Your 5 Best of Five Favorite Matches of All Time Are...

[Vince Evert]

What are five of your favorite greatest five-setters, either Grand Slams, Davis cup or ATP matches?

as for me , in no particular order, these are:

1987 Wimbledon Quarterfinal, Jimmy Connors d. Mikeal Pernfors, 1-6, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 - To this day must rate as the greatest comeback of all time. Jimmy was down 1-6,1-6,1-4 but still found a way to turn the match around and achieve a win !

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1987-07-01-8702250453-story.html

1980 Wimbledon final: Borg defeated McEnroe, 1-6,7-5,6-3.6-7.8-6.

1986 Davis Cup final: Cash defeated Pernfors, 2-6,4-6,6-3,6-2,6-3 - similar to the Connors comeback win vs Pernfors.

2007 Wimbledon: Federer d, Nadal: 7–6(9–7), 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 2–6, 6–2.

2008 Wimbledon: Nadal d. Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 (incredible scoreline)

 

[Andy22]

[2008 Wimbledon- nadal vs. Federer] [2009 Australian open nadal vs. Federer] [2013 us open nadal vs. Djokovic] [2019 us open nadal vs. Medvedev] [2013 roland garros SF nadal vs. Djokovic] these matches in my opinion are the greatest matches of all time.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

[2008 Wimbledon- nadal vs. Federer] [2009 Australian open nadal vs. Federer] [2013 us open nadal vs. Djokovic] [2019 us open nadal vs. Medvedev] [2013 roland garros SF nadal vs. Djokovic] these matches in my opinion are the greatest matches of all time.

 

[tented]

What are five of your favorite greatest five-setters, either Grand Slams, Davis cup or ATP matches?

as for me , in no particular order, these are:

1987 Wimbledon Quarterfinal, Jimmy Connors d. Mikeal Pernfors, 1-6, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 - To this day must rate as the greatest comeback of all time. Jimmy was down 1-6,1-6,1-4 but still found a way to turn the match around and achieve a win !

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1987-07-01-8702250453-story.html

1980 Wimbledon final: Borg defeated McEnroe, 1-6,7-5,6-3.6-7.8-6.

1986 Davis Cup final: Cash defeated Pernfors, 2-6,4-6,6-3,6-2,6-3 - similar to the Connors comeback win vs Pernfors.

2007 Wimbledon: Federer d, Nadal: 7–6(9–7), 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 2–6, 6–2.

2008 Wimbledon: Nadal d. Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 (incredible scoreline)

Nice choices, and a fun thread.

Favorite: 2008 Wimbledon final.

Runners-up (in no particular order):

2005 AO SF: Safin d. Federer — 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6, 9-7 — point for point, arguably the highest quality match I’ve ever seen
2013 RG SF: Nadal d. Djokovic — 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–7, 9–7
2001 USO QF: Sampras d. Agassi — 6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 7–6
2007 AO SF: Federer d. Roddick — 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 — Roger at his most lethal. I’m surprised Roddick won even six games.

 

[Bonaca]

Favorite:
1. 2001 Wimbledon F Goran vs. Rafter

2. 1997 Davis Cup RR Goran vs. Muster (Clay!!!)

3. 2012 AO F , Novak vs. Nadal

4. 2018 Wimbledon SF , Novak vs. Nadal

5. 2015 AO SF , Novak vs. Stanislas

 

[Moxie]

I agree that this is a fun idea for a thread. My top 3 have been mentioned, but in this order:

1. Wimbledon 2008 Final - Nadal d. Federer

2. AO 2005 SF - Safin d. Federer

3. Wimbledon 1980 Final - Borg d. McEnroe

I'll try to be original with my last 2,

Rome 2006 Final - Nadal d. Federer

AO 2009 SF - Nadal d. Verdasco (one of the greatest all-leftie matches?)

All pretty dramatic, with some to a lot of high quality tennis.

(I also agree with some of the others mentioned.)

 

[tented]

Rome 2006 Final - Nadal d. Federer

AO 2009 SF - Nadal d. Verdasco (one of the greatest all-leftie matches?)

@vince evert - can we pick our 7 favorite matches? I was just reminded of two more.

 

[Vince Evert]

@vince evert - can we pick our 7 favorite matches? I was just reminded of two more.

sure lets call it honorable mentions AYE. Now are they're 5 setters and past matches from the 80s and 70s era?

 

[Vince Evert]

a couple of HONORABLE MENTIONS would be:

1988 Masters final: Becker defeats Lendl, 5-7, 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(5) - extraordinary point on match-point
https://www.atptour.com/en/news/atp-heritage-becker-lendl-1988-masters-finale


‎1988 US Open final: WILANDER defeated Lendl, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4.
https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/12/sports/wilander-outlasts-lendl-to-win-us-open.html

BOTH Finals took the best part of 5 hours to complete and on fast surfaces too!

 

[rafanoy1992]

Here are my top 5 best of five matches:

1. 2008 Wimbledon final: Nadal d. Federer = for obvious reasons from a Nadal fan

2. 2019 US Open Final: Nadal d. Medvedev = I know it is recency bias from me but Nadal winning like that type of match as a 33 year old and inching closer to Federer's GS record is something I will cherish forever.

3. 2014 Wimbledon Final: Djokovic d. Federer = In my opinion, I thought this match was their best Grand Slam final match. The quality from the 1st set and the drama towards the end of the match were great.

