regardless of surface.  That he just turned 22, an age when most players start to enter their prime, should be more bad news to Federer.

Which begs the question, how does Roger Federer recover from this?  Does he use this setback as a burning motivation to push his already spectacular game beyond its current level, thereby regaining his mastery of the sport?  Or does he play out the year, and possibly the rest of his career, in a daze, his dominance and psyche broken like Bjorn Borg’s was after successive Grand Slam defeats to a young John McEnroe?  For tennis’ sake, let’s hope it’s the former.