Nadal Beats The Brick Wall in The Greatest Match I Have Ever Seen

It was a long and onerous match—the longest finals match in Wimbledon history, to be precise.

It was a thrill of victory for Rafael Nadal, all of 22 years, coming off his fourth-straight French Open title. This was Nadal's second grass court title, his first coming three weeks earlier at Queen's Club.

It was agony of defeat for Roger Federer, four years Nadal's elder, coming off his third straight loss to Nadal in the French Open and vying to defend his five-straight wins at Wimbledon.

It was a mixed feeling of ecstasy and empathy for Nadal. After the match he stated, "It's a dream to play in this court. But to win, I never imagined this. [Roger is] still the No. 1. He's still the best. He's still five-time champion here. Right now I have one and it is very important."

Both the rain and reign at Wimbledon were brought to an end: the rain at 8:23 local time and the reign of Federer after four hours and 48 minutes of game time, when Federer's forehand approach was unsuccessful and crashed into the net.

Federer's 65-match win streak on grass—a record—also ceased to exist, and it's the first time in his career he has gone three straight Grand Slams without a title since before his first victory at Wimbledon in 2003.

Nadal had two match points in the fourth set tiebreak, yet Federer saved those with a service winner down 7-6 and a backhand winner down 8-7—and went on to win the tiebreak and force the fifth and deciding set.

Tied at two apiece and at deuce, the rain fell once again and players were taken off the court for the next 29 minutes, before play resumed and Federer won the game after hitting two aces.

Each player held serve until Nadal broke Federer with the score tied at seven. Nadal was rewarded with his third match point after Federer mishit a backhand. On the ensuing point, however, Federer struck back with a backhand winner off the serve.

After another Federer forehand error, Nadal was provided with his fourth championship point; Federer sent a forehand into the net, and Nadal won.

Nadal instantly dropped to his back in rapture.

He had won.

He beat the King, the best grass court player in the world (and possibly ever).

He beat the brick wall, the expert-level computer in a video game.

The Federer Express, the Swiss Collosus—he lost, to Rafael Nadal.