The 20 Most Legendary Matches of the Big 3 Era

The Guru

The Guru

Legend
As the Big 3 Era enters its 20th and maybe final year I decided to look back and pick the 20 matches I think were the most iconic of the period. The matches that you can't tell the story of the last 20 years without mentioning. This is not a list of the 20 highest quality matches of the last twenty years or else the 2020 USO F would be here of course. Without further ado my list in chronological order:

1. Federer-Agassi US 04
2. Safin-Federer AO 05
3. Nadal-Federer Rome 06
4. Federer-Nadal W 07
5. Nadal-Federer W 08
6. Nadal-Verdasco AO 09
7. Nadal-Federer AO 09
8. Del Potro-Federer USO 09
9. Djokovic-Federer USO 11
10. Djokovic-Murray AO 12
11. Djokovic-Nadal AO 12
12. Djokovic-Wawrinka AO 13
13. Nadal-Djokovic RG 13
14. Wawrinka-Djokovic AO 14
15. Djokovic-Federer W 14
16. Wawrinka-Djokovic RG 15
17. Federer-Nadal AO 17
18. Djokovic-Nadal W 18
19. Djokovic-Federer W 19
20. Alcaraz-Sinner USO 22

Number of Appearances:
Federer 11
Djokovic 10
Nadal 9
Wawrinka 3
Agassi 1
Safin 1
Verdasco 1
Del Potro 1
Murray 1
Alcaraz 1
Sinner 1

Tournament Distribution:
Australian Open 8
Wimbledon 5
US Open 4
Roland Garros 2
Rome 1

Notes:
Federer appears the most times but only 3 times as a winner
Djokovic has the most wins at 7
Despite being the clear 4th best player of the era Murray makes only one appearance the same amount as Verdasco and 2 less than Wawrinka
Wawrinka is the only on Big 3 member to appear more than once
Alcaraz-Sinner is the only match without a Big 3 member
Wawrinka-Djokovic 15 RG is the only 4 set match
Nadal-Federer Rome 06 is the only non slam match
11 of the 20 matches are from the years from 08-14 (A 7 year period)

What matches would you guys swap in and which would you take out? Which ones were your favorites?

Discuss (y)
 
Phenomenal

Phenomenal

Professional
First thing stand out to me that Nadal has 14 RG and still only have 1 legendary match here:) I guess because of his dominance lol.
Good list but some missing or should be there for me. I will mention Nadal's which i watched.

Nadal Thiem USO 2018 Nadal Medvedev USO 2019 Nadal Medvedev AO 22 too for sure since you didn't say highest quality. 20 is so little:) There are so many matches deserves here.

Also 1 non slam match? Maybe seperate them like 20 slam 10 other matches.
 
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MeatTornado

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
Phenomenal said:
Nadal Thiem USO 2018 Nadal Medvedev USO 2019 Nadal Medvedev AO 22 too for sure since you didn't say highest quality. 20 is so little:) There are so many matches deserves here.
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In terms of iconic "can't tell the story without it" that OP set up, I think AO 22 is the only one from that list that should be on it.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
Sampras-Bruguera 1993 said:
Nadal/Djokovic 2012 AO was the best match bar none outside of Nadal/Verdasco 09 AO. High level all the way to the very end. Minus a few questionable chokes/shots/decision making at the end of the match
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I don't remember even one great point from this match, seriously. This match is overrated, just like RG 2013 is. Both should have ended in 4 sets.
 
Phenomenal

Phenomenal

Professional
Tiki-Taka said:
Not going to be nitpicky about whether some matches should have made it to top 20 or some should be left out as there is plenty to choose from, but the 2005 Rome final between Rafa and Coria must be on the list.
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Yeah for sure this should definitely be here.
 
DSH

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
Phenomenal said:
First thing stand out to me that Nadal has 13 RG and still only have 1 legendary match here:) I guess because of his dominance lol.
Good list but some missing or should be there for me. I will mention Nadal's which i watched.

Nadal Thiem USO 2018 Nadal Medvedev USO 2019 Nadal Medvedev AO 22 too for sure since you didn't say highest quality. 20 is so little:) There are so many matches deserves here.

Also 1 non slam match? Maybe seperate them like 20 slam 10 other matches.
Click to expand...
Nadal already has 14 RG titles, bestie.
:cool:
 
SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
I personally would replace Fed Safin 05 with Fed Nadal Hamburg 2007 but they’re both practically equal.
 
