Nadal led the head to head going into this contest 24-15, but until last months Roland Garros semi final loss, Federer had won five straight against Nadal, all on hard court, four in 2017. This was the first time the pair had met in a Wimbledon match since the epic 2008 final, where Nadal won in five sets.
Federer served first, and held for 1-0. Four love games were delivered within the first seven, and the Swiss ace led 4-3, no break points to be seen as yet.
In the eighth game, Nadal saved the first break point of the match before levelling at 4-4. Three aces helped Federer to within a game of the opening set, but Nadal had no trouble making it 5-5, despite contributing a double fault, the first from either player.
At 5-6, Nadal had to fight a little harder to ensure a tie break, taken to deuce after leading 40-15.
In the tie break, six of the ten points decided went against the serve, totally against the trend of the twelve games played to reach this stage.
Nadal began with a stunning running backhand response to a drop volley, to have the first mini break. He lost the advantage when he hit the net with another backhand.
At 3-2, Nadal hit a backhand long and again lost a mini break advantage. Federer hit the lead after a forehand winner. Another angled forehand set up a winning Federer smash and a service winner gave him three set points. A forehand winner clinched it for Federer 7-6(3).
Both players struggled on serve early in set two, each saving break points in games two and three. Nadal led 2-1 on serve. Game four saw Federer miss with three forehands, and on the first of three break points he hit a backhand into the net. Ahead 3-1, Nadal consolidated the break with a solid service game, then proceeded to attack the Swiss serve again. At 1-4 and 30-30, Federer netted a forehand, and a complete miss hit completed a double break for Nadal.
The Spaniard took the set 6-1 following a love game.
A more focused Federer began set three with two love games on his own serve, and he broke Nadal in the fourth game. - a backhand down the line winner, and a forehand cross court winner turned 30-15 into a break point. A volley confirmed the break and 3-1.
Break points saved in games five and six, but no more service breaks, which brought Federer to the line at 5-3. A service winner, a return out of court, and a backhand winner brought up three set points. Nadal hit a forehand into the net and Federer led 7-6(3) 1-6 6-3.
For eight games of set four, deuce was not visited at all, but there were break chances in one game. At 1-1, two unforced Nadal errors had him at 0-30. A Federer off forehand winner gave him two break points. One saved with a great Nadal backhand. A quality return put Nadal off balance, and his forehand sailed long. Federer was ahead 2-1 with the break.
Serving at 3-5 to stay alive in the semi, Nadal was in front 40-15, but the two game points disappeared, along with another. Then Federer reached match point after a forehand forced Nadal into all sorts of bother. A big serve saved it, and a second match point also vanished when a Federer return failed to land legally. Nadal held serve, requiring Federer to serve for the match.
An ace began things for Federer, but it tightened when he netted a backhand. Nadal was threatening at 30-30 after Federer struck his forehand long.
Break back point after an extraordinary overhead miss hit by Federer. Nadal netted a backhand and it was deuce.
The third match point came after a wonderful Swiss backhand volley. Saved after a terrific rally, finished off with a special Nadal forehand. A fourth match point arrived following an ace. Nadal saved this one with a magnificent backhand cross court pass. A Federer forehand produced a fifth match point.
Nadal stuck a backhand long and the contest was over. Roger Federer won a top class match 7-6(3) 1-6 6-3 6-4. He will play Novak Djokovic in the final, a match up we witnessed in the 2014 and 2015 finales.
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