 Nadal wins second Wimbledon title
2010-07-04 15:34:00
Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal defeated Czech Tomas Berdych in straight sets Sunday on Centre Court to win his second Wimbledon title. Nadal took the 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win in a little more than two hours, breaking Berdych's serve four times without getting broken. Nadal also won in 2008, when he beat Roger Federer in a five-set classic, but missed last year's event because of knee injuries.
It is Nadal's eighth career Grand Slam title and second this year, following his victory at the French Open. The Spaniard has appeared in the final in each of his last four trips to Wimbledon and won his last 14 matches at the All England Club.
"Every one is really special, no? Is difficult to say this one is more special. The other one was more dramatic, the way to win. So first title is always very, very special," Nadal said. "And for sure after not easy year for me. Be back on my favorite tournament of the world here and play well another time, and not only play well, so finish with the trophy is amazing for me."
The 12th-seeded Berdych, meanwhile, was playing in his first Grand Slam final after an impressive run through the draw. He defeated defending champion and six-time Wimbledon winner Federer in the quarterfinals before straight-setting Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
The 6-foot-5 Berdych used a powerful serve and groundstrokes to advance to the championship match, and Sunday flashed that skill again, firing 13 aces. But he couldn't solve Nadal's service game, converting none of his four break point opportunities.
"It's tough to say that I don't have any strategy," Berdych said. "But, of course, you know, I don't know if you can say like weaker parts of him - it's not many of them - and, you know, you just try play your best tennis."
The match came down to the breaks Nadal got in key spots. With the first set knotted at 3-3 and Berdych serving, Nadal had the Czech down, 0-40, and later hit a big return to break Berdych. After holding serve, Nadal broke Berdych to take the set victory.
The Spaniard had a shaky, error-filled service game to open the second set, but Berdych could not convert on a break point chance. Each continued to hold serve, and Nadal won a service game to go ahead 6-5. Nadal again put Berdych in a 0-40 hole, and the Czech's error down the right line gave the Spaniard a two-sets-to-none lead.
The pattern continued in the third set, when Nadal held a 5-4 edge and pushed Berdych to deuce on the Czech's ensuing service. The high-flying Nadal gained the advantage for championship point and drew Berdych to the net before firing a cross-court forehand past his opponent to clinch the victory. Nadal raised his arms as he fell backward on the grass in celebration, as he clinched his second career French Open-Wimbledon double (also 2008).
Nadal improved to 8-3 lifetime against Berdych, who was the first Czech player to reach the Wimbledon final since the great Ivan Lendl in 1987. Nadal has seven straight in the series, a streak that includes a quarterfinal Wimbledon match in 2007.
|
|
|
