the greatest ever

The Wimbledon Tennis Championships have always been special for me. I love tennis, always have done since I used to batter a ball against the wall in a strange tennis-squash hybrid as a child. It is the one interest I shared with both my parents. I won't go on about it - I'd only be repeating myself - but, for me, Wimbledon holds a fascination. I am typing this at around 5 words a minute during the pauses between points in the 2009 mens final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. It looks like being another good one - but it will surely not compare to last year.

I watched the epic battle between Federer and Nadal along with my Mother in her room. By this point she was spending the vast majority of her time in bed and I knew in my heart of hearts that this would be the last time I would watch a tennis match with her. It seems a strange thing to say but I remember praying that it would be a good one for her.

And it was.

If you watched it then you remember how special it was. At nearly five hours it was the longest final in history. Five hours of high tempo, high quality tennis. High drama throughout. Rafael Nadal took a quick lead. At two sets up and with three break points on Federer's serve in the seventh game of the third set it looked like it was all over and Nadal was about to lift the trophy. Federer, often seen as invincible on grass, seemed deflated - but Federer managed to hold and went on to win the set on a tie break.

Then the comeback began.

The fourth set had the most amazing tie break I have ever watched. It didn't go as far as the McEnroe-Borg tie break in the 1980 final which ended 18-16 but the way this one swung and turned made it compelling.

At one point Federer was 5-2 down. He pulled it back to 6-6. Nadal took the next to set up championship point. Federer pulled back. Nadal won another point and set up another championship point. Again Federer pulled back with an amazing shot and won the set.

The final set was a nerve jangling affair with both players completely commited and focused on winning the match. It took sixteen more games to separate these two great rivals. In the end Nadal triumphed. The two men were exhausted - and strangely so was I.

Throughout the match I sat on the edge of my mother's bed. Occasionally she slipped off to sleep during the match. When her eyes would open I would tell what had happened, and she would smile. At the end of the match, despite the fact that we were both rooting for Federer throughout, she had a huge smile on her face and I made a silent prayer asking for Mssrs Nadal and Federer to be blessed. They had put on an amazing show just for her - and she had lived to see the greatest Wimbledon final in history.

So now as I watch the 2009 men's final alone it's a strange moment for me. Again it has gone for five sets. Federer is struggling a little and I am urging him to win - but not to make it better than last year.