The greatest tennis matches ever witnessed have been marked by incredible athleticism, endurance and competitive spirit – not simply scores but drama and context as well. These contests showcase truly phenomenal feats of human strength!
In this article, we will look at five of the greatest tennis matches ever played – each an example of its kind!
1. John Isner vs. Gaston Mahut
If you follow tennis, chances are you have seen or at least heard about John Isner and Nicolas Mahut’s epic three-day match that lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days – with eight-hour fifth set alone lasting nearly 24 hours – last week. Isner and Mahut broke numerous records throughout this incredible match; including holding serve for an astounding 168 consecutive games throughout their respective matches!
Many would argue that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s final at Wimbledon is the greatest tennis match ever played, but I believe Isner and Mahut’s first round match stands out in terms of its story and drama. With huge amounts of hype surrounding it as well as two great players who refused to surrender at any point during its long course, this battle for supremacy between these two had it all! It even continued past midnight which added another layer of intrigue.
Isner-Mahut was one of the greatest tennis matches ever seen, thanks to its length and how neither player gave up. Finally, Isner won with a down-the-line backhand pass on his fourth match point in the fifth set and Mahut collapsed onto the grass immediately afterwards, only to recover quickly and embrace his opponent in victory.
Isner-Mahut was truly epic and was worthy of being named as the greatest tennis match of all time. All tennis enthusiasts should see this epic battle; it will leave them with an undying love of tennis that they may carry throughout their lives.
2. Roger Federer vs. Andy Roddick
Roger Federer and Andy Roddick faced off again in a Wimbledon final since Roddick won their only previous encounter at the All England Club back in 2009. It was all at stake for both players as they vied to capture their only major title; Federer could extend his record of 16 Grand Slam victories while Roddick may be experiencing one of his finest periods ever.
The match turned into an epic one and will forever be remembered by fans everywhere. Both players played an intense fifth set that left everyone on edge; there were break point opportunities, tight games, momentum shifts, and close games galore! At its close point Roddick had two match point opportunities but Federer proved too powerful on his serve to force it; instead defending two match points before winning it in an amazing tie-break victory!
Federer found some of the grass court magic that helped him defeat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros only four weeks prior, and came back from two sets down to claim victory in an unforgettable classic match that will go down in history as one of its finest moments.
Few gave Roddick much hope of victory against Federer at Wimbledon 2009. After finishing second two consecutive times to Federer at Wimbledon (in 2004 and 2005 respectively) with an unfavorable 2-18 career record against him, few gave Roddick any real hope in 2009. Yet his performance at Wimbledon 2009 showed everyone that he could compete with any player on such an arduous court surface.
3. Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are two of the greatest tennis players ever seen on a tennis court, making their encounter in grand slam finals an eventful affair. When these two met four consecutively during 2011 – 2012 season (Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open), Djokovic claimed victory twice before Nadal won their fourth match-up with an epic four-set battle at Australia Open.
Their matches are often memorable due to their immense skill level and distinct personalities; while Nadal tends to remain calm and unobtrusive, Djokovic tends to get loud and animated during matches – leading to some gripping tennis matches like Wimbledon ’08 final where both were competing for year-end number one status.
No matter their distinct styles, these two are still fast friends off of the court and both consider each other some of the most reputable people in tennis. Their final match featured incredible volleys, rallies, drop shots and ground strokes making it hard to pick just one great moment from this intense encounter – both agree that fifth set tiebreaker was truly remarkable and brutal encounter.
Djokovic leads Dmitri in their head-to-head matchups 59 times including four grand slam finals with 11-7 advantage; their matches have been some of the most thrilling matches ever witnessed with many lasting five sets – leading up to and including 2012 Australian Open final, which lasted an astonishing 5 hours and 53 minutes and is widely considered one of grand slam history’s finest displays of pure talent and grand slam final history’s greatest battle.
4. Roger Federer vs. Billie Jean King
This match provided every excitement a sports fan could hope for in an epic final. The four-set marathon included plenty of unexpected twists and turns as well as incredible tennis from Roddick. Federer too was at his best during this thrilling encounter. Roddick even had one match point during this epic encounter!
Most would agree that Borg-McEnroe’s rivalry is one of the greatest ever seen on court, and their match certainly didn’t disappoint in terms of excitement and drama – from their respective styles to clashing personalities, it made for an amazing spectacle that will live long in memory. A particularly memorable fourth set tiebreaker where Borg held off numerous match points from McEnroe stands out among its many memorable moments.
The last major final of these two legendary players’ careers was an exciting event. Both men played an outstanding five-set match filled with fantastic tennis – featuring long rallies and amazing serve work – that sent shockwaves through the sport and cemented their places as some of the great rivalries ever seen in tennis history.
There have been some truly iconic matches in tennis’s long and storied history, and this book ranks some of the greatest. A captivating read that is sure to spark plenty of discussion on its biggest moments, author Paul Bingham has done extensive research into some of its biggest matches ever seen before writing this book – making this must-read reading material for any tennis enthusiast!
5. Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal
There have been so many great tennis matches throughout history that it can be hard to pick just one. Some matches allow us to relax into them while watching. Others keep us on edge throughout as two players engage in a battle of titans that has us hooked from start to finish.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have long been two of the great competitors of their generation. Meeting 11 times at Grand Slam finals (Nadal winning 8 to Djokovic’s three wins), these two rivals have produced some amazing matches over time – most recently during last year’s Paris final when Djokovic triumphantly overcame Nadal to claim his maiden French Open title with five set victory.
This match ranks as one of the greatest tennis matches ever and one of the greatest sporting contests ever seen. At four hours and 33 minutes long, this epic semi-final showcased both players’ incredible endurance and mental fortitude as they held out through high drama, including an unprecedented 66-minute final set where Djokovic had numerous opportunities to close out the match and claim victory.
Djokovic eventually outlasted Spain in a five-set tiebreak and won by scoring seven consecutive points: 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 7-5 and 9-7 – making history and widely considered the greatest tennis match ever played.