Wimbledon 2008 Tennis Championship Winners
Gentlemen's Singles
It was arguably the greatest final in the history of tennis and the only downside to the epic 4 hour 48 minute battle was that someone had to lose.
The man who had won 65 matches on grass, the great Roger Federer, had to bow down to the sublime stamina, strength and expertise of his younger rival, Spain's Rafael Nadal; in what must have been one of the more difficult moments in the Swiss Masters outstanding career.
Nadal became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win Successive titles at Roland Garros and the All England Club beating his all-time rival 6-4 6-4 6-7(5-7) 6-7(8-10) 9-7.
Federer staged an unbelievable fight back, to even the score, going into the fifth and final set but he failed to take advantage of the 22 year old Majorcan and only made 1 of 13 break points count in his favour.
The final salvos of the war on centre court were sent down at 21.15, making it near impossible to see the ball in the fast approaching dusk.
Officially the longest final in the history of Wimbledon, it also broke all betting records with an estimated $10m staked on the match.
It was Nadal's fifth grand slam but only his first away from the clay of Roland Garros and it meant that Willie Renshaw's record, of 6 consecutive Wimbledon titles, stands firm.
Ladies' Singles
In a rather disappointing two set victory, Venus Williams stamped her authority on centre court, retaining the ladies' singles crown by claiming her fifth Wimbledon title. She beat her younger sister, Serena 7-5 6-4.
Serena began the match in terrific form and for a brief moment looked to be the better player of the two. Her older sister, however, turned on the gas and sent down a couple of brilliant serves, that reached 129 mph at times, and from there on in it was Venus who dominated.
Gentlemen's Doubles
Second seeds, Daniel Nestor of Canada and playmate Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia claimed their first grand slam title as a pair when they beat the number eight seeds, Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe in four sets 7-6(12-10) 6-7(3-7) 6-3 6-2.
What made their victory all the more rewarding was that Zimonjic took to the Centre court with a broken bone in his left wrist but managed to overcome the discomfort to claim the title.
It was Bjorkman's final showdown at the All England Club as the Swede had decided to hang up his racquet after a very impressive doubles career. Although he couldn't leave Wimbledon on a high he does have a brilliant record at the club, having won 95 of his 129 outings in London!
Ladies' Doubles
The number 11 seeds, the Williams' sisters, dominated the ladies' doubles final, beating Lisa Raymond (USA) and Samantha Stosur (AUS) in two easy sets 6-2 6-2.
Although Venus and Serena had been battling it out for the ladies' singles title only hours before they had to meet again on Centre Court, the 'warm-up' obviously worked its magic for the star performers who never looked in any difficulty and deserved the kudos yet again.
Mixed Doubles
For once the American doubles duo, Bob and Mike Bryan, had to face one another across the net and it was the unseeded older brother, Bob and his partner, Samantha Stosur of Australia, who came away with the spoils.
They managed to overwhelm the number one seeds, Mike and partner, Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia 7-5 6-4 in only 61 minutes.
