Don't Tug on Roger's Cape

So Federer/Nadal VIII wasn't exactly a repeat of their remarkable five-set final in Rome, but there was STILL a great deal on display that was thoroughly enjoyable.

We got one set of brilliance (6-0!! It was like Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks.) from Roger Federer, followed by a "great escape" by the world #1 when Rafael Nadal had a rare lapse and missed a huge opportunity when serving for the 2nd set at 5-4. A few double-faults there, then a couple loose points in the tie-break and King Roger was up two sets to love.

But it didn't end there, as Nadal refused to fold, grabbing the 3rd set in another tie-break (making one wonder what might have been had he been able to win the 2nd). Then, in the final Act of this play, Federer proved to be as unwilling to give up his Wimbledon throne in the 4th set as Nadal was not quite ready to take it from him... not yet, anyway. Federer is SW19 champion for a fourth straight year, but we saw enough at this tournament to think that Nadal could be ready to win this thing as early as next year.

Ah, now the U.S. Open is on the horizon, with Federer having re-established himself as the best in the world, as a player of his stature simply HAD to do today. Thing is, what happened at Centre Court on Day 13 will only give Nadal something more to inspire him to reach for. Remember, when he lost that two-set lead against Federer in Miami last year, all he followed it up with were five straight wins over him and a powerful two weeks at the All-England Club.

What will Nadal do with the memory of this near-miss? How will Federer react to finally getting the 20-year old out of his psyche, if only for one match? I know I can't wait to find out. Unlike "rivalries" such as the perpetually disappointing Venus vs. Serena, Federer/Nadal never lets us down. Even if the match ends in straight sets, the result immediately sets the conditions for the next match-up, then the one after that, and so on and so on and so on.

Federer was just kidding when he mentioned to Sue Barker that Bjorn Borg retired at age 25... the same age he'll turn in August. He's enjoying the challenge that Nadal has presented him with -- the opportunity to be the "best player who ever lived," but STILL having to strive to become even "more perfect" every year in order to maintain his lofty position (if only Steffi Graf had had such a long-term challenge). For a man who truly DOES want to be the best who ever lived, that's about as good as a career can get.

We can get REAL used to seeing this series play out for the rest of this decade... that IS as good as it gets.

==============================

**FEDERER vs. NADAL**
[Nadal leads 6-2]
04 Miami 3rd - Nadal 6-3/6-3
05 Miami F - Federer 2-6/6-7/7-6/6-3/6-1
05 RG SF - Nadal 6-3/4-6/6-4/6-3
06 Dubai F - Nadal 2-6/6-4/6-4
06 Monte Carlo F - Nadal 6-2/6-7/6-3/7-6
06 Rome F - Nadal 6-7/7-6/6-4/2-6/7-6
06 RG F - Nadal 1-6/6-1/6-4/7-6
06 Wimbledon F - Federer 6-0/7-6/6-7/6-3

**MOST WIMBLEDON TITLES**
7...Pete Sampras
7...William Renshaw
5...Bjorn Borg
5...Lawrence Doherty
4...ROGER FEDERER
4...Rod Laver
4...Tony Wilding
4...Reggie Doherty

**MOST CONSECUTIVE WIMBLEDON TITLES**
6...William Renshaw, 1881-86
5...Bjorn Borg, 1976-80
5...Lawrence Doherty, 1902-06
4...Pete Sampras, 1997-00
4...ROGER FEDERER, 2003-CURRENT
4...Tony Wilding, 1910-13
4...Reggie Doherty, 1897-00

**MOST SLAM TITLES - CAREER**
14...Pete Sampras
12...Roy Emerson
11...Bjorn Borg
11...Rod Laver
10...Bill Tilden
8....ROGER FEDERER
8....Andre Agassi
8....Jimmy Connors
8....Ivan Lendl
8....Fred Perry
8....Ken Rosewall

**MEN'S SLAM WINNERS - 2004-06**
2004
A: Roger Federer
R: Gaston Gaudio
W: Roger Federer
U: Roger Federer
2005
A: Marat Safin
R: Rafael Nadal
W: Roger Federer
U: Roger Federer
2006
A: Roger Federer
R: Rafael Nadal
W: Roger Federer

**MOST SLAM FINALS - ACTIVE**
15...Andre Agassi (8-7)
9....ROGER FEDERER (8-1)
4....Lleyton Hewitt (2-2)
4....Marat Safin (2-2)

**GRASS COURT WINNING STREAKS**
48...ROGER FEDERER, 2003-CURRENT
41...Bjorn Borg, 1976-81
23...John McEnroe, 1980-82
23...Pete Sampras, 1994-96
23...Pete Sampras, 1998-00

**MOST WEEKS AT #1**
286...Pete Sampras
270...Ivan Lendl
268...Jimmy Connors
170...John McEnroe
127...ROGER FEDERER (CURRENT)
109...Bjorn Borg
101...Andre Agassi

**MEN'S DOUBLES CAREER SLAM**
[Open Era]
Jacco Eltingh & Paul Haarhuis
Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde
Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan

=============================

COMING UP: ATP Grass Court Awards, 2Q Backspin Quiz (Federer/Nadal)

Read more!