© Professional Sport / T Hindley

Roger Federer's four years of dominance at Wimbledon draw him level with Pete Sampras of the USA, whose last victory was in 2000. The American's own bid to match Borg was halted in the fourth round the following year by a hot young prospect whose fury for his own string of successes was beginning to burn inside him. His name? Roger Federer.

Now it is Federer who has Borg is his sights as the 2006 champion made clear in the ecstatic moments after receiving the trophy which he has made a familiar friend. Borg stopped playing any kind of tennis at the age of 26 but Federer, now 24, has years ahead of him to sustain his dynasty.

Borg, grimly concentrated under his headband and slamming double-fisted attacks from the baseline, was unbreakable at Wimbledon for five years running from 1976 and saw off the challenge of Jimmy Connors in two finals and John McEnroe in one. But once McEnroe beat him in 1981 Borg never came to Wimbledon again as a competitor.

What was presented to us today was the start of a rivalry which could remain at Wimbledon for maybe five more years. The belief before Wimbledon was that Rafael Nadal might founder in his first serious test on grass even though he had been so formidable on clay with two French Open titles already.

History counted against Nadal because only two French champions out of the past 20 winners at Roland Garros had successfully made the transition to Wimbledon and its final. One was Andre Agassi, the second is Nadal.

Adaptability, technique, a furious range of ambition, and a sensible awareness of what is required on grass have made Nadal a real contender on the surface in one leap. Given today's form and conditions, Federer and Nadal can expect to be the top two at Wimbledon again next year. How can anyone else expect to gain a higher ranking?

It was no coincidence of course that Manuel Santana of Spain was in the Royal Box at Wimbledon for the Federer-Nadal final. Santana is the only Spaniard to have won the Wimbledon title, in 1966,and the 40th anniversary of his victory over the Californian Dennis Ralston was an ideal time to make him the guest of The Championships.

He was not exactly a background figure to Nadal's mission and gave advice if required but it was a reminder to the young man from Majorca what a Spaniard can do at Wimbledon. What a contrast, too, because Santana started his association with tennis as a ball boy and made it to the top. He, too, was brilliant on a clay court but in his Wimbledon title year he missed the French and came to London five weeks ahead of Wimbledon to play on grass as much as he could.

Nadal's style of play, macho to an extreme, is in almost total contrast to Santana whose quality of touch and natural artistry was devastating in its day. Nadal is not afraid of artistry either. Neither is Federer. On so many other levels of the game they meet with equal ambitions and it is just a question of who has the belief and conviction on the day.

In the shadow of Federer's fourth title there is no question that Nadal already walks tall. Other have walked tall - and never made it to the trophy. Australia's Ken Rosewall, once dubbed the "Doomsday Stroking Machine", lost four finals at Wimbledon and won none. Fred Stolle, another Australian, lost three and never won. It happens.

It should not happen to Nadal. At 20 he will know that although he has plenty of time ahead of him the only danger to his ambitions being fulfilled is the man who beat him on the Wimbledon Centre Court today.