It was an astonishingly brilliant match, the best tennis I have ever witnessed - and I've been watching Wimbledon since 1982! The big question now is, can Rafael Nadal go on to take Roger Federer's crown as the best all-round tennis player in the world?

It's been quite a year for Nadal and his triumph at Queens pre-Wimbledon had the critics drooling and predicting an end to the Federer dominance at the All England Club. They were correct, Nadal was simply stunning throughout the tournament. What happens next is anyone's guess.

Federer will come back stronger. He is still a young man and I feel that he will want to at least equal Pete Sampras or even better the American's trophy haul. Nadal has still not reached his peak and perhaps Federer is past his, but between 2004 and 2006 Federer was on a completely different planet to anyone in the game, that's for certain. A living legend who, it seemed, was simply unplayable.

But now that Nadal has bettered the Swiss star on his own turf, so to speak, the Spaniard will take a confidence that is higher than supreme from this match and result.

Sampras said that once the Grand Slams started rolling there was an unbelievable confidence that every single shot in every game of every tournament was a winner and that it actually became easier to win the Slams. If anyone is going to know what he is talking about, it is Sampras.

However, I don't think that we have yet witnessed a passing of the torch and, barring a super-human effort from Novak Djokovic, I'm sure we will see a fourth Wimbledon final in a row between these two greats of tennis next year.

Federer and Nadal are now so far ahead of the rest it's getting a little embarrassing. When I say that, I mean no disrespect to the rest of the men on the circuit at the moment - it is simply a compliment to the two protagonists of a tennis story that includes two living legends playing at the same time.

The pace, control, precision and athleticism displayed by both Federer and Nadal yesterday was breathtaking, it really was. It was also marvellous to witness two players who are gentlemen on and off the court who appreciate and respect each other playing in front of a crowd who didn't want the game to end. There should not have been a loser, but that's sport. Federer's grace in defeat that must have hurt so much was admirable.

Nadal will not take the No.1 spot in the rankings yet, although surely it is only a matter of time. So does this victory mean that Nadal is the king of all surfaces and a better all-round player? Well, no. Nadal must win the US Open and the Australian Open. Federer is still top dog, make no bones about it. Nadal, brilliant in accepting the trophy, made this point crystal clear by praising Federer first - another act of a gentleman.

Federer is still the king but Nadal is starting his charge to close in on all the Swiss master has achieved. Does he have it in him? He proved yesterday that he has - but the mark of a truly legendary champion is to go back and do it over and over again.

Federer has done just that at Wimbledon, the US Open and Australia. Nadal has proved it at Roland Garros but he still has a long way to go. However, if yesterday's guts, drive, talent and determination are anything to go by, I certainly wouldn't bet against the man from Mallorca.