What have been the best straight-sets matches?

[papertank]

When people think of the greatest matches they always think of 5 setters or third-set tiebreaks and the like. I feel like a lot of amazing matches get overlooked simply because they were over in straight sets, even if they were extremely competitive. What do you think some of the best straight set matches are?

These are a few recent ones I like:

2012 WTF Final between Djokovic and Federer- Amazing shotmaking with Djokovic coming out slightly on top in both sets.

2011 RG SF (Nadal/Murray)- I always look at this as one of Murray's best clay court matches. Nadal won each set but Murray went toe to toe with him the entire time.

2013 Wimbledon final (Murray/Djokovic)- one of the most tense matches I've ever watched. No idea how Murray would have handled the pressure had he not won it in 3.

2013 Monte-Carlo final- Nadal finally dethroned at Monte-Carlo with an insane performance by Djokovic, with a lot of momentum swings in the second set.

 

[tennisaddict]

Stan Rafa 2013 WTF ? (7-6, 7-6)

Fed Simon 2014 Shanghai (7-6, 7-6) (Simon had set points in both sets)

Rafa Fed 2013 WTF (7-5, 6-3). Fed looked like winning the first set.

Rafa Fed 2010 Madrid 6-4, 7-6

Rafa Fed 2008 Monte Carlo 7-5, 7-5

Rafa Novak 2008 Queens 7-6 7-5

 

[tennisaddict]

Fed Phillipousis 2003 Wimbledon Final - had 2 tie breakers. I dont remember the match much though.

Fed Novak 2007 USO final - 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 - was a great match

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Nadal-Wawrinka at the WTF last year was not bad at all 7-6 7-6 Stan choked badly

And here it is really great match between Rafa and Berlocq, the highlights just WOW at Berlocq's game that day !! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBCm_B8dpHw watch the shot @1.40 :lol:

most entertaining 2 sets match last year for sure!


In 2014, Djokovic-Berdych in Beijing :lol:

 

[tennisaddict]

In 2014, Djokovic-Berdych in Beijing :lol:

Then what about 1984 Wimbledon or 2008 FO ?

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

2008 FO was great but Federer gave up.
I didn't feel Berdych gave up in that Chinese match, he was fighting in every game :mrgreen:

 

[Strange Bird]

Shanghai 2014: Federer - Djokovic 6-4 6-4 was a great match

 

[Chico]

When people think of the greatest matches they always think of 5 setters or third-set tiebreaks and the like. I feel like a lot of amazing matches get overlooked simply because they were over in straight sets, even if they were extremely competitive. What do you think some of the best straight set matches are?

These are a few recent ones I like:

2012 WTF Final between Djokovic and Federer- Amazing shotmaking with Djokovic coming out slightly on top in both sets.

2011 RG SF (Nadal/Murray)- I always look at this as one of Murray's best clay court matches. Nadal won each set but Murray went toe to toe with him the entire time.

2013 Wimbledon final (Murray/Djokovic)- one of the most tense matches I've ever watched. No idea how Murray would have handled the pressure had he not won it in 3.

2013 Monte-Carlo final- Nadal finally dethroned at Monte-Carlo with an insane performance by Djokovic, with a lot of momentum swings in the second set.

So Djokovic is a shotmaker indeed. Federer (and Chico) were right after all.

Agree with the choices - also add
Djokovic - Federer USO F 2007, AO SF 2008, AO SF 2011.
Djokovic - Nadal Rome 2011, Madrid 2011,

 

[Djokovic2011]

After just watching the highlights of it(for the first time!) I've got the perfect choice - the Olympics semifinal between Murray and Djokovic from two years ago. Fantastic tennis from both players.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Hard not to include Pioline vs Hewitt in '99 Davis Cup. A phenomenal match. Hewitt was still a relative baby at the time but already had several big wins under his belt and showed glimpses of the mental warrior he was to become, particularly in Davis Cup.

 

[Tuckman]

Idk if I’d say it’s the GOAT but this is likely my personal fav:

 

[RSJfan]

2021 USO final was fantabulous.

 

[Gizo]

This is the first one that I think of. Lendl was excellent and produced one of the most impressive performances I've seen by any player in a straight sets defeat.

 

[gamelovergold]

Can i choose olympic finals 2024 Novak alcaraz 7 6 7 6 .