4. 2013 Australian Open 4th Round: Djokovic d. Wawrinka = their best grand slam encounter. The shot making from both players in the 5th set was spectacular

5. 2009 Australian Open Final: Nadal d. Federer = Nadal's first hard court slam title

 

[brokenshoelace]

Non Nadal matches (having a favorite player involved alters perception considerably):

1. Federer vs Safin 2005 Australian Open. An obvious one that seems to be on everyone's list.

2. Djokovic vs. Wawrinka 2013 Australian Open. A shotmaking exhibition with an insane sustained level throughout.

3. Federer vs. Nalbandian 2006 Rome Masters. A real underrated gem that gets overshadowed by the next day's final.

4. Sampras vs. Becker 1996 Masters Cup. Just a brutal display of attacking tennis by both.

5. Djokovic vs. Murray 2012 Australian Open. The only knock on this match was the garbage first set. In fact I've never ever seen such a radical shift in match quality, as everything thereafter was just breathtaking.

Matches involving Nadal:

1. Nadal vs. Federer 2008 Wimbledon final, obviously.

2. Nadal vs. Verdasco 2009 Austarlian Open. Probably the best defensive display I've ever seen on a big stage. I still can't wrap my head around the onslaught he survived that day.

3. Nadal vs. Federer Rome 2006. Probably their best ever match in terms of quality.

4. Nadal vs. Coria Rome 2005. Just two amazing clay courters going toe to toe and covering every inch of the court.

5. Nadal vs. Djokovic 2013 French Open. Honestly, it's all about the final set. One of the rare times Nadal defeated Djokovic with pure shotmaking.

 

[isabelle]

Nalby beat Mr Vavrinec (Masters 2005)
Delpo beat Mr Vavrinec (USO 2009)
Soderling beat Manacor's bull (RG 2009)
Stan beat Nole (RG 2015)
Stan beat Nole (USO 2016)

 

[Vince Evert]

@vince evert - can we pick our 7 favorite matches? I was just reminded of two more.

where's your 'two more' then ?

 

[brokenshoelace]

I just noticed that this thread specified that the list has to be best of 5 matches, ruling out Fed-Nalbandian from Rome. I'll revise my list.

 

[tented]

where's your 'two more' then ?

The two I quoted which @Moxie listed:

Rome 2006 Final - Nadal d. Federer
AO 2009 SF - Nadal d. Verdasco

 

[calitennis127]

My 5 favorite overall.....(this is subject to revision as I think about it more)

1) Federer v. Djokovic - 2011 US Open semifinals

2) Federer v. Djokovic - 2014 Wimbledon final.

3) Federer v. Djokovic - 2019 Wimbledon final

4) Nalbandian v. Youzhny in the 2010 Davis Cup - insane level from Nalbandian

5) Federer v. Djokovic - 2011 French Open semi (highest level match on clay in the modern era, with Federer at his best and Djokovic undefeated for the season on clay and overall; I don't think any of us have ever seen clay court tennis played on a higher level.)


My 5 favorite involving Nadal.....

1) Delpo straight-setting Nadal in US Open 2009

2) Tsonga straight-setting Nadal in Melbourne 2008

3) Djokovic d. Nadal at the 2015 French Open in straight sets

3) Kyrgios defeating Nadal in Wimbledon 2014

4) Djokovic over Nadal Wimbledon 2011 - utterly hilarious ass-kicking

 

[Moxie]

My 5 favorite overall.....(this is subject to revision as I think about it more)

1) Federer v. Djokovic - 2011 US Open semifinals

2) Federer v. Djokovic - 2014 Wimbledon final.

3) Federer v. Djokovic - 2019 Wimbledon final

4) Nalbandian v. Youzhny in the 2010 Davis Cup - insane level from Nalbandian

5) Federer v. Djokovic - 2011 French Open semi (highest level match on clay in the modern era, with Federer at his best and Djokovic undefeated for the season on clay and overall; I don't think any of us have ever seen clay court tennis played on a higher level.)


My 5 favorite involving Nadal.....

1) Delpo straight-setting Nadal in US Open 2009

2) Tsonga straight-setting Nadal in Melbourne 2008

3) Djokovic d. Nadal at the 2015 French Open in straight sets

3) Kyrgios defeating Nadal in Wimbledon 2014

4) Djokovic over Nadal Wimbledon 2011 - utterly hilarious ass-kicking

So I guess this puts to bed the notion that you don't hate Nadal, only Nadal fans. :lulz2:

 

[Andy22]

most the matches you listed was of Djokovic beating Federer because you know he never won 5-setters against Djokovic.

 

[calitennis127]

So I guess this puts to bed the notion that you don't hate Nadal, only Nadal fans. :lulz2:

I maintain that it is a mixed bag. I rooted for him against Federer 2006 to January 2009 back when everyone kissed Federer's ass and talked like he was perfect when he wasn't. But after the 2009 Australian Open things have simply gotten out of hand. It was a classic case of someone (Federer) letting a minor problem (Nadal) fester until it became an enormous problem.

 

[calitennis127]

most the matches you listed was of Djokovic beating Federer because you know he never won 5-setters against Djokovic.

But I genuinely thought those were great matches too. The quality of play in this year's Wimbledon final was fantastic. To be fair to Nadal, he has produced some very entertaining matches with his movement, quickness, and stamina for prolonging rallies - particularly on hardcourts.