Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Federer holds off Nadal to reach Wimbledon final

EVEN for the two players vying for the title of GOAT (Greatest of All Time), it was perhaps greedy to expect them to produce a blockbuster to compare with their previous duel at Wimbledon.

They are human after all.


No one was complaining though as Swiss great Roger Federer produced a vintage display to beat old adversary Rafael Nadal 7-6(3) 1-6 6-3 6-4 and reach his 31st Grand Slam final and 12th at the All England Club he has claimed as his own backyard.

Unlike 2008 final, widely regarded as the greatest ever at Wimbledon, when claycourt king Nadal snapped Federer's five-year reign in a five-set epic ending in near darkness and a blaze of flashbulbs, Friday's (12) match was less damaging to the fingernails of those rooting for each man.

The 40th chapter of their rivalry, the third-most prolific in the professional era, was compelling enough though.

There was barely a cigarette paper between the two gladiators in a high-quality opening set crackling with tension.

Then, at the climax to the match, Nadal, fighting as only he knows how threatened to ambush Federer's quest for a record-equalling ninth Wimbledon singles title by saving four match points before Federer took his place in Sunday's showpiece.

Federer, who will be 38 next month, is the oldest men's singles finalist since Ken Rosewall in 1974 and will now face old foe Novak Djokovic, the top seed and holder, seeking to avenge his losses to the Serb in the 2014 and 2015 finals.

The effervescent Swiss will need to reproduce the kind of all-out attacking tennis that allowed him to dominate Nadal, apart from a 36-minute second-set capitulation.

Federer struck 51 winners as the Spaniard suffered a second successive Wimbledon semi-final defeat, having fallen fractionally short to Djokovic in a classic a year ago.

"I'm exhausted. It was tough at the end," 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer, who beat Nadal for only the fourth time in their 14 clashes at majors, said after receiving a standing ovation from his adoring Centre Court fans.

"Rafa played some unbelievable shots to stay in the match. The match was played at a very high level. It was a joy to play today. I hope I can push (Djokovic) to the brink and hopefully beat him but it's going to be very difficult.

"I'm very excited to say the least."

The 33-year-old Nadal was understandably deflated. Having won his 12th French Open title last month, he had looked fired-up to win his third Wimbledon crown and first since 2010.

"I had my chances but he played a little bit better than me," said the third seed. "He played aggressively, he played a great match, well done. I think at the end of the match I started to play much better, no? But was late."

Half an hour after Djokovic had battled past Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, fans flocked back to their Centre Court seats and the giant screen on 'Henman Hill' to witness a duel that had been on the cards from the moment number two seed Federer and Nadal were placed in the same half of the draw.

Only five points went against serve in the first seven games as the two gladiators settled into their groove.

It took a tiebreak to separate them with Federer taking five points in a row to grab the first set -- prompting Nadal to disappear for a bathroom break.

The second was a complete contrast as Federer lost focus and Nadal, who has won 18 majors, levelled the match in 36 minutes.

Federer's fans need not have fretted though. He won a close-quarters exchange to break for 3-1 in the third, then battled back from 15-40 in the next game, winning a ferocious 25-stroke rally on the way to consolidating his advantage.

Two more service holds put him within a set of victory and the Swiss turned the screw in the fourth set as Nadal faded.

The Spanish warrior was never going to slink away without a fight though. He clung on at 3-5, saving two match points, then had a break point as Federer served for the match.

The ice-cool Swiss fended that off, then unloaded everything in his arsenal at Nadal in two more match points, only to have victory snatched away by two sublime winners off the indefatigable Spaniard's racket.

A fifth match point arrived and this time Nadal swung a backhand over the baseline and Federer pumped his arms above his head to celebrate, with David Beckham echoing most people's thoughts as he mouthed "unbelievable" in the Royal Box.

(Reuters)

More For You

India Pak

India began their campaign with a nine-wicket win against the UAE, bowling them out for 57 in 13.1 overs before chasing the target in just 27 balls on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)

India and Pakistan set for Asia Cup clash after May conflict

AN INDIA-PAKISTAN cricket match always draws attention, and emotions are set to run high when the two teams meet on Sunday in the Asia Cup. The contest comes months after the neighbours engaged in a four-day military conflict in May.

Bilateral cricket ties between the two countries have been suspended for years, and the arch-rivals now face each other only in multi-nation tournaments. The upcoming Group A fixture will be their first meeting since the May clashes, which nearly escalated into a full-scale war.

Keep ReadingShow less
Litton-Hridoy-Getty

Bangladesh lost two early wickets in their chase, but Litton built a 95-run stand with Towhid Hridoy, who remained unbeaten on 35, to take the team to 144-3 in 17.4 overs. (Photo: c

Getty Images

Litton, Towhid steer Bangladesh past Hong Kong in Asia Cup

CAPTAIN Litton Das scored 59 to guide Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win over Hong Kong in their opening Asia Cup match on Thursday.

Invited to bat first in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong made 143-7 with Nizakat Khan top-scoring on 42.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep picked three wickets in one over with his left-arm wrist spin as India bowled out UAE for 57 in 13.1 overs after choosing to field.

Getty Images

Kuldeep takes four as India thrash UAE in Asia Cup opener

KULDEEP YADAV took 4-7 as India began their Asia Cup campaign with a nine-wicket win over hosts United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Wednesday.

Kuldeep picked three wickets in one over with his left-arm wrist spin as India bowled out UAE for 57 in 13.1 overs after choosing to field.

Keep ReadingShow less
Djed Spence

England manager Thomas Tuchel gives instructions to England's Djed Spence before he comes on as a substitute.

Reuters

Djed Spence becomes first Muslim to play for England

TOTTENHAM Hotspur defender Djed Spence made his England debut on Tuesday, becoming the first Muslim to play for the national team.

The 25-year-old came on as a substitute in the 69th minute, replacing Chelsea’s Reece James during England’s 5-0 World Cup qualifying win in Belgrade.

Keep ReadingShow less
India-Asia-Cup-Getty

Indian team during a practice session at the International Cricket Council Academy (ICCA) in Dubai on September 8, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Asia Cup 2025: India’s depth makes them favourites

Highlights:

  • India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, enter as clear favourites with strong squad depth.
  • Pakistan drop Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan, signalling a new phase.
  • Afghanistan’s spin trio seen as potential challengers to India’s dominance.
  • Associate nations like UAE, Oman and Hong Kong aim to showcase progress.

INDIA, led by Suryakumar Yadav, go into the Asia Cup T20 starting Tuesday as the clear favourites, with a significant gap in strength between them and the seven other teams, including Pakistan.

Keep ReadingShow less