Every time Federer found the corner, Nadal returned it. It seemed there was no ball too far for the Spaniard in a tight contest.
Rafael Nadal
Backcourt supremacy
Every time Federer found the corner, Nadal returned it. It seemed there was no ball too far for the Spaniard in a tight contest. This proved to be the deciding factor.
Fit and in form
When everyone thought Nadal would be exhausted after a marathon semi-final, the world No 1 proved there are no physical limits for him. Despite calling for a medical time-out to massage his legs during the third set, Nadal won his sixth slam. Federer, the fresher of the two going into the final, disappeared in the fifth under an onslaught from the champion. Even earlier in the game, Nadal came out on top when Federer tested him with deft drop shots.
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Cool head
At the end of the second set and the beginning of the third, when Federer looked like he could run away with the match, Nadal showed some nerves frequently kicking back dead balls and made his frustration very clear. However, he pulled himself together to keep a cool head thereafter and won the third set to never allow the Swiss to run away out of sight.
Big-points game
Nadal seemed to be gaining from each of his Grand Slam victories including besting Federer at Wimbledon and his four straight French Open wins. With his high first-serve percentage (64%), he managed to come up on top at crucial moments. He saved 13 break points out of the 19 he faced. However, surprisingly, Federer won more points than Nadal 174 to the Spaniard's 173.
Serving better
Nadal had 64 per cent of his first serves in, while Federer had a meagre 52%. The world No 1 also had fewer double faults four as compared to Federer's six. With his greater accuracy, Nadal did not have to rely on power alone. While Federer had 11 aces, Nadal won the match with only four.
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