A spellbinding display of brutal hitting and raw speed from Rafa Nadal secured the Spaniard his second Wimbledon title on Sunday with a 6-3 7-5 6-4 victory over 12th seed Tomas Berdych.

Nadal, who has not lost here since the 2007 final after victory in 2008 and injury prevented his defense last year, completely nullified the 1.95m Czech’s biggest weapons to storm to an eighth career grand slam and open up a cavernous lead at the top of the world rankings.

The win, which completed a second French Open-Wimbledon double in three years for Nadal, came after two hours and 13 minutes when his 20th forehand winner left Berdych stranded at the net on his first championship point.

He celebrated by slumping on to his back on the baseline, holding his face in his hands before embracing Berdych at the net and performing an impromptu roly poly and double fist pump toward his entourage.

“More than a dream for me, always a dream to play in this final,” Nadal said in an on-court interview.

“To have this trophy in my hands, amazing. You’re (Berdych) doing an amazing season, sorry for today but I wish you luck for the rest of the season.” From the moment Nadal bounced, weaved and stretched his way down the corridors of the All England Club to Center Court like a fired-up prize fighter, there was a sense nothing could derail the 24-year-old..

The Game

Both held their opening service games to love on a bright and breezy day, and neither was under early pressure, and even a male fan bellowing “I love you Rafa” could not throw the Spaniard’s focus.

Game seven turned the tone of the match though, as Nadal stepped up a gear and Berdych’s first serve deserted him.

Nadal’s forehand was starting to eat up the Berdych serve, and the Mallorcan brought the crowd to life with a searing forehand pass down the line to bring up three break points.

A cutting backhand return had the Czech stretching and Nadal clenched his fist with stern-faced determination when Berdych’s forehand skewed out.

The pre-match build-up had focused on the Berdych forehand, which had dismantled six-times champion Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the last two rounds, but Nadal reminded everyone that his is the most potent weapon in the game.

Serena Williams Wins at Wimbledon, Tops King With 13th Grand Slam Title

Summers used to be difficult for Serena Williams, whose dad made her and elder sister Venus practice twice daily on the public tennis courts of the Los Angeles suburb of Compton.

Williams raised 13 fingers yesterday to her father, Richard, on the Centre Court of Wimbledon after beating Russia’s Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 for her fourth trophy on the London grass courts. Her 13th Grand Slam singles title moved her one ahead of mentor Billie Jean King, who applauded the American from the Royal Box.

“I hated the summers, because I think we had two practices a day,” Williams said after the match in an interview with a small group of reporters.

“We would always go in the morning, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and then we would have lunch at the park and then right after lunch we’d go back to practice. It was tough. But when you’re that young, you don’t really think about it. At the time, my dad would go sometimes next door to the liquor store to buy us the latest sports drink. It’s all those memories and all that hard work that you just never forget. And, eventually, it pays off.”

At least one of the sisters has appeared in 10 of the last 11 Wimbledon finals.

Serena also won in 2002, 2003 and 2009. Venus won her fifth title in 2008, beating her younger sister. In the past decade, only Russia’s Maria Sharapova in 2004 and Amelie Mauresmo of France in 2006 have broken the Williams’s domination.