Best Tennis Matches by Decade

[Vieira151]

I just had an idea while watching the highlights of this match here.

So, everyone likes to talk about the best matches ever, right? I thought it'd be a cool idea to see what everyone thought was the best match in each decade.

I was thinking, I'd take submissions/nominations for each decade, and then perhaps we could poll unless there was a clear winner. If polling is a pain in the, then I think it'd just be cool to see what matches people liked. It will be subjective, but I think it'd be interesting to see why exactly people liked certain matches. So yeah, put down your nominations and I'll see how this turns out.

You may suggest as many matches per decade as you want, but you'll only be able to vote one.

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Australian Open 2005 SF - M. Safin d. R. Federer. 5-7 6-4 5-7 7-6 9-7. Highlights

2010s

WImbledon 2013 SF - N. Djokovic d. JM. Del Potro. 7-5 4-6 7-6 6-7 6-3. Highlights

[C4iLL]

1990s : becker sampras at hannover in 5 sets (masters cup), it's at the same level of current tennis I think, unreal shots on lines, angles etc

[FEDERER2]

1980 borg mc enroe final

2013 ferrer- nadal final

[kenos]

1980s

Roland Garros 1984 F - Lendl d. McEnroe 3-6 2-6 6-4 7-5 7-5

1990s

US Open 1996 QF - Sampras d. Corretja 7-6 5-7 5-7 6-4 7-6

2000s

Wimbledon 2001 F - Ivanisevic d. Rafter 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7
Tennis Masters Cup 2005 F - Nalbandian d. Federer 6-7 6-7 6-2 6-1 7-6

[ICEMAN_9588]

In 2010s there are at least a couple of matches better than Wimbledon SF in 2013, in my opinion.
Wimbledon F 2014- Djokovic def. Federer 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4
French Open SF 2011: Federer def. Djokovic 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5)
Australian Open F 2012: Djokovic def. Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5
Australian Open R16 2013: Djokovic def. Wawrinka 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(5), 12-10

2000s
I agree with Vieira about Safin defeating Federer in Australia.
I would just add Sampras def. Agassi in US Open QF (2001) 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 7-6(2), 7-6(5). No break on serve.

About the other decades, I was definetely too young (or unborn) to remember XD

[Corbon]

Why only one per decade?

80's: Lendl-McEnroe, 1984 FO Final
80's: Becker-McEnroe, 1987 Davis Cup (4-6, 15-13, 8-10, 6-2, 6-2)
80's: Chang-Lendl, 1989 FO R16
90's: Sampras-Corretja, 1996 USO QF
00's: Nadal-Coria, 2005 Rome Final
00's: Nadal-Verdasco, 2009 AO SF

[Vieira151]

Because instead of it being "BEST TENNIS MATCH EVER", and only getting to vote for one match since the Open Era started, I thought it would be nicer if people could choose their single favourite match per decade. Obviously, if there is more than one per decade, then you aren't voting your favourite match per decade, but rather your favourite matches. Which is not the point.

The idea is to find the best match in each decade.

[Elias]

1980 Wimbly final, Borg vs. Mcenroe 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16–18), 8–6

it's a tennis anthem, that tie break tension was crazy.

[chris_high]

Wimbledon final 2008 Federer-Nadal 6/4 6/4 6/7 6/7 9/7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1yfWb0-jqQ

[Cro Morgan]

Lots of great matches but when it comes to great and memorable, none better than:

1991 U.S. Open fourth round, Grampa Connors defeats Aaron Krickstein, 3–6, 7–6, 1–6, 6–3, 7–6.

[djarvik]

I agree. Connors was/is an asshole - but he knew how to put on a show and create the atmosphere.

[Corbon]

"Connors never gave up." Mikael Pernfors

[Pepe Bradock]

Connors is an asshole and when he played, his nose was coke-full. One of the reasons why he never gave up (and also why he implied in some rehab associations when he retired from the game). But he also was the ultimate showman, that is so true !

Remember this game in Paris (1990 or 1991, not sure) against Chang. He was more than tired, couldn't even run, and he quit the match after having scored the 1st point in 5th set, just to say that he was ahead when he gave up .

About best games per decade :

1970's :
I was born in 1975, so I'm too young to remember tennis games I've (maybe) watched in the 70's .

1980's :
McEnroe - Connors, Wimbledon, F, 1984 : 6-1 6-1 6-2
For sure, not a tight game, but probably the greatest performance to the net I've seen in my all life. Mac was flying this day, making love with balls and lines. Incredible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoOwJlysdLI

1990's :
Agassi - Sampras, Bercy, QF, 1995 : 7-5 7-6
Only a QF, that's true, and certainly not the most famous game between these 2 legendary rivals. But this match level was totally crazy. I was in stadium (lucky me) and it was like some ping pong game as it was so quick, with 2 guys playing backcourt semi-volleys half of the time ! A very few errors, tons of winners, incredible game !

https://youtu.be/EAKZuG_llsM

2000's :
Nalbandian - Federer, Tennis Masters Cup, F, 2005 : 6-7 6-7 6-2 6-1 7-6
Nalby played like god in the last 3 sets (same level than in 2007 when he won back to back Madrid and Bercy, beating each time Nole, Rafa and Roger !). The only guy able to come back from 2 sets 0 vs Fed indoor (Nadal did it same year in Miami if I'm not wrong).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm_wClDQoa0

2010's :
Djokovic - Nadal, Australian Open, F, 2012 : 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5
Almost 6 hours of total war, the greatest game ever in my opinion. I was in front of TV for the all game and was so tired at the end, as if I just came to really play tennis as it was such an intense match !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDWNrvXL9Gs

And bonus :

Forget - Sampras, Davis Cup, F, last game, 1991 : 7-6 3-6 6-3 6-4
I was 16, I was in stadium, 8 meters from the court, I gave many punches on Bolletieri Uncle Sam hat who was sat just in front of me, I sang a capella Saga Africa with Noah and all supporters at the end, I cried, I was nuts... What else ??!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awsvaGltziY