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Great rivalries produce great tennis, and it doesn’t get much better than the Wimbledon 2007 Men’s Singles Final.
“I told Rafa at the net that he deserved it as well,” said Federer after his 7-6 4-6 7-6 2-6 6-2 victory, and he did.

Frankly, the Spaniard looked the better player for much of the match. He was sharper, more energetic, stronger. Having challenged so strongly throughout the match he was most threatening in the final set, holding two break points to lead 2-1 and two more to lead 3-2.

But great champions respond so well to that kind of situation, and Federer not only held off those break points but played a stunning game to earn a break of his own to lead 4-2. That was surely going to be enough to give him his fifth straight Wimbledon title, but he underlined his advantage by hitting three aces in the next game to hold for 5-2. Bjorn Borg, the last man to win five consecutive titles, looked on with his usual ice-cool demeanour as Federer went on to close out his famous victory in what was arguably his only five-set final at the All England Club.

By the time the trophy was presented and the players left the court, Federer’s name was already displayed, in gold, on a board of champions.

“It was a tough moment to be in,” said Federer of the break points he faced in the fifth. “I was nervous. I was thinking I'm probably maybe going to get out of the first one. When the second one comes around, you're like, Oh, my God, let's do it all over again. I don't know if I can do it. You need a good serve on grass. From the baseline, he kind of had the upper hand towards the end of the match. But, no, I served well and played smart, took the right decisions. So that's what it comes down to. I was so happy when I came out of it because I knew that now he probably missed his chance. If I'll get one, I'll probably make it. That's exactly what happened. “He's playing phenomenal tennis. He's definitely improved yet again I think. He had more of a game plan this year than he had last year. I think last year he came out, nothing to lose, kind of hit hard but didn't know why. This year around, he's changed his game a little bit. Plays maybe a bit more aggressive, knows the game of grass much better. It was a tough match and I have the highest respect for him.” Nadal was obviously disappointed, but took comfort in having played so well. “Well, I play great tournament, no? I play very good level, playing against one of the best of the history in this surface, having two chances for a win,” he said, referring to his break point opportunities in the fifth set. “I'm playing at a similar level. I can say nothing bad about my tournament. Well, today was a little bit disappointing because I have good chances. But tomorrow I will be happy about my tournament and about my game. “I wasn't feel I play worse than him from the baseline, no? Maybe if we have to find any difference, maybe the difference is the serve. He serve better than me, and that's important in every surface, but in this surface more, no? So, well, just congratulate him. Good win for him.”

Perhaps it was only fitting, after Marion Bartoli had reached the women’s final and Richard Gasquet had reached the men’s semis, that Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra should lift the Men’s Doubles trophy. It was the first time a French pair had reached the Wimbledon final in the Open Era, and they are the first French champions since 1933, when the legendary Jean Borotra teamed with Jacques Brugnon. They did it by beating defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-4, but their march to the final had not been easy as they had to save a match point against Amer Delic and Bobby Reynolds in the second round in a match they claimed 14-12 in the fifth.

The Ladies Doubles was claimed by Cara Black and Liezel Huber, who defeated Katarina Srebotnik and Ai Sugiyama 3-6 6-3 6-2. Sugiyama was competing in her 15th Wimbledon and playing in her fifth doubles final, and bidding for her second title after winning in 2003 with Kim Clijsters. Black and Huber also won the 2005 title together, with Black earning her third title after also winning in 2004 with Rennae Stubbs.

Who would have expected Jamie Murray to win a Wimbledon title before brother Andy, but that is what happened when he teamed with Jelena Jankovic to beat Jonas Bjorkman and Alicia Molik 6-4 3-6 6-1. The victory denied Molik a second Grand Slam title this year after she claimed the Ladies Doubles at Roland Garros. After saying there was no link between them other than as tennis partners, Murray has apparently invited Jelena to Scotland for Christmas!

The United States had two players in the Junior finals for the first time since 1981, when Zina Garrison beat Rene Uys and Matt Anger defeated Pat Cash. Donald Young added Wimbledon to his 2005 Australian Open title, beating Vladimir Ignatik 7-5 6-1. It appeared as if Madison Brengle would make it a double American triumph when she led Urszula Radwanska by a set and 3-0. But she failed to win another game, losing 2-6 6-3 6-0, later blaming nerves in the second set and a pulled stomach muscle in the third. Urszula’s sister, Agnieszka, won the title in 2005.

A dismal Wimbledon during which constant showers tested everyone’s patience to the limit finally, thankfully, ended on a high note, with some tremendous tennis played in the final three days. And it even finished on time.