Points won by each set: [ 40-38, 39-44, 34-24 ]
Points won directly on serve:
15 % Nadal – 16 of 101
16 % Federer – 20 of 118
The same final line-up as a year before, but completely different match with a different outcome. Nadal [2] began as he finished the 2007 final – physically struggling. Federer [1] led *5:1 (40/30) when he missed a relatively easy FH drive-volley. Nadal broke, and took a medical time-out to his hamstring. In the following game he saved another set point with a forehand winner, and his problems miraculously disappeared – he collected seven straight games in total! The scenario was almost repeated in the 2nd set – the Swiss led 5:2* (30/15) to save in a firm style a triple mini-match point at 5-all. The deciding set also delivered uncertainty in its progress – from 4:1* (40/15) to 4:2 (0/30) and Federer’s break point. “It was a strange match,” Nadal said. “Roger made some mistakes in the first set that helped me. It was important to win because it was the last big clay-court tournament I never won.” Within a few weeks Nadal won for the second time a set against Federer from a double break down (in MC trailed 0:4 in the 2nd set).
Nadal’s route to his 26th title:
2 Potito Starace 6-4, 7-6(6)
3 Andy Murray 6-3, 6-3
Q Carlos Moya 6-1, 6-3
S Nova Djokovic 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
W Roger Federer 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3