Phenomenal

Phenomenal

Professional
MeatTornado said:
In terms of iconic "can't tell the story without it" that OP set up, I think AO 22 is the only one from that list that should be on it.
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I think 2019 USO is very underrated. I guess because of non Nadal fans either some of them didn't watch the match or idk. It was a Slam final. Could be the longest USO final aswell. Maybe not Nadal Thiem but Nadal Medvedev USO 2019 could be here to replace i would say AO 14.
 
The Guru

The Guru

Legend
one two punch said:
Federer-Djokovic RG 2011
Nadal-Djokovic RG 2012
Click to expand...
Strongly considered these two they'd make the top 20 if it was just based on quality. I didn't include Fedovic RG 11 because Fed lost the final and I was between Nadalovic 12 and Wawrinka-Djokovic 15 for the last spot and decided I thought Wawrinka Djokovic was more iconic.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
The Guru said:
Strongly considered these two they'd make the top 20 if it was just based on quality. I didn't include Fedovic RG 11 because Fed lost the final and I was between Nadalovic 12 and Wawrinka-Djokovic 15 for the last spot and decided I thought Wawrinka Djokovic was more iconic.
Click to expand...
What an "objective" reason not to include a match. :-D
 
The Guru

The Guru

Legend
StrongRule said:
What an "objective" reason not to include a match. :-D
Click to expand...
Well I would say that it makes a lot easier to tell the story of the last 20 years without that match when the winner didn't even win the tournament. It's certainly an iconic match but I think for this type of list cracking the top 20 without winning the title just isn't going to happen. Do you think people would remember and care as much about Wawrinka-Djokovic 14 if he lost to Berdych in the next round? I certainly don't think so.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
The Guru said:
Well I would say that it makes a lot easier to tell the story of the last 20 years without that match when the winner didn't even win the tournament. It's certainly an iconic match but I think for this type of list cracking the top 20 without winning the title just isn't going to happen. Do you think people would remember and care as much about Wawrinka-Djokovic 14 if he lost to Berdych in the next round? I certainly don't think so.
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It was about stopping Djokovic's 43 match winning streak. If that wasn't an important match in 2011 then I don't know what is. It is one of the most discussed matches here. On the other hand I've never seen anyone seriously talk about Djokovic-Murray in AO 2012. (nobody even remembers it very well) That is surely a match which has no importance to history.

Of course Wawrinka beating Djokovic would be remembered anyway. Everyone remember Soderling beating Nadal in RG 2009, and even him beating Federer a year later. Even though he was destroyed in both finals.
 
The Guru

The Guru

Legend
StrongRule said:
It was about stopping Djokovic's 43 match winning streak. If that wasn't an important match in 2011 then I don't know what is. It is one of the most discussed matches here. On the other hand I've never seen anyone seriously talk about Djokovic-Murray in AO 2012. (nobody even remembers it very well) That is surely a match which has no importance to history.

Of course Wawrinka beating Djokovic would be remembered anyway. Everyone remember Soderling beating Nadal in RG 2009, and even him beating Federer a year later. Even though he was destroyed in both finals.
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It's an amazing iconic match. Just don't think it cracks this particular list because it's easier to exclude from the story of the last 20 years because neither guy won the tournament. You're free to disagree. It's not objective even if you think it should be.
 
MeatTornado

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
Phenomenal said:
I think 2019 USO is very underrated. I guess because of non Nadal fans either some of them didn't watch the match or idk. It was a Slam final. Could be the longest USO final aswell. Maybe not Nadal Thiem but Nadal Medvedev USO 2019 could be here to replace i would say AO 14.
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In the end it wasn't that big a deal though. Nadal had won the USO just 2 years earlier, so it wasn't reclaiming a throne, and he was playing a 1st time finalist. And while it was a 5 setter, it was a weird one. And one where the 5th was over early.

I think Stan avenging his 2013 epic loss and putting an end to Novak's streak in Australia was a bigger deal for the era. Especially since he went on to win the tournament, becoming the first non-Big 4 to win one in 5 years. It was a huge moment.
 
Phenomenal

Phenomenal

Professional
MeatTornado said:
In the end it wasn't that big a deal though. Nadal had won the USO just 2 years earlier, so it wasn't reclaiming a throne, and he was playing a 1st time finalist. And while it was a 5 setter, it was a weird one. And one where the 5th was over early.

I think Stan avenging his 2013 epic loss and putting an end to Novak's streak in Australia was a bigger deal for the era. Especially since he went on to win the tournament, becoming the first non-Big 4 to win one in 5 years. It was a huge moment.
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Wıth Nadal it's never overs:) could have lost from 2 break up. For story wise only Nadal Soderling 2009 AO 22 no need to say anything i didn't understand why it's not here.
Also MC 2013 Djokovic Nadal. This was Nadal's first loss at the Monte Carlo since 2005
 
RS

RS

Bionic Poster
The Guru said:
As the Big 3 Era enters its 20th and maybe final year I decided to look back and pick the 20 matches I think were the most iconic of the period. The matches that you can't tell the story of the last 20 years without mentioning. This is not a list of the 20 highest quality matches of the last twenty years or else the 2020 USO F would be here of course. Without further ado my list in chronological order:

1. Federer-Agassi US 04
2. Safin-Federer AO 05
3. Nadal-Federer Rome 06
4. Federer-Nadal W 07
5. Nadal-Federer W 08
6. Nadal-Verdasco AO 09
7. Nadal-Federer AO 09
8. Del Potro-Federer USO 09
9. Djokovic-Federer USO 11
10. Djokovic-Murray AO 12
11. Djokovic-Nadal AO 12
12. Djokovic-Wawrinka AO 13
13. Nadal-Djokovic RG 13
14. Wawrinka-Djokovic AO 14
15. Djokovic-Federer W 14
16. Wawrinka-Djokovic RG 15
17. Federer-Nadal AO 17
18. Djokovic-Nadal W 18
19. Djokovic-Federer W 19
20. Alcaraz-Sinner USO 22

Number of Appearances:
Federer 11
Djokovic 10
Nadal 9
Wawrinka 3
Agassi 1
Safin 1
Verdasco 1
Del Potro 1
Murray 1
Alcaraz 1
Sinner 1

Tournament Distribution:
Australian Open 8
Wimbledon 5
US Open 4
Roland Garros 2
Rome 1

Notes:
Federer appears the most times but only 3 times as a winner
Djokovic has the most wins at 7
Despite being the clear 4th best player of the era Murray makes only one appearance the same amount as Verdasco and 2 less than Wawrinka
Wawrinka is the only on Big 3 member to appear more than once
Alcaraz-Sinner is the only match without a Big 3 member
Wawrinka-Djokovic 15 RG is the only 4 set match
Nadal-Federer Rome 06 is the only non slam match
11 of the 20 matches are from the years from 08-14 (A 7 year period)

What matches would you guys swap in and which would you take out? Which ones were your favorites?

Discuss (y)
Click to expand...
Do you have a honerable mentions list?
 
jl809

jl809

Hall of Fame
The Guru said:
As the Big 3 Era enters its 20th and maybe final year I decided to look back and pick the 20 matches I think were the most iconic of the period. The matches that you can't tell the story of the last 20 years without mentioning.
Click to expand...
If this really is the premise then I reckon there are a bunch of matches that need to come in here. The 2022 AO final, like it or not, is a really big part of the story of the last 20 years, as is the 2009 Wimbledon final and the 2012 US Open final
 
Biotic

Biotic

Hall of Fame
jl809 said:
If this really is the premise then I reckon there are a bunch of matches that need to come in here. The 2022 AO final, like it or not, is a really big part of the story of the last 20 years, as is the 2009 Wimbledon final and the 2012 US Open final
Click to expand...

The story of unprecedented vulturing. Last time it happened it was 1973, so i agree it deserves a mention. (y)
 
roysid

roysid

Hall of Fame
Soldering Nadal RG 09. Biggest upset of the century.

Two.matches of Delphi needs honorable mention.
W13 djokovic
W18 nadal
 
one two punch

one two punch

New User
The Guru said:
Strongly considered these two they'd make the top 20 if it was just based on quality. I didn't include Fedovic RG 11 because Fed lost the final and I was between Nadalovic 12 and Wawrinka-Djokovic 15 for the last spot and decided I thought Wawrinka Djokovic was more iconic.
Click to expand...

That’s fair enough. But you have to admit Fed’s finger wag alone is iconic, ending Djokovic’s season win streak he showed him who the man was that day.

