Classic match

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal served up an absolute treat yesterday in a sporting classic. Their five-set tussle in the Wimbledon men’s final will live long in the memory and brought casual sports fans together for one unforgettable tale.
The epic had absolutely everything and the sheer quality of the play was beyond even the lofty expectations going into the clash. Nadal held all the aces in the opening two sets but Federer showed his class by taking the match into five sets and making it an unrelenting drama. But the Spaniard had the edge and is deservedly now recognised as the unofficial best on the planet. The rankings might take a bit longer to confirm this, but he is the man to beat now after following up his demolition of Federer in Paris with a sensational win on grass.
The result heralds the start of a new era in tennis with Nadal the new top dog. Federer is only 26 and should not be written off. Far from it, he is one of the greatest players ever and will remain a threat wherever he plays. But the air of invincibility he carried to the court for the last five years is over and it will be a huge challenge for him to respond after his agony in the last two finals.
There is no doubt this heavyweight showdown is up there with the best matches in history. The fact tennis legends such as John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg have acclaimed it as the best ever just shows how highly it must rank. Quite simply this was pure sporting theatre at its finest.