London, Jan.1 (ANI): Spaniard Rafael’s Nadal’s epic victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon’s men’s final has been voted by readers of The Telegraph as the sporting moment of the decade. Nadal’s power and poise finally got the better of Federer in a seven-hour epic

The readers’ poll was a close-run thing.

Taking 17 per cent of the votes, Nadal/Federer edged Liverpool’s ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ (15 per cent) into second place, with Arsenal’s ‘Invincible’ season of 2003-04 coming third with 13 per cent.

England’s Rugby World Cup victory in 2003 came fourth, with 11 per cent of the vote.

It is indicative of our enduring passion for Wimbledon that a match between a Swiss and a Spaniard could generate such excitement. Nadal’s 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 victory in near darkness is generally regarded as the greatest tennis match ever played. And it was fitting that John McEnroe was commenting on the match.McEnroe’s defeat against Bjorn Borg in the 1980 men’s final had been enshrined in the popular consciousness as the ultimate match.

McEnroe was happy to concede that the final of 2008 eclipsed even that spectacle.

“This is the greatest match I’ve ever seen,” said McEnroe.

The match lasted more than seven hours due to rain breaks, and as the fifth set dragged on there were fears the pair would have to return on Monday morning. But at 9.16pm, when Federer hit a forehand into the net, his domination of the All England Club lawns, which had lasted for five summers, finally came to an end. (ANI)