But Spanish ace Nadal kept battling and got a lucky break in the fourth game of the decider as his U.S opponent's return hit the netcord and bounced back on his side of the net to fall down a break.
The 28-year-old's usually-impeccable forehand was malfunctioning badly and he survived break points in games three and five before more mistakes and a netcord saw him hand Falla a chance to serve for the set at 6-5.
The tennis gods appeared still to be with the Croatian when a net-cord gave him three set points and he duly converted the second, to the delight of the SW19 crowd.
Stern through an emphasis of the union, could have made it where the union set up hard cord savings accounts for players , taking from their salaries and thus giving alot of players a better fiscal safety net.