In 1981 of course, Bjorn Borg, the Swedish iceman was attempting to win his sixth consecutive Wimbledon Men’s Title. He had won his fifth title in 1980 against the abrasive, but a brilliant American, John McEnroe, in one of the greatest finals, that Wimbledon, throughout its distinguished history, has ever seen. The fourth set tie break, won by McEnroe to keep him in the match, will be talked about for a thousand years, as will the final set won by Borg (8-6) that won him the match and with it immortality

The following year of course, Borg and McEnroe did battle again, but this time, ‘Supermac’ turned the tables on Borg, and won his first Wimbledon crown in four sets, thus proving Borg was mortal after all. McEnroe went on to win Wimbledon again in 1983 and 1984, Borg however never graced Wimbledon again as a player and had virtually retired before the 1982 Championship had begun. Nonetheless his legacy lived on, and although American Pete Sampras, who came along in the mid-90s, won more Wimbledon’s than Borg he only managed four consecutively. It was Federer last year who eventually equalled Borg’s feat when defeating Rafael Nadal in a thrilling five set final.

Now in 2008, Federer stands on the threshold of even greater immortality with an opportunity to go one better than Borg. Assuming that is, that he and Nadal both reach the final. Nadal got very close to beating Federer last year, in the same way that McEnroe came very close to defeating Borg in 1980, and if history is to repeat itself, then Nadal would be favourite to go one better and win his first crown.

Pressure will be on both Nadal and Federer as it was with Borg and McEnroe in 1981. Like Borg, Federer will want his 6th title and Nadal, like McEnroe, will want his first.

The contrast in playing styles between Borg and McEnroe was huge, Borg had amazed most experts, by winning his five titles playing from the baseline, McEnroe was an all court player, comfortable in any style but deadly when it came to serve and volley. Ironically, it is Federer who is more reminiscent of McEnroe as a player, while Nadal is a genuine baseliner, similar to Borg. Nadal and Borg also share the fact that they both won four consecutive French Open titles, a title that eluded McEnroe that has also, so far eluded Federer.

Nadal has little in common with McEnroe either as a player or as a personality. The only area of similarity lay in a desire to win the Wimbledon Tennis Championship after losing the year before to the same man; Borg beat McEnroe to win his fifth, Federer did exactly the same to Nadal to win his. McEnroe however managed to overcome Borg, to win his first, the question is can Rafael Nadal do the same to Federer? The online betting odds suggest that he will just fail!

Daniel Campbell is an independent sports writer who specialises in cricket, football and horse racing articles. http://www.betting-directory.com