We know how exciting tennis can be. But do you know what the best tennis matches of all time look like?
We have carefully listed the top 15 tennis matches of all the major competitions of the year.
The 15 Best Tennis Matches Ever
Don’t take this best tennis match of all time ranking too seriously either, as your opinion of the game may differ from ours.
Here is the list of best tennis matches of all time:
15. Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer (2019)
The 2019 Wimbledon final is the last to join this list. Considered one of the best matches in tennis, many are backing Roger Federer.
Unfortunately, Novak Djokovic can stop them and win the match even if he plays well.
Moreover, the match lasted more than 5 hours, under the old rules Djokovic and Federer played much longer. When the final set was tied at 12, Wimbledon changed the format to a fifth-set tiebreaker.
However, Djokovic went into the tiebreak with a solid performance, winning 7-3.
14. Stan Wawrinka vs Novak Djokovic
The match between Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic in the final of the 2015 French Open is sometimes overlooked, but it was perhaps one of the most unexpected defeats in tennis history.
In this match, Stan Wawrinka defeated Roger Federer in the quarter-finals and Novak Djokovic in the final in four sets. He beat the No. 1 and No. 2 best men’s tennis players in the world.
It’s the best and least expected thing at a tennis tournament.
Although Djokovic took the lead in the first set, Wawrinka came back to win the next two legs. He won the next three sets without a tiebreak.
13. Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer struggled to win a Grand Slam ahead of the 2017 Australian Open, and although his last win was in 2012, many have speculated that his championship era is over.
As a result, many believe that Rafael Nadal should take him on and build on his status as a young player after reaching the final.
To everyone’s surprise, things didn’t go as planned as Federer quickly took the lead and won the first set. In other words, Federer played the best set of his career in the third set after Nadal equalised.
The 35-year-old thus became Grand Slam champion for the fifth time after winning his fifth title.
12. Novak Djokovic against Roger Federer (2014)
Djokovic was one of the most dominant players until 2011. However, he slowed down and stopped winning majors.
In 2014, however, he turned things around and started a great match by beating Roger Federer in the final in five sets.
There were two tiebreaks throughout the match, with the first set being the best set in the history of Grand Slam tennis.
The players understood the importance of a fast start and Federer won 9-7 in the tiebreak, where Djokovic went on to win all the other deciding matches, eventually breaking serve in the fourth and fifth sets.
11. Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic
This is perhaps the most telling evidence of Rafael Nadal’s dominance on clay. It is one of the best tennis matches of all time. Nadal at his peak against Novak Djokovic.
Many expected Rafael Nadal to beat Djokovic quickly in the fourth set after taking a two-set lead in the third.
In this match, both players hit amazing shots with amazing play. It’s fantastic to see these two talented players go head to head with equal support from both sides.
In the fifth set, however, Nadal finally managed a break. As a result, he returned triumphant and won the French Open title for the second time.
10. Roger Federer against Andy Roddick
The two players here are regarded as one of the best tennis matches of all time and are roughly the same age. Not to mention that both are at the pinnacle of success.
In this match, Roddick seems to have beaten Federer for the first time. The tiebreak decided two of the five sets, while the final set lasted 30 games.
Despite Roddick’s excellent serve, Federer enjoyed a well-deserved break. In the end, in the end, Roger Federer won the match 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14.
9. Novak Djokovic against Rafael Nadal
As we all know, this is the longest Grand Slam final in sporting history. The 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal was a long and difficult match.
Spectators could see that both players struggled to keep their composure throughout the match.
Although the pair played well late in the fifth set, Nadal’s closeness to victory was perhaps the most annoying thing about it.
He took an early lead in the fifth set, breaking Djokovic’s serve and leading 4-2. Djokovic took it to the next level in the fifth set as he fought back and eventually traded serves to his death, winning 7-5.
8. Pete Sampras v Andre Agassi
Voted one of the best tennis matches of all time, the 2001 US Open between legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi was actually great for both of them.
They also played four sets in the fourth round, all of which went to a tiebreak. Sampras won three with his incredible serve, which enabled him to win the match.
