Most epic match of every year this century

@Underdog
2022 should be Alcaraz Sinner tbh
AO ‘22 was great and all with the improbability and the comeback, sure, but the USO match had just as much atmosphere imo and was better quality, also will age with time like it already has
 
2001: Ivanisevic d. Rafter, Wimbledon F
2002: Hewitt d. Ferrero, YEC F
2003: Roddick d. El Aynaoui, Australian Open QF
2004: Safin d. Agassi, Australian Open SF
2005: Safin d. Federer, Australian Open SF
2006: Nadal d. Federer, Rome Masters F
2007: Federer d. Nadal, Wimbledon F
2008: Nadal d. Federer, Wimbledon F
2009: Nadal d. Federer, Australian Open F
2010: Djokovic d. Federer, US Open SF
2011: Djokovic d. Federer, US Open SF
2012: Djokovic d. Nadal, Australian Open F
2013: Djokovic d. Wawrinka, Australian Open 4th round & Nadal d. Djokovic, French Open SF
2014: Wawrinka d. Djokovic, Australian Open QF
2015: Djokovic d. Murray, French Open SF
2016: Murray d. Tsonga, Wimbledon QF
2017: Federer d. Nadal, Australian Open F
2018: Djokovic d. Nadal, Wimbledon SF
2019: Djokovic d. Federer, Wimbledon F
2020: Djokovic d. Thiem, Australian Open F
2021: Djokovic d. Nadal, French Open SF
2022: Alcaraz d. Sinner, US Open QF
2023: Alcaraz d. Djokovic, Wimbledon F

Note: For 2013, I can't decide if Nole vs. Stan on AO or Rafa vs. Nole on RG was better, both were epic clashes that culminated in a long fifth set, so I mentioned both matches.
 
BlueB said:
2011 Djo vs Fed USO
2014 shared with Djo vs Fed Wimbledon
2016 not particularly great match, Djo on decline already. Not sure what else to nominate.
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agree with everything. nole was lucky to make it to the finals in 2016 with his physique and form. had 2 RET and a WO on the way there.
 
For those with a more refined and avant guard sensibility…

2009 Novak Haas WB QTR
2013 Federer Seppi AO 3rd RD
2014 Tomic Rafa AO 1st RD
2015? Kyrgios Rosol Turkey Open F
2023 Novak Sinner QTR. WB
 
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Nice thread OP

It should be listing top 5 matches Per Year from 2000 till 2023
That would be a cool list, there are multiple matches in some years which are hard to separate ..... In 2005 you have Nadal vs Coria and you have Safin vs Federer.... Both of them deserve mentions.... so we need a wider net.... at least top 3 or top 5 matches per year

ibbi said:
2000: Kuerten v. Safin, Hamburg
2001: Ivanisevic v. Rafter, Wimbledon
2002: Haas v. Federer, Australian Open
2003: Roddick v. El Aynaoui, Australian Open
2004: Safin v. Agassi, Australian Open
2005: Nadal v. Coria, Rome
2006: Nadal v. Federer, Rome
2007: It's one of those two Wimby QF's. I refuse to pick between them.
2008: Nadal v. Federer, Wimbledon
2009: Nadal v. Verdasco, Australian Open
2010: Del Potro v. Blake, Australian Open
2011: Djokovic v. Federer, US Open
2012: Djokovic v. Nadal, Australian Open
2013: Wawrinka v. Gasquet, Roland Garros
2014: NISHIKORI V. WAWRINKA, US OPEN
2015: Maybe... Fognini v. Nadal, US Open?:-D Tennis was very un-epic for a few years here.
2016: Del Potro v. Cilic, Davis Cup
2017: Federer v. Nadal, Australian Open
2018: Djokovic v. Nadal, Wimbledon
2019: Djokovic v. Federer, Wimbledon
2020: Federer v. Millman, Australian Open
2021: Tsitsipas v. Kokkinakis, Australian Open
2022: Nadal v. Medvedev, Australian Open
2023: Murray v. Kokkinakis, Australian Open

