Who was the chair umpire for the 2008 Wimbledon final?

Pascal Maria was the chair umpire for the 2008 Wimbledon men’s singles final.

Maria officiated the famous match between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on Centre Court on July 6, 2008. Nadal won 6–4, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7 in a match lasting 4 hours and 48 minutes, making it the longest Wimbledon final at the time.

The contest was played in difficult conditions, with rain delays interrupting the match and pushing the conclusion toward dusk. Maria’s role required him to manage the long pauses, changing light and intense pressure surrounding one of the most closely watched finals in tennis history.

This match is sometimes confused with other major finals involving officials such as Lars Graff or Carlos Ramos. However, Maria was the French chair umpire assigned to the 2008 Wimbledon final. Nadal’s victory ended Federer’s five-year reign as Wimbledon champion and gave Nadal his first title at the tournament.