World number one Rafael Nadal won his second Wimbledon title by overwhelming Czech 12th seed Tomas Berdych 6-3 7-5 6-4. The 24-year-old Spaniard, who now has eight Grand Slam victories, was in a destructive mood as he picked up his second Wimbledon trophy in three years, sealing it with a forehand passing shot winner across court after two hours and 12 minutes.
“More than a dream for me, always a dream to play in this final,” Nadal said in an on-court interview.
“To have this trophy in my hands, amazing. You’re (Berdych) doing an amazing season, sorry for today but I wish you luck for the rest of the season.”
Nadal beat Roger Federer in an epic final for his first Wimbledon title in 2008 but was unable to defend his title last year due to tendonitis in his knees.
Berdych had taken out top seed Federer and third seed Novak Djokovic in his run through to his first Grand Slam final but ran out of steam against a dominant Nadal.
“It was a great two weeks for me but he was really strong today, he’s showed in the last two months he’s the champion and he deserved to win today,” Berdych said.
The Czech 24-year-old made a bright start to the match holding serve with ease and showing few signs of nerves in the biggest match of his career so far.
But Nadal, who twice had to recover from two sets to one down in the opening week of the tournament, also got off to a quick start, posting comfortable service holds of his own.
And the longer the first set went on the more Nadal began to impose his game on Berdych, who suffered a lapse in concentration in the seventh game to hand the Spaniard two break points.
Berdych saved the first with a low approach shot that Nadal could only return into the net but the world number one did break at the second attempt with a rasping backhand across court that the Czech could only return into the net.
Nadal leapt at the opportunity to break for a second time in the ninth game to seal the set when his opponent sent a sliced forehand into the net.
Berdych had a chance to bounce back in the first game of the second set as Nadal battled with a swirling wind and slapped two double faults in the game to hand his opponent three early break points.
But all three went begging for Berdych and he barely got a look in on the Nadal serve for the rest of the set.
When crunch time arrived Nadal once again picked up his level and broke in the 12th game to take the second set.
A wild forehand from the Czech 12th seed, who will move into the top 10 when the new world rankings are released on Monday, handed Nadal three set points but only one was needed as Berdych fired an inside out forehand wide across court.
The third set was almost a carbon copy of the first two with just the one break point early on, once again going to Berdych.
But again Berdych was unable to take advantage of it as he drilled a backhand into the net and Nadal bounced back to hold with ease from there.
And, as with the first two sets, the pressure of serving to stay in it proved too much for Berdych as he sent a nervy forehand long to gift Nadal his first championship point.
But Nadal finished the match in style pulling his blistering forehand passing shot across court before falling to the ground in celebration.