There have been some genuinely memorable tennis matches over the years. And while many will have their own ideas on which should go down in history as the best, there are some that just stand out from the crowd in terms of the drama and excitement.
Federer vs Nadal – Wimbledon Final 2008
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are two of the greatest tennis players of all time. And when they meet on the court, as they did in the final at Wimbledon in 2008, it often becomes a must-watch. The match began with Nadal winning the first two sets, then swung the other way as Federer fought back to level things up. The deciding set is what makes this one of the greatest tennis matches of all time, as both players led and went close before Nadal secured victory.
Borg vs McEnroe – Wimbledon Final 1980
It’s another men’s singles Wimbledon final on our list, and this time it was Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe on centre court. The popularity of tennis is reflected in the volume of betting on tennis matches and tournaments such as Wimbledon, as millions tune in worldwide to watch. They certainly did on men’s finals day in 1980, when the match first swung in Borg’s favour, before McEnroe fought back in typical fashion. In the end, Borg wrapped up proceedings by winning nineteen straight points on serve after nearly four hours of action. It was a clash of personalities, too, with Borg cool, calm and collected, and McEnroe fiery throughout.
Federer vs Roddick – Wimbledon Final 2009
Yes, we know, it’s another men’s singles Wimbledon final, but what a final it was between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. Federer was the icon, but Roddick was very much the people’s champion, and it was unfortunate to see him only win one Grand Slam in a career blighted by injuries. The Wimbledon Final of 2009 saw Roddick go close against a man he often fell short against, setting a record for the most number of games won in a final on centre court (39). The match makes this list because it was just a serious battle between two players at the top of their respective games, with Federer winning on the day.
Djokovic vs Nadal – Australian Open Final 2012
We move away from Wimbledon to give a mention for what was the longest-ever Grand Slam final in the history of the sport of tennis. The match saw Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal go head to head, with the former coming out on top. Again, this was a contest of the highest quality, which is why the match went on for close to six hours. Every point drew you in as the pendulum swung one way and then another. But, let’s face it, Djokovic and Nadal will both go down in history as legends of the sport, with tons of Grand Slam victories and accolades to their names.
