Federer matches Borg record

With Borg watching from the Royal Box on Centre Court, Federer was tested to the limit in an epic contest before sealing a 7-6 4-6 7-6 2-6 6-2 victory in three hours and 45 minutes.

Federer slumped to the grass in relief after putting away a smash on his second match point, and the 25-year-old wiped away tears as the capacity crowd rose to acclaim a brilliant performance.

The top seed took the opening set on a tie-break, but Nadal hit back to level the match and was often playing the better tennis, particularly from the back of the court.

Another tie-break was required to decide the outcome of the third set and again it was Federer who came out on top, his 16th ace giving him a 4-2 lead and he took it 7-3 with the first of his three set points.

Federer looked to have seized control of the match, only to lose his serve in the opening game of the fourth set as Nadal whipped a forehand return winner past him.

To make matters worse, the world number one was then broken again in controversial circumstances in the third game - Nadal successfully challenged a call on the baseline to create a break point, but Federer remained convinced the ball had been out despite the evidence of Hawk-Eye.

Some hope for Federer came after he held serve to make it 4-1, Nadal taking a medical time-out at the change of ends to receive treatment on his right knee. The 21-year-old appeared unaffected as he held serve on the resumption, and by holding serve again he took the set 6-2 to set up a thrilling decider.

Federer had the advantage of serving first in the decider, but Nadal had won his last seven five-set matches in a row, including back-to-back victories at Wimbledon this year.

Federer saved two break points in consecutive service games, and then broke Nadal with some inspired passing shots, three forehand winners giving him a 4-2 lead - and another break of serve then sealed an thrilling victory.