 

[Third Serve]

In recent years the 2020 YEC match between Thiem and Nadal was pretty good

 

[MHI]

2024 Wimbledon Sinner def Berrettini 76 76 76

2024 Olympics Djokovic def Alcaraz 76 76

2025 Miami Mensik def Djokovic 76 76

These come to mind

 

[ibbi]

Nadal vs. Murray - Wimbledon 2010
Federer vs. Murray - Wimbledon 2015

 

[Tennfan123]

Those times old man Fed was drubbing peak Djokovic lol.

 

[rUDin 21]

Djokodal Rome 2016 QF 7-5 7-6
Nadal was break up in both sets,in second set he even had a set point.

 

[Gizo]

It’s an obvious one, but on the women’s side, the 2008 Wimbledon final was incredible. Serena hit 32 winners compared to 11 unforced errors, but still lost in a straight sets and without a tiebreaker. Venus was phenomenal and withstood everything that Serena threw at her.

I can’t think of better performance from Serena during a defeat, apart from maybe during her 2001 Australian Open QF vs. Hingis. And she lost that 8-6 in the deciding set, after previously being 2 points away from victory.

And Henin’s wins vs. Venus at the 2007 US Open and vs. Dementieva at the 2010 Australian Open were also hugely enjoyable.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Djokodal Rome 2016 QF 7-5 7-6
Nadal was break up in both sets ,in second set he even had a set point.

Not just one but 5, all on his own serve for Christ's sake

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

2024 Wimbledon Sinner def Berrettini 76 76 76

It was not a straight setter, and this is not the correct scoreline.
Sinner won 76 76 26 76

 

[Gizo]

The 1981 RG semi-final between Borg and Pecci at RG was a lot of fun. Pecci, who had won their previous match at Monte-Carlo a couple of months earlier, played very well and aggressively, and there were a lot of thrilling points. But Borg, who came to the net more than typically did on clay during the opening set, was supremely good as were his passing shots.

I would also add Krajicek vs. Sampras at Wimbledon in 1996. I think that Sampras played well for a straight sets defeat. When serving at 1-1 in opening set, Krajicek fended off 5 break points, in a game in which Sampras hit 8 return winners. Krajicek produced especially brilliant tennis to break Sampras to love to win the opening set, with 4 straight winners (2 with his backhand and 2 with his forehand).

 

[RS]

Idk if I’d say it’s the GOAT but this is likely my personal fav:

screw Indoor HC though

 

[rUDin 21]

Not just one but 5, all on his own serve for Christ's sake

Oh,I forgot.I'm gonna rewatch that match.
Amazing level at times for 2016 Nadal.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Serena hit 32 winners compared to 11 unforced errors, but still lost in a straight sets and without a tiebreaker. Venus was phenomenal and withstood everything that Serena threw at her.

what were venus' stats?

 

[Gizo]

what were venus' stats?

According to ESPN, Venus hit 27 winners to 13 unforced errors.

Venus beats Serena for her fifth Wimbledon title

Venus Williams defended her Wimbledon title on Saturday, beating sister Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4.

www.espn.com

According to the BBC, there were a combined total of 38 winners compared to 13 unforced errors in the opening set.

As well as Serena played in a straight sets defeat, I'm sceptical about her only hitting 11 unforced errors across 22 games while losing though. I'll try to re-watch and take my own stats !

 

[Moose Malloy]

According to ESPN, Venus hit 27 winners to 13 unforced errors.

Venus beats Serena for her fifth Wimbledon title

Venus Williams defended her Wimbledon title on Saturday, beating sister Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4.

www.espn.com

According to the BBC, there were a combined total of 38 winners compared to 13 unforced errors in the opening set.

As well as Serena played in a straight sets defeat, I'm sceptical about her only hitting 11 unforced errors across 22 games while losing though. I'll try to re-watch and take my own stats !

thanks. wimbledon has always been generous with their low UE counts, curious to see what your count is.

TA has it 28w/21ue for Venus and 39w/26ue for Serena(adding the aces to the winner counts)

2008 Wimbledon F: Venus Williams vs Serena Williams Detailed Stats | Tennis Abstract

 

[GoatNo1]

OG24

 

[welcome2petrkordaland]

2013 Cincinnati Nadal Djokovic semi 7-6, 7-6 AKA “The Peg”