Top 10 Tennis Matches of the Century: Which One Left You Unfulfilled?

During the off-season, various statistics and rankings keep emerging. Now, with only a quarter of the 21st century behind us, tennis has selected the top ten matches of this century. Do you think these rankings are well-deserved?

1. 2012 Australian Open Final: Djokovic vs Nadal

2. 2008 Wimbledon Final: Nadal vs Federer

3. 2019 Wimbledon Final: Djokovic vs Federer

4. 2025 French Open Final: Alcaraz vs Sinner

These four matches, no matter when the list is made, surely deserve a spot. Their inclusion is justified both by the intensity of the contests and their significance, marking them as elite-level encounters.

So far, the 2012 Australian Open final remains the longest men’s Grand Slam final in duration, but due to prolonged serve delays by Djokovic and Nadal, the match’s excitement was somewhat diminished, drawing criticism from many fans.

The famous 2008 Federer-Nadal clash was even made into a documentary called "The Point of Genius." This match marked the end of Federer’s five-year Wimbledon reign as the grass-court king, with the young Spaniard finally overcoming him. Shortly after, Nadal ascended to the top spot, having waited a long time in the wings.

The 40-15 moment in 2019 still stings for many fans. Back then, some even believed Federer might have missed two GOAT points, but he himself was never too upset about it. Federer has expressed that he wasn’t very disappointed, and Djokovic’s later performances proved that even losing that match didn’t diminish his historical standing.

This year’s French Open final is the most recent, featuring two post-2000 stars performing together, signaling a smooth passing of the torch from the Big Three to the new generation.

5. 2017 Australian Open Final: Federer vs Nadal

This match carries even more emotional weight. After Djokovic’s rise, Federer and Nadal hadn’t met in a Grand Slam final for many years. Their reunion after both had dipped in form the previous year was highly significant.

6. 2022 Australian Open Final: Nadal vs Medvedev

7. 2009 Australian Open Semifinal: Nadal vs Verdasco

8. 2009 Wimbledon Final: Federer vs Roddick

9. 2005 Wimbledon Final: Serena Williams vs Davenport

10. 2013 French Open Semifinal: Nadal vs Djokovic

Among the last five matches, only two were semifinals, and of all the players mentioned, only Verdasco never achieved a world No.1 ranking or won a Grand Slam. The sole women’s match included was an all-American clash where Serena wasn’t even the main focus. Surprisingly, none of the ten matches took place at the US Open, the Grand Slam considered most open for champions.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Cheng Qiye)