Federer hits back to level final

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Defending champion Roger Federer staged an incredible fightback to square the Wimbledon final with Rafael Nadal at two sets each on Sunday.

Federer saved two championship points in a nerve-racking fourth set tiebreak, one with an amazing backhand pass, before taking it 10-8 on his second set point.

The Swiss world number one trailed 4-6 4-6 against the Spanish powerhouse but hung on grimly to win a third set tiebreak after an 81-minute rain break.

Federer's hopes of winning a record sixth Wimbledon title were hanging by a thread after an inspired Nadal seized his chances in the opening two sets while the Swiss squandered his.

After a 30-minute rain delay the final began with Nadal dominating the early exchanges with his forehand doing most of the damage.

The second seed, bidding to become the first Spaniard to win the title since Manuel Santana in 1966, broke Federer's second service game when the Swiss completely missed a backhand in the difficult, windy conditions.

It was only the third time all tournament that the 26-year-old had dropped a service game.

Federer, unbeaten on grass for six years, a run spanning 65 matches, had an immediate chance to break back but wafted a forehand over the baseline.