List your favourite grasscourt matches

[laurie]

Hi, I was thinking I have a lot of matches I love from years gone by. Why not list your favourites here. They don't have to be the greatest by public opinion, they can be 2nd rd matches at Wimbledon, they can be at Queens or whatever. No polls, you can list as many as you like. Here are my favourites:

2001 Wimbledon final - Goran v Rafter, I think this would be on many's people's list of favourites - incredible atmosphere by the young Aussies' Croats and Brits and an incredible 5 set match.

2001 Wimbledon semi - Rafter v Agassi, they played many great semifinals but I think this was incredible as both knew Pete wasn't in the final.

1999 Wimbledon final - Pete v Andre, the run of 5 games Pete won between late 1st set and early 2nd set has gone down in history as some of the best Tennis ever played.

1995 Wimbledon final - Graf v Sanchez, that 22 minute deuce game in the 3rd set! These two always played high quality matches against eachother.

2005 Wimbledon final - Venus v Lindsay, what a match! This has to be Venus' finest moment.

2000 Wimbledon final - Sampras v Rafter - putting aside the record and the dramatic atmosphere it was an incredibly high quality match as well.

2001 Wimbledon 2nd rd - Hewitt v Dent, a 5 set battle, the crowd was great and the match was a lot of fun whilst intense.

1988 Wimbledon final - Edberg v Becker, the Tennis was fast and absolutely furios, a great spectacle.

1997 Wimbledon semi - Pioline v Stich, an incredible 5 set match, Pioline's finest moment.

2006 Wimbledon final - Amelie v Justine, two women serving and volleying in 2006! both also with great one hand backhands. How about that.

I also like Federer v Phillipousis from 2003 and Sampras v Agassi from 1993.

What are some of your favourites?

 

[Nadal_Freak]

The last one of the year until hard courts. Actually Agassi and Ivanisevic is my favorite. 1992

 

[Moose Malloy]

I think that there are less great matches on grass(even since they slowed it down) & on clay than on hardcourt. The AO & US Opens produce higher quality matches my opinion.

Post Borg-Mac, I think these were the only truly great matches played at Wimbledon:

'00/'01 Rafter-Agassi

Honorable mention:

'87 Connors-Pernfors(Jimmy comes back from 61,61,41 down)

'88 Edberg-Mecir

There seems to have been better matches on the womens side since the 80s at W.

The '05 & '95 finals were among the best womens matches ever played.

 

[veritech]

the one that really stands out to me of my favorites is the 2001 final. goran is definitely a character that deserved it.

 

[armand]

Lemme throw in Federer vs Sampras.

 

[Rhino]

2001 Wimbledon final - Ivanisevic vs. Rafter - the best match in history
2001 Wimbledon semi - Ivanisevic vs. Henman - 3 day rollercoaster
2001 Wimbledon 4th round - Sampras vs Federer - changing of the guard
2006 Halle Quarterfinal - Federer vs. Rochus - three tiebreaks, MP's saved
1999 Wimbledon Final - Sampras vs Agassi - just unbelievable tennis
1992 Wimbledon Final - Agassi vs. Ivanisevic - Agassi comes of age
1980/1981 Wimbledon finals - Borg vs. McEnroe - the stuff of legend
1996 Wimbledon 1st round - Henman vs Kafelnikov - unbelievable tention, the arrival of Henman!!!!!
1999 Queens final - Sampras vs Henman - Henman so close, final set tiebreak

 

[urban]

