WIMBLEDON, England — Unlike Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s duel into the twilight on Centre Court in 2008, their match Friday was not a contender for the greatest match of all time.
But it had its moments, both transcendent and surprising, and it also had a different finish.
Nadal won the 2008 final at Wimbledon, prevailing by 9-7 in the fifth set in something much closer to darkness than daylight.
Federer won the 2019 rematch in the semifinals, 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, finishing it off on his fifth match point by playing as boldly as he had from start to finish.