Up next
Tragic Details About James Caan
The year 2008 was a special one for Rafael Nadal. Fresh from winning his fourth consecutive French Open title, Nadal had made it to the finals at the Wimbledon Championships. However, he was due to face Roger Federer in the summit clash, a player that had beaten Nadal in the finals of Wimbledon in 2006 and 2007. Nadal was seeking revenge against his on-court rival this time around.
In a match lasting four hours and 48 minutes, the Spaniard defeated Federer in a thrilling five-set encounter 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7. The win handed Nadal his maiden Wimbledon title. Moreover, it was sweet revenge for him, having tough defeats against Federer on the previous two occasions.
Rafael Nadal describes his victory over Roger Federer
Talking about that match, Nadal, in his book, Rafa: My Story, said, “Roger won the toss. He chose to serve. I didn’t mind. I like my rival to start serving at the beginning of a match. If my head is strong, if his nerves are getting to him, I know I have a good chance of breaking him. I thrive on the pressure. I don’t buckle, I grow stronger on it. The closer to the precipice I am, the more elated I feel.”
Further, he added, “Of course I feel nerves, and of course the adrenaline and the blood are pumping so hard I can feel them from my temples to my legs. It’s an extreme state of physical alertness, but conquerable. I did conquer it. The adrenaline beat the nerves. My legs didn’t give way. They felt strong, ready to run all day. I was bristling. I was locked away in my solitary tennis world but I’d never felt more alive.”
Nadal’s heartbreaking Wimbledon exit this year
Earlier this month, the Spaniard was aiming to win his 23rd Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. He started the tournament on a positive note, breezing through the opening rounds. Further, he had a thrilling quarterfinal victory over Taylor Fritz in five sets.
Watch This Story: Martina Navratilova’s grandfather’s stunning reaction upon hearing her defect to the US
However, Nadal had to withdraw from the tournament before his semifinal match against Nick Kyrgios. The former World Number 1 suffered an abdominal injury during his quarterfinal win at the tournament. However, Nadal has intended to participate in the US Open next month.
The post ‘Never Felt More Alive’ – Rafael Nadal Narrates the Pumping Adrenaline Rush He Felt While Thumping Roger Federer at 2008 Wimbledon Championships appeared first on EssentiallySports.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Essentially Sports
