Friday, 6 November 2026
Kenyan Digest

Federer v Nadal at Wimbledon - the three finals

12 min read
Published

Rivals and friends: Rafael Nadal with Roger Federer after his win in the semi-finals at Roland Garros last month © AFP / Philippe LOPEZ

LONDON, United Kingdom, Jul 11 – Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet for the fourth time at Wimbledon on Friday in the semi-finals, 11 years after their last clash at the All England Club.

AFP Sport looks at their three previous matches, all played in finals:

2006

Final: Federer 6-0, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (2/7), 6-3

2006: Roger Federer © AFP/File / GLENN CAMPBELL

— Federer won his fourth successive Wimbledon title, finally breaking free of Nadal’s stranglehold.

The top seed wrapped up his eighth career Grand Slam crown in a pulsating final to register only his second win in eight meetings with the Spaniard

Federer’s four defeats in 2006 had all come at the hands of the double French Open champion, but he was always the favourite to win at Wimbledon having not lost here since 2002. The victory was his 48th in a row on grass.

“It’s an incredible feeling because I doubted myself at the start of the tournament,” said the Swiss.

Nadal was bidding to become the first Spaniard since Manuel Santana in 1966 to win the men’s title.

“Roger is unbelievable,” said Nadal, who at least prevented Federer from becoming the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to go through the whole tournament without dropping a set.

2007

Final: Federer 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-2

2007: Roger Federer © AFP/File / CHRIS YOUNG

— Federer wrapped up his fifth successive Wimbledon title when he beat Nadal in the third longest final of all time.

It also meant he equalled Borg’s mark of five successive Wimbledon crowns.

“I don’t know how much longer I can keep it up, but I definitely feel like I’m mentally and physically still fit to go on for many more years to come,” said the Swiss.

Nadal, who for the second successive year lost to Federer at Wimbledon four weeks after beating his rival at the French Open, had no doubt that the world number one is the best player of all time.

“His tennis level is the best in history,” said Nadal.

2008

Final: Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7

— Nadal dethroned five-time champion Federer with an epic win in one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time.

2008: Rafael Nadal © AFP/File / ADRIAN DENNIS

The Spaniard, who had squandered two match points in a nerve-shredding fourth set tie-breaker and a third in the decider of the longest final in Wimbledon history, added a first All England Club title to his four French Opens.

He also shattered Federer’s dreams of an historic sixth successive Wimbledon trophy

“I never thought I could win but to do so is a dream,” said Nadal.

“I had match points but Roger is very tough. He’s still the number one, he’s still the best.”

Federer admitted he had been beaten by the better man on the day.

“I tried everything,” he said. “Rafa is a deserving champion — he just played fantastic.”

Federer had his opportunities but could only convert one of 13 break points while commiting 52 unforced errors.

Victory made the 22-year-old Nadal only the third man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season, and the first since Borg in 1980.

He was Spain’s first men’s champion since Manolo Santana in 1966.

The win ended Federer’s six-year, 65-match winning streak on grass.

At four hours and 48 minutes, it was the longest final in Wimbledon history beating the 4:16 it took Jimmy Connors to beat John McEnroe in 1982 and ended in murky Centre Court darkness at 2116 local time (2016GMT).

Due to constant rain interruptions, the final actually spanned seven hours.

“The greatest match ever played,” said US legend John McEnroe at the time.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

    %authornetworks%
%authordescription%
    %authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Saruni drafted as Migne names CHAN squad

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn EX-FIFA exec Warner ordered by judge to pay Sh8.1bnrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 38 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Federer v Nadal at Wimbledon — the three finalsrn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 33 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Koscielny refuses to travel for pre-season tourrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 4 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Roach eager for Pacquiao-Mayweather rematchrn

rn rn Boxingrn rn rn rn 4 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Hamilton aims to bounce back with record sixth home winrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 4 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Kenya set to welcome WSF Squash Ambassadorsrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 21 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Walcott leads Everton stars in Kenyarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Bwire stars as Sharks beat Everton in Nairobirn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Egypt eliminated by South Africa in AFCONrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Matasi one of the best-Ethiopia's Mebraturn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kenyan football legend Kadenge dies at 84rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn rn Manvir out to shine at Safari Rallyrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn rn Manvir takes Safari Rally Day 2 leadrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn rn Chager wins third career Safari Rally titlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Portuguese police interview Cristiano Ronaldo over 'Football Leaks'rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

EX-FIFA exec Warner ordered by judge to pay Sh8.1bn

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Federer v Nadal at Wimbledon — the three finals

rn rn rn Gamern rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Koscielny refuses to travel for pre-season tour

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Roach eager for Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch

rn rn rn Boxingrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Hamilton aims to bounce back with record sixth home win

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL EGYPT WIN 2019 AFCON AT HOME?

    ntt
  • YES
  • ntt
  • NO
  • ntt

View Results

ntnnLoading ... Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Kenya set to welcome WSF Squash Ambassadors

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

India’s World Cup exit ‘breaks a billion hearts’

rn rn rn Cricketrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Referee hits back at Messi, Argentina accusations

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Gor hit Ports, progress to Kagame quarters

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Starlets name 39 for 2020 Olympics qualifier

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 10th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn EX-FIFA exec Warner ordered by judge to pay Sh8.1bnrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Federer v Nadal at Wimbledon — the three finalsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Koscielny refuses to travel for pre-season tourrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn Capital Sportrn rn rn Capital Sportrn Saruni drafted as Migne names CHAN squadrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Roach eager for Pacquiao-Mayweather rematchrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tWalcott leads Everton stars in Kenyarn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 6th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tBwire stars as Sharks beat Everton in Nairobirn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEgypt eliminated by South Africa in AFCONrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tMatasi one of the best-Ethiopia's Mebraturn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 5th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKenyan football legend Kadenge dies at 84rn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tManvir out to shine at Safari Rallyrn

rn Motorsrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tManvir takes Safari Rally Day 2 leadrn

rn Motorsrn rn Saturday, 6th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChager wins third career Safari Rally titlern

rn Motorsrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tPortuguese police interview Cristiano Ronaldo over 'Football Leaks'rn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 6th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn EX-FIFA exec Warner ordered by judge to pay Sh8.1bnrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Federer v Nadal at Wimbledon — the three finalsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Koscielny refuses to travel for pre-season tourrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn Capital Sportrn rn rn Capital Sportrn Saruni drafted as Migne names CHAN squadrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Roach eager for Pacquiao-Mayweather rematchrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 11th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */