Best SET in a tennis match ever played

[Djokerr]

In my opinion, the 3rd Set played between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal - 2011 US Open Final is the best SET in a tennis match ever played till date.

Reasons:

• Both players playing at their best and to their limits at the same time!
• Jaw dropping rallies, court coverage and defense
• Extreme level of intensity and will power from both players
• Crowd going crazy especially in the later stages of the set (as if they are having an org***)

Highlights: Djokovic vs Nadal 2011 US Open Final (3rd set starting at 16:10)

Full match: Djokovic vs Nadal 2011 US Open Final (3rd set starting at 2:08:30)

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Yes. That is the set I thought of when I read your thread title.

 

[TheAssassin]

Safin-Fed decider has to be up there among the best. But excellent choice.

 

[MLM]

So competitive and tense, you never knew who was going to win

In all seriousness I would agree with you about that 3rd set.

 

[Red Rick]

First set of the 2004 Wimbledon final

 

[MLM]

First set of the 2004 Wimbledon final

Second set of Wimbledon 2009, specifically the tiebreak.

 

[Plamen1234]

Second set of Wimbledon 2009, specifically the tiebreak.

Roddick should have won the second set.He had so many SPs there.He was leading 6-2 in the TB.He needed just one point to win the set and basically seal off the match because I dont think Federer would have been able to comeback from 0-2 down.

 

[MLM]

Roddick should have won the second set.He had so many SPs there.He was leading 6-2 in the TB.He needed just one point to win the set and basically seal off the match because I dont think Federer would have been able to comeback from 0-2 down.

I’ll never understand how Federer won that match. It just feels wrong.

 

[Plamen1234]

I’ll never understand how Federer won that match. It just feels wrong.

I agree.Roddick should have won this match.He played amazingly in this match.I felt sorry for him after the match ended.

 

[ABCD]

In reverse chronological order

Djokovic vs Nadal W2018
Federer vs Nadal AO2017
Nadal vs Djokovic RG2013
Djokovic vs Nadal AO2012
Djokovic vs Federer USO2011
Borg vs McEnroe W1980

 

[merwy]

In reverse chronological order

Djokovic vs Nadal W2018
Federer vs Nadal AO2017
Nadal vs Djokovic RG2013
Djokovic vs Nadal AO2012
Djokovic vs Federer USO2011
Borg vs McEnroe W1980

Which sets do you mean? I think the Fedal AO2017 decider is up there

 

[speedysteve]

The best set has to be a golden set

But yeah, I get where you others are coming from!

Damn, beaten to it..

 

[nolefam_2024]

I love Wimbledon 2014 Final Third set.

Federer 13 aces.
82.5% first serve
85% pts won on first serve
29% pts won on second serve

Djokovic 1 ace
64% first serve
83% pts won on first serve
77% pts won on second serve

Djokovic won the set.

 

[lud]

2013 RG 5th set
2010 USO 5th

I love Wimbledon 2014 Final Third set.

Federer 13 aces.
82.5% first serve
85% pts won on first serve
29% pts won on second serve

Djokovic 1 ace
64% first serve
83% pts won on first serve
77% pts won on second serve

Djokovic won the set.

I wonder why?

 

[metsman]

1980 Wimbledon final 4th set is definitely my #1. Fed-Safin 5th set and Roddick-El Aynaoui 5th set close behind. Probably either the 3rd or 4th set of Sampras-Agassi 01 USO after that.

 

[Subway Tennis]

1980 Wimbledon final 4th set is definitely my #1. Fed-Safin 5th set and Roddick-El Aynaoui 5th set close behind. Probably either the 3rd or 4th set of Sampras-Agassi 01 USO after that.

Great nominations. I remember watching Roddick vs El Aynaoui live and being gobsmacked as both players continued to surge and rise to the occasion. The higher the stakes, the less likely either player was to be prone to nerves, pulling off ridiculous shot making. Many long rallies ending with winners rather than errors. There was also the novelty of the super-talented but streaky El Aynoui playing at his highest level for such a sustained period of time.

As regards Agassi vs Sampras USO 2001... I often wonder why fastcourt matches between these two dont get mentioned more often on here. It may be because of the average age of posters and them simply not having seen the matches.

 

[stringertom]

21-19 fifth set Roddick defeats El Aynaoui at AO'03 QF. This was before the fedr-inflicted scar tissue turned Andy into Pushdick. Got 2:22 to watch an incredible battle? Here it is:

End of thread.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Second set of the women's US Open final 2018. Osaka prevails despite all sorts of tactial attempts from her opponent to put her off.

 

[speedysteve]

The old adage : You are only as good as your 2nd serve.

I love Wimbledon 2014 Final Third set.

Federer 13 aces.
82.5% first serve
85% pts won on first serve
29% pts won on second serve

Djokovic 1 ace
64% first serve
83% pts won on first serve
77% pts won on second serve

Djokovic won the set.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

I love Wimbledon 2014 Final Third set.

Federer 13 aces.
82.5% first serve
85% pts won on first serve
29% pts won on second serve

Djokovic 1 ace
64% first serve
83% pts won on first serve
77% pts won on second serve

Djokovic won the set.