Then Nadal overcame Djokovic a year later at RG after being his pigeon in 2011 and that AO 12 final.

If Novak won maybe Rafa would have spiralled mentally and not go on to have the career he’s had, if he failed to defeat his biggest challenge where he’s most invincible.
 
The Fedfather

The Fedfather

Legend
Federer vs Djokovic RG 2011 not being on the list why? It's probably the best Fedovic match in terms of tennis quality.

And just as well there is a free spit because 2022 was not a part of the Big-3 era. Federer literally retired.
 
NatF

NatF

Bionic Poster
jl809 said:
If this really is the premise then I reckon there are a bunch of matches that need to come in here. The 2022 AO final, like it or not, is a really big part of the story of the last 20 years, as is the 2009 Wimbledon final and the 2012 US Open final
Click to expand...

Agree generally, I would remove Sinner vs Alcaraz for sure, the WI 2009 final is certainly more legendary and significant than USO 2004 QF, WI 2014 F and USO 2009 F IMO. The AO 2022 final as mediocre as the tennis was probably deserves a spot too. The USO 2012 final might be a more worthy entry than the AO 2012 SF, worse quality but it was the moment of Murray's ascention to the slam winners club so probably more significant.
 
Third Serve

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
Honestly 2009 Wimbledon is a massive exclusion and it certainly fits better there than many of the actual matches on the list. Even if this list was only considering raw quality (which it isn’t), it’s still better than some of those matches. But since the list is focusing on the overall picture, the inclusion of Federer-Roddick is basically a no-brainer. Very dramatic final, high stakes, and Fed broke the Slam record with that win.
 
T

Thedesertfox

Professional
Third Serve said:
Honestly 2009 Wimbledon is a massive exclusion and it certainly fits better there than many of the actual matches on the list. Even if this list was only considering raw quality (which it isn’t), it’s still better than some of those matches. But since the list is focusing on the overall picture, the inclusion of Federer-Roddick is basically a no-brainer. Very dramatic final, high stakes, and Fed broke the Slam record with that win.
Click to expand...
Third serve. Have not seen you around in a while. I miss your analysis
 
The Guru

The Guru

Legend
RS said:
Do you have a honerable mentions list?
Click to expand...
Thought including honorable mentions would be a cop out but basically all the matches here and more would be on it. In retrospect AO 22 should prolly be on here but I was hammered watching the match at 4 am and fell asleep after the second and still haven’t gotten around to rewatching it so I missed all the parts that made it epic. The other one I considered that no one has mentioned is the RG 09 final just because it was such a massive moment at the time with Fed tying the slam record and finally winning the French but the match is just not good enough to get on this list. I also considered USO 21 final for the CYGS drama but same deal didn’t think that was enough to carry a meh match. Goes for W 13 F as well. This wasn’t meant to be all that serious just a fun bit of reflection.
 
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M

MadariKatu

Hall of Fame
Like it or not, the 2020 USO final was historic. First slam final with 2 players born in the 90s. Also, non of the finalist were or had to beat a big3 member; a first since 2004 RG.
I'd add the Djokovic-Carreño from that very same tournament too.

And the 2016 WTF final for YE#1.

Nalbandian-Federer at the 2009 Madrid masters final marks the only single time anyone has ever beaten the big3 back to back to back.
 
T

Thedesertfox

Professional
MadariKatu said:
Like it or not, the 2020 USO final was historic. First slam final with 2 players born in the 90s. Also, non of the finalist were or had to beat a big3 member; a first since 2004 RG.
I'd add the Djokovic-Carreño from that very same tournament too.

And the 2016 WTF final for YE#1.

Nalbandian-Federer at the 2009 Madrid masters final marks the only single time anyone has ever beaten the big3 back to back to back.
Click to expand...
You mean 2007 Madrid Masters
 
T

Thedesertfox

Professional
MadariKatu said:
Like it or not, the 2020 USO final was historic. First slam final with 2 players born in the 90s. Also, non of the finalist were or had to beat a big3 member; a first since 2004 RG.
I'd add the Djokovic-Carreño from that very same tournament too.

And the 2016 WTF final for YE#1.

Nalbandian-Federer at the 2009 Madrid masters final marks the only single time anyone has ever beaten the big3 back to back to back.
Click to expand...
And 2020 USO F was a disaster. Zverev pulled a choke of such magnitude against a cramping Timmy
 
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