Beijing Olympics 2008: Rafael Nadal's path to glory

Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on during the Men’s Singles final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 8, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

A visibly heart-broken and depressed Nadal looked completely inconsolable that day. You cannot blame him for that. Can you? After all, it was the second time in as many years the man from Spain went down to the great Swiss master in the Wimbledon final.

Just a year before in 2006, which was his first Grand Slam final on grass, he was totally outplayed by Roger Federer, who owned all the cards from start to finish. But the scenario was entirely different during the 2007 final. Standing toe to toe with the then defending champion, he played exceedingly well and looked to be in command as he took the fourth set. Just when it all looked like he was going to put an end to the four year long reign of the Swiss, he had to take a medical time out as he encountered some problem in his knees.

Apparently, the Spaniard was not in full shape and the experienced Swiss, taking advantage of the situation, managed to win the epic clash eventually. Though he had been a dominant champion in Roland Garros, he was yet to prove his mettle elsewhere. Under the circumstances, it was essential for him to show to the whole world that he was not just a clay court player. But, as fate would have it, his knee problem came uninvited at the wrong time, ending his hopes of capturing his first Grand Slam outside clay.

The very next year, when the Spanish armada entered the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, walking alongside Fernando Gonzalez, the result of the match was a foregone conclusion. In fact it was that sort of a year for the then World No.2 that he was labelled as a favourite in every tournament he entered, not just the Olympics. After quite an indifferent start to the year in Chennai and Melbourne, he bounced back with victories at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Hamburg.

What followed then was some amazing display of tennis, full of conviction by Rafa from the start of the grass court season. In the championship match at Wimbledon that was duly interrupted by rain and bad light, he overcame the Swiss star in five sets, thereby winning his first Grand Slam outside clay.

So much so, he stayed undefeated for 32 matches, until the streak came to an end against Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at Cincinnati. Given his accomplishments till then, he started as the overwhelming favourite going into Beijing Olympics, hosted on hard courts.