Federer and Nadal: after their epic final

In the immediate afterglow of Rafa Nadal's dethroning of Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final on Sunday evening, I said live on Sky Sports News that it had very likely been the greatest match of all time.

This morning, now down from the mountain top, having had time to reflect here is my considered view: It was the greatest match I have personally ever seen in 30 odd years of reporting tennis around this wonderful world.

Tennis has no such thing as a world championship, but this was it. Here with the game's two best players and after Wimbledon's longest singles final in 28 years - four hours and 48 minutes - Nadal followed up his recent overwhelming defeat of Federer in the French Open Final on clay - Nadal's surface - by this narrowest of victories on Federer's grass.

The ATP computer in America, which weekly chatters out the world rankings, will keep Federer at number one, but discerning human minds will acknowledge Nadal as the best today.

Following Manolo Santana's win in 1966, he is only the second Spaniard to win Wimbledon; what's more he's only the third man in modern times, following Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, to win the French Championship and Wimbledon in the same year.

The classical Federer so very nearly brought off a masterpiece in escapology, despite the bothersome wind and Nadal's almost lung-bursting effort which never once let Federer settle into purring overdrive.

Not even two rain delays could alter the shape of the encounter, it was marvellous.

Triumph

But I mustn't forget the ladies. Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon title on Saturday and the first thing to say is that it was a wonderfully competitive match against her sister Serena in which both players walloped the ball with daring and gusto.

One serve by Venus of 129mph equalled the record of the fastest ever set by a woman. Perhaps now idle tongues among a few cynical journo's who seem determined to raise again a nonsensical conspiracy theory will be silenced for good.

Serena had beaten her elder sister on the two previous occasions they had met in a Wimbledon final and 12 minutes in she led 3-1, but once Venus levelled matters she kept her nose in front.

The real triumph in this saga belongs to the Williams parents - now divorced - who taught the girls tennis on a public court in the slums of Compton, Los Angeles, the city where one of their other daughters was murdered.

From Compton to such success, fame and wealth on the most hallowed tennis court in the world really is the stuff of Hollywood.

Peak

As for the game of tennis, I believe it is at a peak and we British have much to be hopeful for, the further development of Andy Murray and now a lively and pretty young lady as well.

You never know, before long we might be seeking inspired alliteration to replace Henman Hill or Murray Mound... any thoughts on Laura's Lawn?

But steady, we mustn't get ahead of ourselves must we?