First time since 1952, the same players have reached back-to-back finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
First time since 1952, the same players have reached back-to-back finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
LONDON: It’s Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal in another Grand Slam final. Federer, hitting breathtaking winners from all parts of the court, overwhelmed Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman 6-2 6-0 6-2 in 77 minutes on Saturday to close in on his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title.
With the loss of only four games by Federer, it was the most one sided men’s semifinal at Wimbledon since the tournament adopted its current format in 1922.
Nadal, the two-time French Open champion, continued his stunning run on grass by beating Marcos Baghdatis, 6-1 7-5 6-3 to reach his first Wimbledon final.
Nadal has beaten Federer in four finals this year, including at the French Open last month, and has a 6-1 career edge. Federer is 54-0 against all other players this year.
The 20-year old Nadal is bidding to become the first Spaniard to win the title here since Manolo Santana in 1966, and the first player to win the French and Wimbledon in the same year since Bjorn Borg in 1980. It’s the first time since 1952 that the same players have reached back-to-back finals at the French Open and Wimbledon. Federer performed one of the most clinical demolition jobs ever witnessed on centre court as he crushed Swedish veteran Bjorkman.
“It was difficult because I was such a big favourite and you always hope you are going to live up to expectations, and play to my own expectations,” Federer said.
“He is a veteran and he obviously knows his way about the court, so I had to be careful. I played a secure game at the beginning and then I really got on a roll and played some excellent tennis. I was in every service game and I think that was difficult for him.”
Bjorkman had defied the odds with a run that made him the oldest Wimbledon semifinalist since Jimmy Connors back in 1987. The Swiss world no.1 has got his sights on becoming the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to win Wimbledon without dropping a set.
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