Nadal storms into two-set lead

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 08:58 PM

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Defending champion Roger Federer was staring defeat in the face in the Wimbledon final on Sunday when an inspired Rafael Nadal stormed into a two-set lead.

Nadal fought back from 4-1 down in the second set to win it 6-4 and leave Federer's hopes of a record sixth Wimbledon title hanging by a thread. The Spaniard also won the first set 6-4.

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

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.

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 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 was one set away from becoming the first player to win the French Open and Wimbledon back to back since Bjorn Borg in 1980.

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