Wimbledon 2019: 3 best Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal Wimbledon matches

The twilight era of arch-rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was announced quite a few years back with tennis pundits scripting their unseemingly premature career obituaries. The year is 2019 this time.

Half the year has already traversed and three Grand Slams have already been played. Every Grand Slam brought with it the constant names of the Big Three- Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer taking turns with each other to play in the finals.

If it was Novak Djokovic versus Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open finals, it was Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal in the French Open. Staying true to this kind of a permutation combination and knowing that Djokovic had won the Australian and Nadal his 12th French Open, it should be Roger Federer bagging a 9th Wimbledon title after a match-up against Djokovic.

All of this seems too good to be true and the symbolism contained in the history at stake is the stuff that enthralls fans worldwide. The last two years in tennis have followed this pattern and reinvoked the magic in the Big Three who all made a brilliant comeback and inspired the non-believers to believe in the impossible.

What would have been deemed as impossible in the last few years have tended to become a Grand Slam ritual now with Roger Federer setting up a date for his 40th meet with arch-nemesis Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of Wimbledon.

Only five weeks have lapsed since the duo last met at the French Open semifinals on a terribly windy day where Nadal roared past Roger. The rivalry between them has been rekindled and how over these years.

Countless fans waited for a Federer-Nadal semifinal at the Wimbledon this year and like the poet beginning to write an aubade, Federer and Nadal keep meeting for 'encore' performances, almost.

With the two of them on court, it's hardly a match and more of a spectacle where two opposing forces collide- the battle rages between thesis and anti-thesis, the conflict surges between the wild and the orderly.

Roger Federer has been able to tame Rafael Nadal with an improved backhand in recent years but the glaring 24-15 head to head favouring the Spaniard isn't a favorite statistic of Roger to look at. On the other hand, Roger's 2-1 edge over Nadal on grass courts remain. The Wimbledon courts had played host to the spectacle for three consecutive years.

Roger Federer represented the Old Guard and defeated Nadal in the 2006 and 2007 Wimbledon finals but the baton was finally passed to Nadal after the historic if not the greatest match in tennis history was played- the classic 2008 Wimbledon finals which crowned Rafa as the New Guard.

With 11 years rolling by since then, much has changed. Centre Court and Court Number 1 has installed retractable roofs and lights and both Federer and Nadal have collected 38 Grand Slams in between them and still stand strong.

Let's refresh our memories of the three times they met at the All England Club for mouth-watering finals as we prepare for another epic showdown as part of this Wimbledon 2019.

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#3 The Wimbledon Championships 2006 (Finals)

Wimbledon Championships 2006 - Day Thirteen

The first time that the two were meeting on grass was the finals of 2006. Roger Federer was vying to defend his Wimbledon crown and bag the title for the 4th consecutive time. Coming into the tournament, Federer did not consider the then World Number 2 and clay court specialist to be a potential finalist.

However, it was the Spaniard's 12th match at Wimbledon, compared with Federer's 36th, but there were moments galore that gleamed for Nadal and caught Federer in a spot. Federer found his serve and his slice backhands in time to save the day and ward off an early threat from Rafa but both the players knew this was not going to be a one-time affair.

Federer did not win the 2006 finals like a cakewalk really because Nadal dragged it over four sets before the Swiss master wrapped it up 6-0, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3. It was Federer who obviously channelized on his experience to tame Nadal that day and claimed his fourth Wimbledon title.

Watch this video to re-visit the best points from the 2006 match.

#2 The Wimbledon Championships 2007 (Finals)

The Championships - Wimbledon 2007 Day Thirteen

The 2007 finals is also worthy of being termed as a classic. It had all the traits to predict that Rafael Nadal would soon topple Roger from his exclusive throne to claim the Wimbledon title.

After a four-set affair in the 2006 finals, Nadal put Roger through three hours and 45 minutes of intense jaw-dropping tennis over five sets. Roger Federer was yet again on a quest for a 5th Wimbledon title, equalling Bjorn Borg's record.

Federer did manage to win and slumped to the grass in relief after smashing on the second match point. The job was getting difficult with every year but Federer always managed to find his way on the turf. The match scoreline wore a dramatic 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 look. The victory brought Federer to tears as Nadal looked on.

Clearly, the seeds of a seething rivalry was beginning to spread its branches. Take a look at this video to have a look the classic encounter.

#1 The Wimbledon Championships 2008 (Finals)

The Championships - Wimbledon 2008 Day Thirteen

If there is a history book for tennis, then this match will definitely be featured in it. The 2008 Wimbledon finals is arguably the best match during the Open Era that showcased two contrasting players playing a 'different' style of tennis altogether. The battle started since 2006 but it was time to make way for the new.

Roger's grace and piroutteing style was being threatened by the loud grunts and the aggressive winners of Nadal. This one match has been a milestone, it has inspired the book 'Strokes of Genius' by John Wertheim and a documentary of the same name.

Nadal, who was heartbroken after his 2007 loss was seeking vengeance in the 2008 final. The dramatic match was hindered by rain delays and gloomy weather conditions, adding a symbolic effect to the change of guards about to take place. Nadal bagged the first two sets in quick succession before rain paused play.

When Federer came back on court, he unleashed a powerful game and won two incredibly tense tiebreaks and took the match to a fifth set. Roger saved two Championship points en route but the fifth set was going to be even more hard on the nerves.

There was a second rain delay of 30 minutes soon after. With neither of the two budging and holding onto their serve, the final set dragged on till Nadal broke Federer in the 15th game. The memorable scoreline from that day reads 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(8–10), 9–7 when Rafael Nadal finally lifted the Wimbledon crown and made history.

A look at this video would be enough to certify why it's termed as the best match in tennis history!

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