Set 4: Federer vs Nadal : 7-6(10-8) Roger Federer

In Set 4, both players surpassed all expectations and exhibited highest quality of tennis during the set. Nadal rallied through the set and led by 5-2 with a pair of serves coming up. Everyone thought the end is near. But then, Nadal double-faulted. and sent a backhand into the net to make it 5–4. Federer won both service points to set up set point for him—which Nadal eventually saved and the set went into the tie-breaker.

A Federer forehand that went long, set up championship point for Nadal, which Federer saved with a fine serve. But tied at seven, Nadal drilled an unbelievable forehand winner down the line to set up another championship point, on his serve. However, Federer, on the ropes again, delivered one of the all-time gutsy shots.

After a soft return of Nadal’s serve, the Spaniard charged the net and hit a forehand into the corner that Federer, who was beyond the sideline at this point,jumped all over with a backhand pass that didn’t cross back over the sideline plane until just before it landed in the corner for an unbelievable winner that brought the crowd to its feet. In the space of two points, the players played two of the best shots of the tournament!

At 8–8 a forehand winner by Federer set up set point again and a long return by Nadal earned Federer the hard-fought set. The epic tie-breaker brought back memories of another epic 4th set tie-breaker between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe during Wimbledon 1980 final that ended on a similar dramatic note and something that fans consider as one of the greatest of all time. NADAL  2 FEDERER 2