In the wake of Rafael Nadal's historic Wimbledon triumph, the Spanish media have hailed their new champion, proclaiming him the "King Nadal".

In defeating Roger Federer, the five-time champion, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 in the longest singles final in the history of the All England Club, Nadal became the first Spaniard to win the title since Manuel Santana in 1966.

When Santana won Wimbledon, Gene Cernan had just completed the second United States spacewalk, Harold Wilson, the Prime Minister, was about to fly to Moscow to open negotiations with the Soviet Union in a bid to halt the Vietnam War and a certain football trophy was soon to be handed to the great Bobby Moore.

And with the 22-year-old's success coming just a week after the Spanish national team won Euro 2008, the world No 2 is understandably being hailed as a national hero.

AS, the Spanish sports daily, carried the front-page headline, "Long live King Nadal!"above a picture of him being congratulated by Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia. It added: "It was a memorable victory in the best final in the history of Wimbledon."

Marca, said: "It doesn't matter what the ATP say Rafa, you are the No 1," alongside a picture of the new champion biting the trophy. Proudly adding: "'Rocky' Nadal beat Federer in the match of the century".

ABC newspaper simply says "God save the King", and carries an interview with Santana, in which he says, "Nadal will win Wimbledon many more times, especially when Federer is not taking part."

While El Mundo adds "Rafael Nadal has opened an new era in tennis", and El Pais added: "Nadal has become a giant - neither the rain nor Federer could stop him."