Wimbledon Final

Many words in many columns today have been spent lauding yesterday's Wimbledon final between Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer. I'm not sure adding this post will add anything to the greater ether, but that being said...

What a great match. I'm no tennis buff nor am I old enough to have seen the great Borg-McEnroe matches of the late 70s and early 80s. But this had to be tennis at its finest. The gracefulness and intensity of Roger Federer and the pure athleticism and artistry of Nadal were the perfect foils, as they have been in previous finals in this very tournament. But what pushed this over the top was the fact that the fifth set was first of all needed and second, went all the way to 9-7. While I was unabashedly supporting Federer in the match, I'm glad that it ended when it did. The worst thing that could have happened to that match would've been to keep going to 9-9 or further in the fifth and have it postponed until today due to darkness. There would've been much lost having the guys sleep on it and finish it today.

So, here's to tennis, for giving us a real reason to watch the men's side. It's not often that tennis would be the first sport to mind, even this time of year.

File This in 'Posts I Should Never Have Made'

Remember that post yesterday about Andy Murray? Yeah. He got CRUSHED today by Rafael Nadal. Nadal heads into the semifinals for the third year in a row in his quest to knock off Roger Federer. Federer also won today in convincing fashion, after a rain delay only postponed the inevitable.

Andy Murray - UK's Latest Last Great Hope

Andy Murray's comeback victory at Wimbledon over 8th ranked Richard Gasquet of France (Murray is ranked 14th) was as inspirational and exciting a victory as British tennis fans have seen in years. Murray, who is of course Scottish, rallied from two sets down to defeat the Frenchman in a match lasting nearly four hours. The victory propels Murray into the Quarterfinals where he will face two-time defending runner-up Rafael Nadal.

The last British player to reach the Semifinals at Wimbledon was Tim Henman, England's former last great tennis hope. Henman last made the Wimbledon semis in 2002 (and also reached the final four in 2001, 1999 and 1998). While Murray is not English as Henman is, he is a citizen of the UK. Murray makes it very clear that he is Scottish, but he still represents a homegrown talent that would thrill the fans at Centre Court were he to advance further in the tournament. Nadal is a formidable opponent, though perhaps on grass and with the 'home' crowd behind him, Murray can keep his momentum going.

No Englishman (or Brit, for that matter) has won England's crown jewel since Fred Perry's three consecutive titles in 1934, 1935 and 1936. The run of over seventy years (though slightly fewer tournaments, as none were held during the war years of 1940-1945) weighs heavily on the British fans who long for a champion of native birth to celebrate.

Will this be the year? Doubtful, as Nadal has been increasingly stronger on grass over the past three years. But with record crowds cheering him on, perhaps Andy Murray can summon some other-worldly abilities for what would be a match for the ages for the British tennis fans.