Roger Federer joined Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg as a four-in-a-row Wimbledon winner on Sunday and admitted he thought it would have been mission impossible.
LONDON: Roger Federer joined Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg as a four-in-a-row Wimbledon winner on Sunday and admitted he thought it would have been mission impossible.
The 24-year-old Swiss finally got the better of nemesis Rafael Nadal winning his eighth career Grand Slam crown with a 6-0, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 triumph to register only his second win in eight meetings with the Spanish world number two.
"It's fantastic," said Federer after notching up his 48th win in a row on grass, a run stretching back four years to his last defeat here in the first round in 2002.
"I never thought it was possible to win four. It's an incredible feeling because I doubted myself at the start of the tournament because of the draw and all the expectations.
"Rafael had a great tournament. I didn't think he would make the final. I thought maybe Lleyton Hewitt or Andy Roddick would be the competition. It was a tremendous effort.
"I was nervous at the end, but what a match. It was high-class tennis."
The victory also lifted a huge burden off his shoulders. His four defeats in 2006 had all come at the hands of the double French Open champion.
Nadal, bidding to become the first Spaniard since Manuel Santana in 1966 to win the men's title, said he was determined to return and take the title one day.
"Roger is unbelievable," said the second seed.
"This is a difficult surface for me but I played my best tournament of the year. I hope to come back one day and play the final, but hopefully not against someone like Roger."
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