The fourth-set tiebreak was a match unto itself.
Some Federer fans may mourn this match as a most painful championship defeat, while others may view it as one of Roger's peak performances nonetheless.
Whichever way your reaction tends, this epic, four-hour and 48-minute final makes our list because the two rivals explored all areas of the court in creating winners off apparent winners, and producing periods of transcendent tennis to collaborate on a masterpiece. The beauty of the Federer-Nadal rivalry is on full display here, as they take turns driving eye-popping offensive strikes from seemingly defensive positions.
"I think I have just witnessed the greatest match I have ever seen," said NBC analyst John McEnroe immediately after the match. "The drama, the quality and the way it ended when it seemed as though no more tennis could possibly be played was remarkable, to put it mildly."
This pulsating drama featured spectacular shotmaking, rain delays, a rousing rally from Federer—who fought off two championship points in the fourth-set tiebreaker (see above) and was two points of victory at 5-4 in the fifth—and the resilience of Nadal, who lost a two-set lead but refused to lose faith and relinquish the match. In doing so, Nadal became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in succession.
The Nadal topspin forehand to Federer's one-handed backhand had been a key pattern in the Spaniard scoring his third consecutive French Open final victory over Federer weeks earlier. Holding championship point at 8-7 in the fourth-set tiebreaker, Nadal "did exactly what I had to do" in cracking his forehand into Federer's backhand corner in a shot that seemed certain to seal the win. Federer had other ideas, blistering a backhand pass down the line to save championship point.
"It was one of the very, very few moments in my entire career in which I thought I'd won before I'd won," Nadal said later.
A 30-minute rain delay at 2-2, deuce in the final set ratcheted up percolating suspense to a boil when play resumed. Regrouping as dim light faded to gray, Nadal, who saved 12 of 13 break points he faced, broke for 8-7. After three championship points had went, he won his fourth, becoming the first Spanish man since Manolo Santana in 1966 to win Wimbledon. It also snapped Federer's 65-match grass-court win streak, and was his first loss in 11 career grass-court finals.
"Probably my hardest loss, by far," Federer said immediately afterward. "I mean, it's not much harder than this right now."
A match that began at 2:36 p.m ended at 9:16 p.m. with darkness descending on court. The score sheet showed just how scant the margin of victory was: The pair played 413 points, with Nadal winning 209 points to Federer's 204.
"Roger and Rafa turned this into most likely the most compelling men's match we'll ever see," Hall of Famer Jim Courier said. "You had the best two players in the world going toe-to-toe for nearly five hours of play for the biggest prize of them all, with records and other implications on the line. If you're like me, this match left you breathless as a spectator and your heart beating faster than theirs in all likelihood at that moment. It was a thrill ride."
Federer's Most Memorable Wimbledon Moments
—No. 5: Toppling the top seed, and his idol (2001, vs. Sampras)
—No. 4: First Championships, first major (2003, vs. Philippoussis)
—No. 3: Bending but not breaking, for five straight (2007, vs. Nadal)
—No. 2: The greatest loss of all time (2008, vs. Nadal)
—No. 1: The king's coronation (2009, vs. Roddick)