But two of America’s best tennis players faced each other on New York’s biggest stage. It was their last remarkable encounter.
7. Rafael Nadal vs Fernando Verdasco
The match between the two friends Nadal and Verdasco is tricky because they know each other’s winning strategies.
Many predicted that Fernando Verdasco would lose to Nadal in straight sets in this match. Verdasco, however, is determined to prove otherwise.
Although the match went to five sets, Nadal managed to win. It was not an easy victory, as Verdasco put him to the ultimate test of the tournament, which is still remembered today.
6. John Isner v Nicholas Mahut
Match No. 6 between Isner and Mahut in the first round of Wimbledon 2010 will go down as one of the longest tennis matches.
Speaking of the match, both players shared the first two sets, so it was relatively quiet at first.
Although her return was poor, her serve and return skills were excellent. As a result, the match turned into a multi-day match. In the end, Isner won the fifth set 70:68.
5. Rafael Nadal against Roger Federer
Perhaps it was because the match was between two rivals, or the quality of play, but it was a battle in the 2008 Wimbledon final.
The match began with Nadal taking an early 2-0 lead, but Federer turned it around in the third and fourth sets, winning consecutive tiebreaks and creating an epic fifth set. Chaos ensues when two players fight for the upper hand.
The match had to be temporarily interrupted at 5:4 due to rain delays. It became harder to watch, but Nadal finally broke through and won in the twilight.
Above all, it was a great moment in Nadal’s career as he proved he was more than a clay court expert by ousting Federer and ending his monopoly on the sport.
4. Roger Federer vs Pete Sampras
The match between two of the most talented players of all time is regarded as one of the best matches in tennis. In this match, Federer is only 19 and a vastly underrated player compared to Sampras.
To be clear: Sampras had a winning streak of 31 matches at Wimbledon. That makes him the greatest grass court player of all time.
Two of those sets ended in a tiebreak; however, after finding a serve that broke Sampras, Federer was able to win 7-5.
3. Ivan Lendl against John McEnroe
In the final of the 1984 French Open, McEnroe was chosen as the man most likely to win a Grand Slam title. He also easily won the first two sets.
But to everyone’s surprise, Lendl gained more and more momentum after winning the third set.
In the fourth set, some of McEnroe’s escapades turned in Lendl’s favour. Lendl then rode the wind and the waves to victory.
2. John McEnroe vs Bjorn Borg (1981)
The 1981 Wimbledon final between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg is one of the greatest tennis matches of all time and many people’s favourite tennis match.
Many doubt that McEnroe can crack Borg’s game in this match. However, the first of McEnroe’s three victories on grass was the most memorable moment.
McEnroe won each of these sets, although two of them went to a tie-break. He therefore won four sets and ultimately won the match.
1. Björn Borg v John McEnroe (1980) – Best Tennis Match Ever
It is the best tennis match ever it is filled with the most memorable moments and the best match between the two players.
Borg got off to a slow start and lost the first set 6:1, but the series that followed became tighter.
John McEnroe against Bjorn Borg in the 1980 Wimbledon final (Source: Youtube)
Swedish legend Björn Borg ended the fifth set 18-16.
Final Thoughts
There have been several iconic tennis matches over the years. In our best tennis matches of all time list we have selected that the best tennis match ever happened in 1980 against Björn Borg and John McEnroe.
F.A.Q
What is the best tennis match ever❓
The best tennis match ever is widely regarded as the 1980 Wimbledon final between Björn Borg and John McEnroe.
What are the best tennis matches of all time❓
Some of the best tennis matches of all time include the 1980 Wimbledon final between Björn Borg and John McEnroe, the 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and the 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
What are the top tennis matches ever played❓
Top tennis matches include the 1980 Wimbledon final between Björn Borg and John McEnroe, the 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and the 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Who won the longest tennis match in history❓
John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut in an epic Wimbledon match in 2010, lasting 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68.
Has there ever been a perfect tennis match❓
No, there has never been a perfect tennis match where a player wins every single point without losing any.