Swiss justified the All England Club’s decision to make him No 2 seed as he came back from a limp second set against his old friend and rival to avenge 2008 final defeat
Two old friends played some tennis for a shade over three hours on a sunny Friday evening and everything felt right with the world. When it was over the crowd gave both their heroes standing ovations and prayed for an encore. Everyone agreed: this simply cannot be the last time Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet at Wimbledon.
Did it have to end? Unfortunately it did and when it was over the majestic Federer had reached the second Sunday for the 12th time, made up for his defeat to Nadal in their 2008 final and demonstrated precisely why the All England Club chose to make him the second seed at the expense of his oldest adversary.
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