Over the time there were some devastating performances of players like Laver, Borg, Mac, Becker, Sampras or Federer. Their excellence didn't make it close enough for a great match. From my Wimbledon memory (sometimes refreshed by dvd or video). In the older days, in Germany they showed only sf and final days at Wimbledon:
Laver-Newcombe 69 (from 1-4 fourth set, Laver won 7 games running and the match with breathtaking backhands passes).
Smith-Nastase (Nasty was nervous and changed rackets all the time, was a bit unlucky at the end).
Borg-Gerulaitis 77 (two sprinters at full speed).
Borg-Tanner 1979 (Roscoe could do only one thing, serving, but that he could).
Borg-Mac (not that great match overall, but that play by Mac at 4-5, and that tiebreaker).
Connors-Mac 82 (not that great match technically, but Jimbos finest serving and finest hour).
Mac-Lendl 1983 (Lendl came close, but had no chance).
Becker-Nystrom 85 (unbelievable match at Court Nr.1, Nystrom was always serving for the match).
Becker-Leconte 86 (for two sets the most devastating grass game with the new rackets, i have seen).
Edberg-Mecir 88 (Mecir played flawless returns for 2 and a half sets).

 

[helloworld]

2008 Wimbledon Final. Nadal clean thrashing Federer in straight sets was one for the ages. lol kidding

 

[Swingin Richard]

'99 final. Best tennis I've ever seen. I had to buy the dvd it was so good. Too bad it was Agassi getting some. He's too nice to deserve that.

 

[jmsx521]

There was some guy Mark, or Chris Bailey that played Ivanisevic about 10 years ago in the early rounds... and Ivanisevic served a 2nd serve ace down a match point and he eventually ended-up winning the match I think.

 

[jmsx521]

Kimiko Date vs. Steffi Graf was a good match too.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

There was some guy Mark, or Chris Bailey that played Ivanisevic about 10 years ago in the early rounds... and Ivanisevic served a 2nd serve ice down a match point and he eventually ended-up winning the match I think.

oh yes i saw that one !
the guy coudn't believe his eyes when goran served that ace !
and goran finally won 9-7 in the 5th !!!

 

[Rhino]

oh yes i saw that one !
the guy coudn't believe his eyes when goran served that ace !
and goran finally won 9-7 in the 5th !!!

Really? Goran served a second servive ace in his last few points of the final in 2001 too, and he won that 9-7 in the 5th.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

I think that there are less great matches on grass(even since they slowed it down) & on clay than on hardcourt. The AO & US Opens produce higher quality matches my opinion.

i agree with that... and i have the impression it's even better in the night sessions !

 

[fastdunn]

1996 final Krajicek vs Washington and... that naked lady.

 

[galain]

1986 Davis Cup Final - Cash vs Pernfors
Rafter - Agassi Wimbledon Semi's - 2000 and 2001
Sampras - Agassi Wimbledon - 1999
Edberg - Lendl AO Semis 1985

 

[Andres]

oh yes i saw that one !
the guy coudn't believe his eyes when goran served that ace !
and goran finally won 9-7 in the 5th !!!

Pretty much like Pim Pim's 135 mph 2nd serve ace, match point down last year

 

[krosero]

I'd say Cash-Pernfors in '86. I also love the first Borg-McEnroe final, and for me it has more meaning; I actually watch it more often. But I don't think I've ever enjoyed a match on grass quite as much as Cash-Pernfors.

And I loved Graf-Sanchez Vicario in the '95 Wimbledon final.

Also Navratilova-Graf in '87. It was only two sets but it was a pleasure watching Martina play so well.

 

[Safina]

Besides the 2001 matches that are amazing.....
I thought 2004 Wimbledon Final Federer v Roddick is worth a second or third viewing. Even Roger admitted he was very lucky to win it.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Pretty much like Pim Pim's 135 mph 2nd serve ace, match point down last year

what match was this?

 

[paterson]

Wood era:
1975 W final Connors-Ashe
1980-81 W finals Borg-McEnroe

Modern era:
1998 W final Sampras-Ivanisevic
1995 W final Sampras-Becker
1996 W QF Sampras-Krajicek

 

[madmanfool]

2001, full off great matches

 

[Jack the Hack]

The only match that I can add to the ones that have already been listed was the 1987 Australian Open final between Edberg and Cash (which was the last year that tournament was on grass). After dropping the first two sets, Cash came back to force a decive fifth set... which Edberg won 6-3. Superb display of serve and volley tennis!