Roger Federer V Rafael Nadal: A Sporting Moment To Go Down in History

Fantastic. Wonderful. Epic. Today's Men's Wimbledon final was all these and much much more.

King Federer has been knocked off his grass throne and, for the first time in five years, cannot call himself the Champion of Wimbledon.

This match had a lot of anticipation building up to it. World No. 1 vs World No. 2. Federer, dominant in the sport for so long facing the biggest challenge to his status as the best was looking to bounce back from the humiliation at Roland Garros.

A lot was expected.

And the match fulfilled the hype. And then went on to blow the hype away.

It was incredible. The greatest tennis match I have seen by a long way, perhaps the greatest tennis match of all time. Certainly, it is up there with the likes of Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe in the 1981 Wimbledon final.

In fact, today's match bears many resemblances to that match 27 years ago. The top two in the world. Federer, as Borg was, going for his sixth straight Wimbledon title.

Like that match, the one today will go down in tennis history, and sporting history. I can't remember the last time I was so glued to the screen in a sporting contest.

And to be glued to the screen for the length of time I was just shows what a wonderful example of tennis it was.

Four hours and 45 minutes of sublime tennis, plus two breaks for the rain. This match had absolutely everything. World-class play, simple mistakes, an epic comeback, two superb tie-breaks, rain, sun, wind and more.

The match couldn't have been more perfectly poised. The two best in the world fighting for the best title in world tennis in the best tournament in world tennis, also battling for the unofficial World No. 1 spot.

Federer had to banish his Roland Garros demons and prove he was still the best on grass, plus he was looking for an unparalleled six Wimbledon titles in a row.

Nadal had to prove he wasn't just a clay-player, that he was in Federer's league and he was looking for his first and his most wanted title.

The contrast in styles was perfect as well. Federer's pure class against Nadal's brute strength and speed across the court.

This match had everything going for it. And the fact that it was even better than expected is a tribute to how great it was.

Some of the tennis played was simply breathtaking. At times both players were off the screen and managed to get back on to return the next point and keep the thrilling rally going.

This was to tennis what the 'Rumble in the Jungle' was to boxing - a stand out moment in the sport's history.

The thousands in attendance will be able to say "I was there".

I was supporting Nadal throughout the match, and was surprised to find myself cheering him on almost as loudly as I do for Liverpool. And feeling terrible when he lost his two-set lead and squandered two Championship points in the fourth set tie-break.

But he clawed his way back from that disappointment to win the final set, and in my view the better player on the day won, and he was now proved that he is the number one in the world at the moment.

In the years to come, people will look at this match as one of the greatest ever, between potentially two of the greatest ever.

The final scoreboard of the dramatic match looked like this: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7.

So one final congratulations to both Nadal and Federer for putting on perhaps the greatest tennis match Wimbledon, or even the World, has ever seen.