As Federer went back on the court to wave and pump his fists in appreciation following his 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory, a discouraged-looking Nadal changed out of his sweat-soaked shirt, quickly packed up his bag and headed for the exit.
Nadal was denied the opportunity to win a third Wimbledon and 19th Grand Slam title, with Federer being handed the chance to win his 21st Major. No problem for the second seed as he held to love when Nadal netted, Federer a set away from the final.
Twitter was overawed by the level of play both the veterans produced on Friday and could not stop gushing over Federer's ability to push the limits at the All England Club.
However, he will have his work cut out on Sunday if he is to secure a 21st major title as he trails 15-time Slam victor Djokovic 25-22 in career meetings. He played brilliantly. He maintained patience in the first set, but later he started playing better. "It was tough at the end".
"I had planned to be in Ibiza right now", he said in his post-match press conference. The Serb hadn't lost a single set in the 2019 tournament before meeting Hubert Hurkacz in the third round, and one thought that David Goffin would pose a challenge for Djokovic in the quarter-final. I'm just relieved it's all over at this point.
Swiss maestro Roger Federer has entered Wimbledon men's title for a record 12th time. With Federer's last win at Wimbledon in 2017, Federer said he is "excited" to face off against Djokovic.
"Obviously extremely high", Federer said when asked to rate his latest clash with Nadal.
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Nadal still holds a 24-16 career edge head-to-head, including 10-4 at the Slams. Federer saved a break point at 30-40, against the best counter-puncher of all time, as he went toe-to-toe with him and won a 20-shot rally.
Still, it'll take that and more to get past the No. 1-seeded Djokovic, who is up to his usual body-bending, grind-it-out excellence at the baseline, even winning a 45-stroke point while eliminating Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals.
As is the case with Nadal, Federer has faced Djokovic so many times over the years that each knows the other's game so well.
Federer's serve served him well against his Spanish rival, who won their last meeting at Wimbledon in the 2008 final - taking the epic fifth set 9-7 as darkness descended. At 5-3, with Nadal serving, Federer had a very real chance to earn a match point. The capacity crowd at Centre Court showered both Nadal and Federer with cheers and a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes.
"I understand that. But I had enough support here over the years, so I don't complain". He has won four Wimbledon titles in his career. "We're going to have many more battles I think".
"This is like a school: the day of the test you're not going to read, I don't know, how many books that day".
Although Federer did go on to get that precious eighth Wimbledon win, he had to endure another major loss to Djokovic first in the immediate aftermath of the 2015 All England Club defeat. Djokovic, a 15-time Grand Slam champion, is respected by British fans but certainly not revered in the same saintly fashion reserved for Federer.
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