RAFA FRIES FED IN HAMBURG

Again it was Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal. Again it was a three-set thriller. But unlike in 2007, the winner was not Roger Federer. This time, Rafael Nadal from Spain took home the title.He defeated the Swiss world number one 7:5, 6:7(3), 6:3.

At first it did not look as though Nadal would stand a chance in this final. Federer had a quick start and soon led 5:1. It seemed as if Nadal was still tired from yesterday's three hours long marathon match against Novak Djokovic. However, Federer was unable to close the set and Nadal came back with force to win this first set.

Quite unusual for Federer: he was very emotional, hitting balls up the stands, talking to himself. In the second set, the whole scenario seemed to repeat itself. At 5:5, Federer was down 0-40, the match as good as over. But then he scored five points in a row and and won the following tiebreak. At that point, the crowd seemed on the Swiss' side beause they were happy to get a third set.

In set three, it was Nadal who broke Federer early and held on to this break until the end. The Spaniard took the last set 6:3 and crowned himself king of Rothenbaum.