Wimbledon and Roland Garros are kind of disadvantaged by the fact that they don't really have (many anyway) night matches, and even when they do the Roland Garros ones are certainly basically garbage given the conditions. Nothing is as epic as a night match. I just did this off the top of my head, so I probably forgot a bunch.
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Enceladus said:
2001: Ivanisevic d. Rafter, Wimbledon F
2002: Hewitt d. Ferrero, YEC F
2003: Roddick d. El Aynaoui, Australian Open QF
2004: Safin d. Agassi, Australian Open SF
2005: Safin d. Federer, Australian Open SF
2006: Nadal d. Federer, Rome Masters F
2007: Federer d. Nadal, Wimbledon F
2008: Nadal d. Federer, Wimbledon F
2009: Nadal d. Federer, Australian Open F
2010: Djokovic d. Federer, US Open SF
2011: Djokovic d. Federer, US Open SF
2012: Djokovic d. Nadal, Australian Open F
2013: Djokovic d. Wawrinka, Australian Open 4th round & Nadal d. Djokovic, French Open SF
2014: Wawrinka d. Djokovic, Australian Open QF
2015: Djokovic d. Murray, French Open SF
2016: Murray d. Tsonga, Wimbledon QF
2017: Federer d. Nadal, Australian Open F
2018: Djokovic d. Nadal, Wimbledon SF
2019: Djokovic d. Federer, Wimbledon F
2020: Djokovic d. Thiem, Australian Open F
2021: Djokovic d. Nadal, French Open SF
2022: Alcaraz d. Sinner, US Open QF
2023: Alcaraz d. Djokovic, Wimbledon F

Note: For 2013, I can't decide if Nole vs. Stan on AO or Rafa vs. Nole on RG was better, both were epic clashes that culminated in a long fifth set, so I mentioned both matches.
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Nice Lists
 
1 - Drama wise Wimbledon final 2019.
2 - Quality wise Wimbledon final 2008.
3 - Battle of will Australian open final 2012.
4 - RG semi final 2013, the same as above but different winner.

Honorable mentions US Open semis Federer-Djokovic 2010-2011, AO 2017 final Federer-Nadal, Wimbedon final 2023 Alcaraz- Djokovic .
 
Underdog said:
Hello, everyone.
I hope all is well.
So, what are your thoughts on the best/most epic match of the year for every year this century?
I can only properly talk about ‘06 onwards, so;
2006. Nadal v Federer - Rome finals
2007. Federer v Nadal - WB finals
2008. Nadal v Federer - WB finals
2009. Nadal v Federer - AO finals
2010. Nadal v Murray - WTF semis
2011. Federer v Djokovic - RG semis
2012. Djokovic v Nadal - AO finals
2013. Nadal v Djokovic - RG semis
2014. Wawrinka v Djokovic - AO quarters
2015. Wawrinka v Djokovic - RG finals
2016. Wawrinka v Djokovic - USO finals
2017. Federer v Nadal - AO finals
2018. Djokovic v Nadal - WB semis
2019. Djokovic v Federer - WB finals
2020. Djokovic v Thiem - AO finals
2021. Djokovic v Nadal - RG semis
2022. Nadal v Medvedev - AO finals
2023. Alcaraz v Djokovic - WB finals
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Wawrinka - Djokovic UO finals was epic ??? :-D :-D :-D
Djokovic with injured elbow had insane luck to come to the final at all, and in that final he couldn't do jack sht obviously.
So I bet your prerequisites for an epic match first and foremost should be - Djokovic defeat.
You must have felt epic after his defeats right ?
 
Hypo Crisis said:
Wawrinka - Djokovic UO finals was epic ??? :-D :-D :-D
Djokovic with injured elbow had insane luck to come to the final at all, and in that final he couldn't do jack sht obviously.
So I bet your prerequisites for an epic match first and foremost should be - Djokovic defeat.
You must have felt epic after his defeats right ?
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Honestly, if anything, choosing that match was both:
1. I really like Wawrinka’s game and it’s great tennjs to watch when he redlines.
2. A compliment to Djokovic that even though he wasn’t at his best, he produced a good performance.
There’s nothing to do with Djokovic losing. Quit the obsession.
 
I have to question your tennis knowledge if you think Wawrinka vs Djokovic at US Open 2016 was better than Del Potro vs Murray in the Davis Cup.
 
NatF said:
2000. Rafter vs Agassi - Wim
2001. Sampras vs Agassi - USO
2002. Hewitt vs Agassi - San Jose/Hewitt vs Ferrero - YEC
2003. Roddick vs El Aynaoui
2004. Safin vs Agassi - AO
2005. Safin vs Federer - AO
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I am glad you included 2001 Sampras vs Agassi USO. The most tension-packed match I've ever watched.
 
Fed Agassi YEC 03 RR should be 03 but it's not a 5 set match so I guess that may be what stops it.
 
RS said:
Fed Agassi YEC 03 RR should be 03 but it's not a 5 set match so I guess that may be what stops it.
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There's a few candidates in 2003 tbh, the AO QF is unironically the beat pick clearly though.
 
