WIMBLEDON TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
It's almost impossible to dislike the wonderful Roger Federer. At 26 the Swiss star is already a legend and his five succesive Wimbledon wins speak for themselves.
The King of centre court he just doesn't know how to lose in South West London but last year the first signs of a Federer crack started to emerge.
There he was back in a Wimbledon final and though he was facing the world number two Rafael Nadal he probably thought it would be another usual four set win.
Nadal had other ideas. The reigning Champion did hold on to win but he was brought to a fifth set for the first time in his Wimbledon career.
Federer won 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 but fans leaving Wimbledon that day knew the great Swiss' run as undisputed leader in chief here could be coming to an end.
Then at this year's French Open final in Paris the clay court specialist Nadal coasted past his great rival winning 6-1,6-3,6-0. It was the third year in a row that he beat Federer in the Roland Garros final but the first in consecutive sets and in such a commanding way.
Now we must ask has the tide finally turned in the men's game?
But where did Nadal come from and can he be good enough to win Wimbledon in 2008?
The World number two (a position he has held since July 2005) was born on the Spanish island of Mallorca on June 3 1986 into a sporting family. His uncle Miguel Angel once played football for RCD Mallorca, Barcelona and the Spanish National team.
Nadal was introduced to tennis by his Uncle Toni who convinced his young nephew to play left handed to benefit his two handed backhand.
In 2003 the young Spanish rocket became the second youngest player to be ranked among the world's top 100 singles players at just 16.
2005 was Nadal's breakthrough year and he went on to become the fourth youngest French Open champion ever when he defeated Argentina's Mariano Puerta in the final.
As he's improved since then his grass court game has improved too and with the benefit of two Wimbledon final defeats behind him the 22 year old is ready to make it third time lucky on Centre Court with a win.
With gorgeous girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello (pictured right) cheering him on Nadal may finally end Federer's stranglehold on this tournament but to do it he'll have to be playing at his very best.
NADAL CAREER WINS
Grand Slams: (4)
French Open 2005,06,07,08
ATP Masters Series singles wins(11)
Monte Carlo 2005,06,07,08
Rome 2005,06,07
Montreal 2005
Madrid 2005
Indian Wells 2007
Hamburg 2008
* Nadal also reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2008 and the Quarter finals of the US Open in 2006.
