WIMBLEDON, England – After waiting 11 years to get another shot against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, Roger Federer was so, so close to the finish line.
One match point slipped away when Federer missed a forehand return. A second came and went on a backhand return. Later, serving for a spot in a record-extending 12th men’s singles final at the All England Club, Federer shanked a leaping overhead off the top edge of his racket frame, giving Nadal a break point. After Nadal wasted that chance, Federer earned two more match points – and failed to convert those, too.
Federer knew it wouldn’t be easy against his great rival. It almost never is, no matter where they play. Eventually, Nadal pushed a backhand long on match point No. 5, bringing an anticlimactic close to an otherwise classic contest and allowing Federer to win their semifinal 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday.
“I’m exhausted. It was tough at the end,” Federer said. “I’m just very relieved it’s all over.”
The 37-year-old Swiss star closed in on a ninth Wimbledon title and 21st Grand Slam trophy in all. To get to those numbers in Sunday’s final, Federer must get past Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 seed who is trying to repeat as champion and win the grass-court major for the fifth time.