The 2008 Wimbledon Championships delivered arguably the greatest match in tennis history.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal contested the final at the All England Club that year, and produced a five-set classic lasting four hours and 48 minutes.
After two consecutive years of losing to Federer in the Wimbledon final, the Spaniard finally emerged victorious to hoist the famous trophy for the first time and secure his fifth Grand Slam crown.
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Earlier on in the tournament, the man attempting to snap Nadal and Federer’s duopoly in men’s tennis, Novak Djokovic, crashed out unexpectedly in the second round.
Djokovic had started to close in on the two in 2008, winning his first major title at the Australian Open and reaching a career-high ranking of third in the world.
But a loss to Marat Safin in round two left the Serb facing an uncomfortable question following the conclusion of Wimbledon that season.
Novak Djokovic’s reaction to the 2008 Wimbledon Championships
In his pre-tournament press conference ahead of the 2008 Canadian Open, Djokovic was asked if he felt like Nadal and Federer were pulling away from him.
He replied: “It has changed so much. Okay, I lost the match in Wimbledon which was a bit unexpected to lose in the second round.
“You know, from my position again, I am not really down. I am not depressed, whatever. I am not thinking negatively. I am just looking forward to the hardcourt.
“And I have been playing really well in the first six months of the year. I have no reason to think bad about those first six months because of just one loss. I am not paying attention on how much points I learn or closing the gap or it is bigger or whatever.
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“You know, it is a matter of, you know, if I’m improving in my game or not. I just want to keep winning and results will come sooner or later.”
Later on that season, Djokovic fell in the semifinals of the US Open to Federer.
Djokovic did not win another Grand Slam until 2011, which is when his dominance on the ATP Tour began.
How Roger Federer compared the big three back in 2008
In Federer’s press conference before the Canadian Open that year, the eventual 20-time major champion compared each member of the ‘big three’.
He said: “Well, I think we were all quite complete as, you know, from a standpoint, we can hit all the shots in the book.
“And at the moment, I guess, we’re the best movers in the game as well, which gives us the edge from offence and defence, you know? That’s a similarity I see.
“Obviously, each one of us has something particularly good in the game, you know? I think it is more obviously my game and then Rafael’s game, you know, what really stands out.
“Whereas Novak is more, you know, just a very complete player. Doesn’t miss very much and has just really become a good player over the last year or so. He obviously still has to prove himself a little bit more, I think. But still we have great assets in our game.”
Djokovic ultimately surpassed both Federer and Nadal in major titles with 24 and counting.
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