When an irresistible force meets an immovable object

IT'S a question that has bugged philosophers, mathematicians, physicians and rock DJs for millennia, what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?

Well, I can tell you that within the limits of our space-time continuum and physical world, this can never happen because these objects can never exist apart from in our minds.

Unless, of course, you were watching Wimbledon on Sunday for the men's singles final, where we got to see the outcome played out between our very eyes!

Federer is in every way the perfect model for an immovable object. For years I've watched him reach a level of perfection that the other tennis players can only aspire to.

Well, apart from one - the irresistible force that is Rafael Nadal. Each day that passes Nadal has been getting closer and closer to the standard that the Swiss tennis God was setting.

And finally, after years of knocking on the door, and proving himself much the better on clay, he managed to beat Federer on what has become his home court.

Let's not forget that before the final, Federer had not lost a game on grass for 65 matches, and had won his last 41 consecutive matches at Wimbledon, only dropping seven sets in the process!

Finally, it was time for Nadal to step out of the shadows of Federer, and wow did he do it in style!

I think it would have been all over at 4pm if the rain had not come. Nadal was on fire, and handling everything Federer could throw at him - but after the rain break the true champion in Federer emerged on court and threatened to ruin Nadal's day.

Only after five sets, and one of the greatest matches SW19 has ever seen, did Nadal emerge victorious - and what a reward for all of his hard work, dedication and talent!

I think this is where the key to both of these players' success lies. Obviously they were gifted with an amazing level of natural ability, but this is not what makes them head and shoulders above everyone else.

It's their work ethic, their ability to drive themselves harder in training than anyone, and of course just sheer hard graft.

While other tennis players take a rest month, say in September, Nadal always uses this time to work on new shots, and of his fitness levels are incredible. Meanwhile, no-one works on the technical aspects of his game half as hard as Federer does.

There does come a point in sport where natural ability will get you only so far, and the rest is down to hard work and dedication, or so I have been told!

Sport is cyclical. Look at any discipline from darts to rugby, from football to the Olympics.

It often takes an exceptional player to come along and raise the stakes, someone who is willing to push themselves harder than the others, and rewrite the training guidelines and dedication needed, to take a sport to the next level.

Then the other players find themselves in a situation where they will need to raise their game if they want to stay in the elite. Think of Phil Taylor (darts), The All Blacks (rugby) and Michael Johnson (athletics). This is how sport evolves and pushes itself forwards.

What we must be grateful for is that in tennis at the moment, we have two of these exceptional athletes, and I look forward to seeing their rivalry grow, especially as they are obviously such different people.

As an avid sports player, you have moments when you know you are on top of your game, and that you are performing at a level higher than anyone else. These are moments to cherish.

Unfortunately, my last moment like this was when I was 16 playing for my school's under 14 team at rugby. How I enjoyed having longer legs than everyone else, facial hair and a motorbike.

I scored all 22 points for my team and was having a stormer (funny that, being 3 years older and about 4 stone heavier than most of the opposition!) but it only lasted until I annoyed a rather aggressive 13 year old and he decided to rearrange my nose.

Oh, and on a personal note, I wanted Nadal to win. I admire Federer for his sheer class, but it was good to see him beaten, and taken out of his comfort zone. It will be very interesting to see how he responds.

Will he go quietly into the dark night? I doubt it!