So? Tremendous serving by both (in Djoko's case many 1-2 punches as well), then Fed mucked up the breaker. Karlovic has a ton of sets like that.
2nd serve seems telling but isn't because there were so few of them, and indeed a look at the chart reveals that it was all about the 5-5 game, where Federer lost all four 2nd serve points and faced 2 BPs because of it but saved himself with 1st serves. Other than that game, Federer only missed the first serve 3 times (!) and still won 2 of those 3 points. What the TB really was about was that Federer made 3 UEs while Djokovic none...

 

[Freddy Cat]

I don't know if I can pin down a single set in the match...

Wimbledon 2013 SF Del Potro vs Djokovic (4th set?). I've never seen DelPo pummel forehands like that in any other match I've watched him play.

You kind of need to have a GS atmosphere to create a super entertaining set.

 

[stringertom]

For those of you that have watched tennis from before the millennium, I give you the fifth set of the Lendl vs Cash USO'84 (part of Super Saturday, the best single day of tennis EVER), decided in a TB and featuring Lendl saving a MP on a dazzling topspin lob over the Aussie's head on one of his many trips to the net. Their contrasting styles made for an extremely entertaining match ended in the most dramatic fashion.

 

[BeatlesFan]

For those of you that have watched tennis from before the millennium, I give you the fifth set of the Lendl vs Cash USO'84 (part of Super Saturday, the best single day of tennis EVER), decided in a TB and featuring Lendl saving a MP on a dazzling topspin lob over the Aussie's head on one of his many trips to the net. Their contrasting styles made for an extremely entertaining match ended in the most dramatic fashion.

Great post, I was going to name this match, or the 1989 Masters fifth set between Boris and Lendl.

 

[abmk]

21-19 fifth set Roddick defeats El Aynaoui at AO'03 QF. This was before the fedr-inflicted scar tissue turned Andy into Pushdick. Got 2:22 to watch an incredible battle? Here it is:

End of thread.

not even that much :

Just need about 35 mins.

that's part 4/7 (only tennis) of the match

then you can get parts 5, 6, 7 from the same channel.

 

[alexio]

21-19 fifth set Roddick defeats El Aynaoui at AO'03 QF. This was before the fedr-inflicted scar tissue turned Andy into Pushdick. Got 2:22 to watch an incredible battle? Here it is:

End of thread.

full match in greater quality

 

[Boom-Boom]

Great post, I was going to name this match, or the 1989 Masters fifth set between Boris and Lendl.

1988 ... one of the best match point ever in the 5th set TB of probably the best WTF final

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/atp-heritage-becker-lendl-1988-masters-finale

 

[nolefam_2024]

So? Tremendous serving by both (in Djoko's case many 1-2 punches as well), then Fed mucked up the breaker. Karlovic has a ton of sets like that.
2nd serve seems telling but isn't because there were so few of them, and indeed a look at the chart reveals that it was all about the 5-5 game, where Federer lost all four 2nd serve points and faced 2 BPs because of it but saved himself with 1st serves. Other than that game, Federer only missed the first serve 3 times (!) and still won 2 of those 3 points. What the TB really was about was that Federer made 3 UEs while Djokovic none...

This proves Federer is servebot.

Thank you

 

[Ronaldo]

F. Lopez v Fedx 4th round 2007 US Open, 1st set Deliciano!

 

[JoelSandwich]

Not sure which one I’d pick but these are my candidates
Borg McEnroe 1980 Wimb Final 4th set, Nadal Verdasco AO 2009 4th set, Federer Safin AO 2005 4th and 5th sets, Djokovic Nadal USO 2011 3rd set, Then prob one of the first four sets of the AO 2009 Final

 

[papertank]

Clay court matches have some great individual sets with many twists and turns.

Nadal-Djokovic 5th set, RG 2013
Nadal-Coria 5th set, Rome 2005
Murray-Djokovic 3rd set, Rome 2011

 

[jstr]

One of those sets in the recent US Open, Thiem vs. Nadal match might be worthy .. especially because of the unique high humidity conditions .

 

[Fedalfan]

Wow! Such amazing memories.

Agree with OP. In recent memory, that was one of the best sets I've seen. Rafa stole it like Houdini!

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nailed it in the OP.
Also Venus/Serena Wimbledon 2008 first set.

 

[malbaker86]

Nailed it in the OP.
Also Venus/Serena Wimbledon 2008 first set.

The second set in their 08 USO match was high quality as well.

 

[MichaelNadal]

The second set in their 08 USO match was high quality as well.

The mens final overshadowed it so much, thank goodness people remember

 

[styksnstryngs]

Nah, fifth set Wimbledon Isner v. Mahul

 

[Sport]

In my opinion, the 3rd Set played between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal - 2011 US Open Final is the best SET in a tennis match ever played till date.

Reasons:

• Both players playing at their best and to their limits at the same time!
• Jaw dropping rallies, court coverage and defense
• Extreme level of intensity and will power from both players
• Crowd going crazy especially in the later stages of the set (as if they are having an org***)

Highlights: Djokovic vs Nadal 2011 US Open Final (3rd set starting at 16:10)

Full match: Djokovic vs Nadal 2011 US Open Final (3rd set starting at 2:08:30)

Nah, the fourth set of the 2013 US Open final was better. Both players at their absolute best. Nadal was better on hard courts in 2013 than 2011. 2013 was his absolutely peak on hard courts, only year he won Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open in a row.