2001 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles 2001 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles Pete Sampras was a record seven-time (and four-time defending) champion, but he lost in the fourth round to 19-year-old Roger Federer. The Sampras-Federer match was the only time the two tennis legends ever competed against each other in any ATP event as active tour players. This was the first Grand Slam tournament at which Federer was seeded. Sampras was also attempting to equal Björn Borg's 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles. Goran Ivanišević defeated Pat Rafter in the final, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7 to win the Wimbledon title. Ivanišević became the first unseeded player to
2008 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles 2008 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles Rafael Nadal defeated the five-time defending champion Roger Federer in the final, 6–4, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7 to win the Gentlemen's Singles tennis title at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships. It was the longest championship match in Wimbledon history with play lasting four hours and 48 minutes, and with two rain delays. The event stretched over seven hours ending just before nightfall, and is widely considered to be the greatest match in tennis history. Roger Federer "(Final)" Gaël Monfils withdrew due to a shoulder injury. He was replaced in the draw by Lucky Loser Ilija