NatF said:
There's a few candidates in 2003 tbh, the AO QF is unironically the beat pick clearly though.
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Other matches in 2003 was actually a 5 setter and way more dramatic but the 2003 RR had the best skillset shown for me but I don't think that's all the question is here.
 
RS said:
Other matches in 2003 was actually a 5 setter and way more dramatic but the 2003 RR had the best skillset shown for me but I don't think that's all the question is here.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, you may be right.
 
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The second place for best match of 2018 has to be Nadal vs Del Potro, quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2018.
Underrated match!
:cool:
 
2023 Cincinnati Final. I just watched the replay. It's so epic the way Djokovic and Alcaraz refused to give up. Looked like they both had nothing left in the tank in the end.

Alcaraz hit 42 winners and Djokovic only 19 winners! Crazy. Tennis is a game of errors.

Screenshot-20231108-201759-Tennis-TV.jpg


 
Gastino said:
the 25 roland garros final is the best match i witnessed since the 08 wimbledon final...these 2 matches are the matches of the century for me.
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Undisputed Fact.
Also it's now becoming evident it involved the 4 greatest players this century peak level wise. That's the consensus it seems
 
messiahrobins said:
FO 2022 was climax of the Big 3 era Slam race. Never again did any of them play each other again at a slam
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AO22 was where the 20-20-20 tie was broken. And it happened in such a dramatic way in the craziest of all comebacks — and the second-longest GS Final after AO 2012 at the time!

In the context of the Slam Race, no moment can top it.

FO22 / FO23 were all crucial for the Slam Race too, but those weren’t “thrillers” / “climaxes” like AO22.
 
MHI said:
AO22 was where the 20-20-20 tie was broken. And it happened in such a dramatic way in the craziest of all comebacks — and the second-longest GS Final after AO 2012 at the time!

In the context of the Slam Race, no moment can top it.

FO22 / FO23 were all crucial for the Slam Race too, but those weren’t “thrillers” / “climaxes” like AO22.
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FO 2022 though had the GOAT of Big 3 Era play off h2h. Granted it was only a QF but the hype around that match was bigger than AO 2022 final don't u think? Also the FO is more prestigious than AO.

Or do u think AO was bigger historically as Medvedev at the time was at his peak and the best player on hard courts whereas Djokovic was declined and by then Nadal had solved the Djokovic puzzle so the result was more predictable than in Melbourne?
 
Blahovic said:
Everyone forgets the 2014 Wimbledon final between Djokovic and Federer
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OP obviously lives matches there nole lose, and he won that much. even in years there nole won 3 slams he find the match there he lost one match as the best.

rafa 6W-5L
fed 3W-4L
nole 5W-6L (just one before 2018, also non in his first era 11-RG16 when competition was the strongest of all time)

2006. Nadal v Federer - Rome finals
2007. Federer v Nadal - WB finals
2008. Nadal v Federer - WB finals
2009. Nadal v Federer - AO finals
2010. Nadal v Murray - WTF semis
2011. Federer v Djokovic - RG semis
2012. Djokovic v Nadal - AO finals
2013. Nadal v Djokovic - RG semis
2014. Wawrinka v Djokovic - AO quarters
2015. Wawrinka v Djokovic - RG finals
2016. Wawrinka v Djokovic - USO finals
2017. Federer v Nadal - AO finals
2018. Djokovic v Nadal - WB semis
2019. Djokovic v Federer - WB finals
2020. Djokovic v Thiem - AO finals
2021. Djokovic v Nadal - RG semis
2022. Nadal v Medvedev - AO finals
2023. Alcaraz v Djokovic - WB finals

as that was not better matches than RG11 SF (USO11 SF), AO14 QF (W14F), RG15 F (W15), USO16 (RG16 F)
 
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2003 had some ridiculously epic matches..... Hewitt vs GOATerer in the Davis Cup SF, Younis vs Roddick at AO, Phillippoussis vs Agassi at Wimbledon, Roddick playing out of his mind to beat Fed in Montreal.
 
Gastino said:
the 25 roland garros final is the best match i witnessed since the 08 wimbledon final...these 2 matches are the matches of the century for me.
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Wimb08, AO12 and RG25 stand above the rest for me, being such down-to-the-wire encounters between prime ATGs in slam finals. I'm biased but of the three I do find RG25 giving me the most goosebumps on revisit, with how tense the 5th set became and the epicness of Alcaraz raising his level and slapping winners in the super tiebreak to emphatically WIN the match, not take it off a poor Sinner service game or something. It completely lived up to what a battle between #1 and #2 who were a combined 7-0 in slam finals should be.

