The end of an era? Nadal threatens Federer’s five-year reign over men’s tennis

(BEIJING July 7) -- The grand final of men's tennis at Wimbledon, England between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was an epic of sports and a struggle for power. Federer entered the competition as the five-year Wimbledon champion defending his crown on the Center Court, while Nadal, the four-time French Open winner, aimed to steal the Wimbledon scepter.

The two legendary tennis players were dueling not only for the prize, but also to make history.

When Nadal won, he became the first player to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Bjorn Borg in 1980.

old rivals, good friends (Photo credit: Gettyimages)Since the beginning of this year, people had been talking about the slipping form and slow-motion fall of the Swiss star. He lost to Spain's Nadal three times in a row, on clay-court finals in Monte Carlo, Hamburg, and Paris.

With Nadal's fast mobility and well-angled spin, he is very likely to shine on the hard court in North America at the end of July. If the Swiss star fails to blaze even brighter, he could lose his crown to the Spaniard.

A worldwide web of tennis fans has been worshiping Federer and his court for five years. Is his rule over the sport about to become history?

Both Federer and Nadal are coming to Beijing this summer.