Lost a 5th Set Grand Slam Final then Won 5th Set Grand Slam Final the Following Year

[McEnroeisanartist]

In the open era, only twice has a male player lost a singles Grand Slam final in one year then won the same singles Grand Slam final the following year:

Stan Smith lost in the 1971 Wimbledon final 6-4 in the fifth then won the 1972Wimbledon final 7-5 in the fifth.

Roger Federer lost in the 2008 Wimbledon final 9-7 in the fifth then won the 2009 Wimbledon final 16-14 in the fifth.

[woodrow1029]

Nadal lost 2007 Wimbledon final 6-2 in the 5th, then won 2008 Wimbledon final 9-7 in the 5th.

[ClarkC]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

Nadal lost 2007 Wimbledon final 6-2 in the 5th, then won 2008 Wimbledon final 9-7 in the 5th.

Well then, that is the third of the two occurences that we are talking about.

[krosero]

Dinny Pails and John Bromwich split five-set finals at the Australian Championships in 1946-47.

Nicola Pietrangeli won a five-set final at RG in 1960 over Luis Ayala but lost in five the next year to Manuel Santana.

Wilfred Baddeley won a five-set All-Comers final at Wimbledon in 1895 over Wilberforce Eaves but lost in five in the Challenge Round the next year to Harold Mahony.

Don Budge lost a five-set final at the US Championships in 1936 to Fred Perry and came back the next year to win in five over Gottfried von Cramm.