Wimbledon 2008 featured the third clash between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in their trilogy of finals at the All England Club from 2006 to 2008.
Federer, who had won the tournament five years in a row, had beaten the Spaniard in the two previous finals and was looking to keep his undefeated grass streak against his rival alive.
After four hours and 48 minutes of play, Nadal emerged victorious, overcoming the defending champion in a five-set thriller that to this day is widely considered one of the greatest matches of all time.
At the end of the contest, the two exchanged words at the net, which Nadal touched on in his post-match press conference.
Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty ImagesWhat Rafael Nadal said to Roger Federer after the 2008 Wimbledon final
Speaking to the media following the end of the match, when asked what he said to Federer at net, Nadal recalled: “I just said, good tournament [and] sorry. Because I know how tough [it] is [to] lose a final like this.
“This is tougher than last year, and last year I was very disappointed in the end.
“So he is a great champion, no? His attitude always is positive when he lose, when he win. Always accept the victories and the losses with the same humble for him.
“Well, he’s not a close friend of me because we are from different countries, and the English. But I always have a lot of respect for him. I admire him a lot. And we have a very good relationship, no?
“At the same time I am very happy for me, but sorry for him, no, because he deserves his title, too, no?”
Rafael Nadal said he always loved to play on grass after the 2008 Wimbledon final
When asked his opinion on playing the grass surface after the match, Nadal responded: “I love [to] play on this surface, I said always.
“When I lost against Muller in 2005, I say the same. I love [to] play on this surface. Sometimes, if [the opponent] serves very well, [I am] a little bit bored, but right now we can play.
“And if you see, the matches are very nice matches, no? Because you have options. You can play very aggressively, sometimes – well, you can’t play very defensively, but can you go to the net. [It] is [an] interesting game, no?
“I think you have to understand the surface well if you [want] to have good results here.”
Nadal had not won an ATP tournament on grass in his career up until the summer of 2008, when he won both Queen’s and Wimbledon.