Tennis: Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams crowned Wimbledon champions

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Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams survived all the early upsets to claim the 2008 Wimbledon Men's and Ladies' Championships respectively.

Tennis crowned a new king when Rafa won a thrilling, epic encounter on Centre Court defeating top seed and 5-time defending champion Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 in the longest, and arguably best, men's match at The All England Club. He becomes the first baller since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back and the first Spaniard to earn the title since Manuel Santana in 1966. Rafa now owns 5 Grand Slam titles overall.

Venus is, of course, familiar with the Ladies' title having owned four previous Championships. The 28-year old earned her fifth title, and seventh Grand Slam overall, by out-hitting and out-serving sister Serena in her 7-5, 6-4 win and evening their head-to-head to 8-all. Serena had beaten Venus the last two times they met in the final round here so this was sweet revenge for the older sis'. She now sits one Wimby title behind Billie Jean King, two behind Steffi Graf and four behind all-time Wimbledon singles holder Martina Navratilova.

Originally posted by Rich Rodriguez

Source: Wimbledon