Nadal leads 2-1 after Federer wins set

Enlarge Photo Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their finals... Slideshow: Day in Pictures: 6th July 2008

Sun, Jul 6 11:52 PM

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Defending champion Roger Federer was hanging on grimly in the Wimbledon final on Sunday when he snatched the third set on a tiebreak to stay in touch after Rafael Nadal had built a two-set lead.

Federer returned from an 81-minute rain break leading 5-4 in the third set after Spaniard Nadal had taken the first two sets 6-4 6-4.

The Swiss held his nerve to win the tiebreak 7-5 with an ace after Nadal had saved two set points.

Federer's hopes of winning a record sixth Wimbledon title were hanging by a thread after an inspired Nadal seized his chances to open a two-set lead.

After a 30-minute rain delay the final began with Nadal dominating the early exchanges.

The second seed, bidding to become the first Spaniard to win the title since Manuel Santana in 1966, broke Federer's second service game when the Swiss completely missed a backhand in the difficult, windy conditions.

It was only the third time all tournament that the 26-year-old had dropped a service game.

Federer, unbeaten on grass for six years, a run spanning 65 matches, had an immediate chance to break back but wafted a forehand over the baseline.

Nadal peppered Federer's backhand throughout the set to keep the Swiss world number one on the back foot but he did not have things all his own way.

Federer had another two break points when Nadal served for the set at 5-4 but failed to convert them and then netted a backhand to hand the Majorcan the lead for the first time in the three Wimbledon finals they have contested.

FEDERER GROOVE

Federer nailed a forehand pass to move 2-0 ahead in the second set and looked to be back in his customary groove before Nadal retaliated to break back in the seventh game with a pummelled backhand pass that Federer could not control.

Nadal fended off a break point to level the set at 4-4 with Federer showing real signs of stress when he wastefully lashed a simple drive volley over the baseline at deuce.

With the momentum back on his side Nadal applied the thumbscrews on Federer in the next game with some rock solid baseline play, going 0-40 up before breaking serve with a forehand winner.

Federer again had chances to break back but his backhand let him down at vital moments. Federer dumped another lame backhand into the net and slouched despondently back to his chair.

Nadal seemed on the verge of victory at 3-3 in the third set when Federer fell 0-40 down on his serve but he found some fight to serve his way out of trouble.

After the rain delay the Swiss appeared more positive on the forehand and crunched two perfect winners to take control of the tiebreak. Nadal saved two set points on his serve but with the crowd willing the champion to extend the contest he obliged by firing down an ace.

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