Andy Roddick’s podcast has served up another enticing episode, this time discussing the greatest tennis matches of all time.
Roddick, now a well-versed personality in the podcasting sphere, went through the list before discussing a particularly memorable match from 2008.
The list included the 2012 Australian Open final involving Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal and the gargantuan 1985 French Open final between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.
However, the Wimbledon 2008 final topped the list. Rafael Nadal overcame five-time defending Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, winning 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7.
Andy Roddick says beating Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final catapulted Rafael Nadal into an all-time great
Speaking on his popular Served podcast, Roddick said: “I think [the 2008 final] was significant for so many reasons.
“I think we were pre-programmed in what a rivalry should look like. A lot of the matches that we’ve talked about Mac (McEnroe), Borg, Chrissy (Chris Evert), Martina (Navratilova), Rafa, Novak.
“What are the similarities? They’re very different.
“The lefty righty thing in the history of tennis has been a big deal.
“The other thing that it did and I think why it was so significant is at that point we knew Rafa was gonna win 10 plus majors because of the French Open.
“But to beat Roger in that venue in his prime on his surface, I think from the locker room automatically catapulted him into one of the greats of all time.”
Despite being the Spaniard’s weakest surface, Nadal won four titles on grass during his career – an achievement recently matched by Carlos Alcaraz – including another Wimbledon title in 2010, beating Czechia’s Tomas Berdych in straight sets.
Nadal would go on to become an all-time great, winning 22 Grand Slams, including a remarkable 14 at the French Open. The Spanish legend, known as one of the most gracious and polite players of his generation, was quick to congratulate Coco Gauff after her recent French Open triumph.
Who did Nadal beat to win the 2008 Wimbledon title?
Nadal beat German qualifier Andreas Beck in the first round before dismissing a young Ernests Gulbis, dropping his first set of the tournament.
| Round | Player | Score |
| R128 | Andreas Beck | 6-4 6-4 7-6 |
| R64 | Ernests Gulbis | 5-7 6-2 7-6 6-3 |
| R32 | Nicolas Kiefer | 7-6 6-2 6-3 |
| R16 | Mikhail Youzhny | 6-3 6-3 6-1 |
| Quarter-Final | Andy Murray | 6-3 6-2 6-4 |
| Semi-Final | Rainer Schuettler | 6-1 7-6 6-4 |
| Final | Roger Federer | 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7 |
He then beat a second German player, Nicolas Kiefer, before dismantling Mikhail Youzhny in the round of 16.
Nadal swept aside British great and home favourite Andy Murray in the quarter-finals before dispatching a third German player, Rainer Schuettler, in the semi-final.
Then came the ‘greatest’ final of all time, Nadal’s marathon victory over Federer, which paved the way for his future successes and cemented the Spanish bull as a tennis legend.