(Wimb07 and AO09 were also fantastic matches in this vein, but the former gets overshadowed by Wimb08 and the latter's letdown 5th set stops me ranking it as highly as the three I mentioned)
 
Giocoswitch said:
Wimb08, AO12 and RG25 stand above the rest for me, being such down-to-the-wire encounters between prime ATGs in slam finals. I'm biased but of the three I do find RG25 giving me the most goosebumps on revisit, with how tense the 5th set became and the epicness of Alcaraz raising his level and slapping winners in the super tiebreak to emphatically WIN the match, not take it off a poor Sinner service game or something. It completely lived up to what a battle between #1 and #2 who were a combined 7-0 in slam finals should be.

(Wimb07 and AO09 were also fantastic matches in this vein, but the former gets overshadowed by Wimb08 and the latter's letdown 5th set stops me ranking it as highly as the three I mentioned)
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I don't blame you , the more I watch the match the more I'm flabbergasted by what I've seen. For me a definitive top 2 match I've ever witnessed.
 
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GoatNo1 said:
OP obviously lives matches there nole lose, and he won that much. even in years there nole won 3 slams he find the match there he lost one match as the best.

rafa 6W-5L
fed 3W-4L
nole 5W-6L (just one before 2018, also non in his first era 11-RG16 when competition was the strongest of all time)

2006. Nadal v Federer - Rome finals
2007. Federer v Nadal - WB finals
2008. Nadal v Federer - WB finals
2009. Nadal v Federer - AO finals
2010. Nadal v Murray - WTF semis
2011. Federer v Djokovic - RG semis
2012. Djokovic v Nadal - AO finals
2013. Nadal v Djokovic - RG semis
2014. Wawrinka v Djokovic - AO quarters
2015. Wawrinka v Djokovic - RG finals
2016. Wawrinka v Djokovic - USO finals
2017. Federer v Nadal - AO finals
2018. Djokovic v Nadal - WB semis
2019. Djokovic v Federer - WB finals
2020. Djokovic v Thiem - AO finals
2021. Djokovic v Nadal - RG semis
2022. Nadal v Medvedev - AO finals
2023. Alcaraz v Djokovic - WB finals

as that was not better matches than RG11 SF (USO11 SF), AO14 QF (W14F), RG15 F (W15), USO16 (RG16 F)
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What was the best best-of-five-set match of 2024?
:unsure:
 
Giocoswitch said:
Wimb08, AO12 and RG25 stand above the rest for me, being such down-to-the-wire encounters between prime ATGs in slam finals. I'm biased but of the three I do find RG25 giving me the most goosebumps on revisit, with how tense the 5th set became and the epicness of Alcaraz raising his level and slapping winners in the super tiebreak to emphatically WIN the match, not take it off a poor Sinner service game or something. It completely lived up to what a battle between #1 and #2 who were a combined 7-0 in slam finals should be.

(Wimb07 and AO09 were also fantastic matches in this vein, but the former gets overshadowed by Wimb08 and the latter's letdown 5th set stops me ranking it as highly as the three I mentioned)
Click to expand...
Same
 
Alcaraz/Sinner at USO 2022 was the  best match of 2022 but the Nadal/Medvedev one happened in a Slam final and was historic because Nadal took the sole Slam holder record for the 1st time so I see why some would choose that one. In 2016, I have to go with Federer/Cilic at Wimbledon. Federer showed he still had it that day against an on fire Cilic. In 2015, I would pick Gasquet/Wawrinka's Wimbledon match. That was pretty epic and a battle of the one handers. After that, i more or less agree with the rest in the OP.

Edit: I don't know how I missed 2011 but definitely would choose the USO Djoker/Federer SF over the one in the OP.
 
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NoleFam said:
Alcaraz/Sinner at USO 2022 was the  best match of 2022 but the Nadal/Medvedev one happened in a Slam final and was historic because Nadal took the sole Slam holder record for the 1st time so I see why some would choose that one. In 2016, I have to go with Federer/Cilic at Wimbledon. Federer showed he still had it that day against an on fire Cilic. In 2015, I would pick Gasquet/Wawrinka's Wimbledon match. That was pretty epic and a battle of the one handers. After that, i more or less agree with the rest in the OP.
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by that logic is noles RG (nole-slam) much better choice then USO F when nole already had dropped his form. or RG23 when nole become solo slam leader
 
GoatNo1 said:
by that logic is noles RG (nole-slam) much better choice then USO F when nole already had dropped his form. or RG23 when nole become solo slam leader
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None of those were close 5 set matches. My pick is Alcaraz/Sinner at USO 2022 for that year; I'm just saying I see why some would choose the AO 2022 final.
 
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