Hamburg stayed in the Masters 1000 family between 1990 and 2008. The notable champions were Stefan Edberg, Marcelo Rios, Gustavo Kuerten and Roger Federer, with one big name missing from that list. Rafael Nadal had always preferred Rome over Hamburg, losing the 2007 final to Roger and having one more chance a year later.
The Spaniard faced the most formidable possible challenge en route to the title in 2008, facing Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer within two days. Heading to Hamburg following an early Rome exit, Rafa met world no. 3 and the Rome champion Djokovic in the semi-final.
It was their tenth meeting and the seventh victory for Rafa, who prevailed 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in three hours and three minutes under a roof on Centre Court. Novak had an extra motive to beat Rafa on clay for the first time. With this victory, he could have become world no.
2 for the first time. However, he finished on the losing side despite a great effort and 19 break chances. The Serb converted only four and suffered five breaks to push the rival into the final clash against Roger Federer. They hit a similar number of winners.
Djokovic stood above Nadal in the forced errors department after an aggressive approach. Still, he sprayed too many unforced errors, often in pivotal moments, losing the match and remaining world no. 3. Novak grabbed a break at 1-1 in the opener and cemented the lead with a forehand down the line winner in the next one.
Nadal drops 14 out of 18 points since the start of the match and found himself 30-0 down in game four. However, he fended off two break chances and got his name on the scoreboard. Novak wasted a game point in the fifth game and lost serve and momentum after Rafa’s forehand winner.
The Spaniard saved a break point in game six to catch the rival and level the score at 3-3.
Rafael Nadal faced Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in Hamburg 2008.
Nadal broke at love in game nine to forge a 5-4 lead and serve for the set.
Djokovic stayed calm and broke at 15 to extend the battle. Nadal broke again in game 11 and sealed the opener with a forehand winner at 6-5 after 72 minutes. Novak saved two break chances at 2-2 in the second set and seized the fourth break chance in the next one to move 4-2 ahead.
The Serb stole the rival’s serve again at 5-2 to wrap up the set and get a massive boost ahead of the decider. Nadal scored an early break with a backhand crosscourt winner and saved two break chances in game two to settle into a fine rhythm.
Djokovic could not convert two more break chances in the fourth game, and Nadal delivered a return game at 4-2 to increase the advantage. The eighth game saw eight deuces and three break chances for Novak. Rafa denied them and seized the fifth match point to emerge at the top and set the title clash with another great rival, Roger Federer.
“It was a fantastic match. I’m a bit tired right now, so let’s see how I feel tomorrow. I will need to be 100% if I want to have a chance of beating Roger,” Rafael Nadal said.
