Wimbledon, On This Day: Federer and Nadal meet for the final time

The Hindu

3 days ago

There's something poignant about not knowing you're watching something for the last time. When fans sat down to witness Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal face off in the 2019 Wimbledon men's singles semifinals, few would have guessed it was their final duel on the grass of SW19.
But what they delivered was a match worthy of the moment — brimming with drama, skill, and the signature quality that defined their rivalry.
Both had reached the semifinals in typically commanding fashion. Second-seeded Federer dropped just two sets en route, brushing past Matteo Berrettini in the fourth round and then ousting Kei Nishikori. Nadal, seeded third, tackled a trickier draw, overcoming Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and dropping only a single set — to Kyrgios.
And so, all eyes turned to the semifinal: the 40th meeting between Federer and Nadal. Remarkably, 2019 marked their only Wimbledon clash outside of a final. Nadal had the better record in Grand Slam semifinals, having won all four of their previous encounters at that stage. Federer, however, held the edge at Wimbledon, with two wins to Nadal's one — the lone loss being the unforgettable 2008 final.
As ever, there was little to separate them. The opening set, defined by assured serving, headed to a tiebreak. Down 2–3, Federer rattled off five straight points to clinch the set. Nadal, unfazed, stormed back to take the second 6–1, leveling the match.
Federer, who struggled with his serve in that set, regrouped quickly. A decisive early break in the third allowed him to take it 6–3. The fourth set saw Nadal save four match points, but Federer eventually closed it out 6–4 — securing a place in the final and, unknowingly, victory in their last ever Wimbledon encounter.
What followed was a final for the ages. As England triumphed in the ICC Cricket World Cup and Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix, Federer and Novak Djokovic contested the longest singles final in Wimbledon history — a near five-hour epic that Djokovic won 7–6(5), 1–6, 7–6(4), 4–6, 13–12(3).
Neither Federer nor Nadal would return to the Wimbledon semifinals. Federer's final appearance came in 2021, ending with a quarterfinal loss. Nadal reached the semis in 2022 but withdrew injured before taking the court.
Their 2019 semifinal, though, remains a fitting coda — a final flourish of brilliance from two men who helped define an era on the sport's most storied stage.