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Rafael Nadal: Wimbledon Final 2008

£20.00

Our infographic tennis posters map out iconic rallies and points as art prints. Hang your favourite Tennis moments on the wall. This print tracks Rafa Nadal's final rally in his iconic win in the 2008 Wimbledon Championships final. Tennis data meets abstract art.

Frame not included.

My favourite tennis moment: Words from Jon Wertheim

The most compelling tennis match I have seen? Easy. Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in five sets to win the 2008 Wimbledon final. Tick off the “Classic Sporting Event” pre-reqs and this match had it all. Skill? Check. Courage? Check. Rivalry? Check. Self-sufficiency, sportsmanship, grace, discipline, gallantry, poise, intelligence, humility, injury, recovery, fibrillations of momentum, even acts of God. Check, check, check, check, check….. The match was also significant for what it lacked. Melodrama, trash talk, gamesmanship. There was neither a scoreboard telling fans when to clap nor a public address announcer with a cartoonishly baritone voice.

No cheerleaders, no goofy mascots, no booing, no piped in music during breaks in play or unnaturally peppy men firing free t-shirts into the crowd via air cannon. The moral might be this: invest dignity in a sporting event and everyone responds in kind. Not least the athletes.

Jon Wertheim is executive editor and senior writer at Sports Illustrated. Follow his musings on twitter here: @jon_wertheim