What's your top 20 AO matches of the century?

Cabeza del Demonio

Cabeza del Demonio

Professional
My top 20 AO matches (starting in 2000) from my 20for20 series:
1. 2012 Final, Nadal vs Djokovic
2. 2013 4R, Djokovic vs Wawrinka
3. 2009 SF, Nadal vs Verdasco
4. 2005 SF, Safin vs Federer
5. 2009 Final, Nadal vs Federer
6. 2006 QF, Roddick vs El Aynaoui
7. 2008 3R, Federer vs Tipsarevic
8. 2000 SF, Agassi vs Sampras
9. 2017 SF, Nadal vs Dimitrov
10. 2017 Final, Federer vs Nadal
11. 2008 3R, Hewitt vs Baghdatis
12. 2014 QF, Wawrinka vs Djokovic
13. 2004 SF, Safin vs Agassi
14. 2006 SF, Baghdatis vs Nalbandian
15. 2008 3R, Kohlschreiber vs Roddick
16. 2013 SF, Murray vs Federer
17. 2012 SF, Djokovic vs Murray
18. 2017 2R, Istomin vs Djokovic
19. 2011 1R, Hewitt vs Nalbandian
20. 2001 SF, Agassi vs Rafter

What do you think? Agree or disagree? Reply with your own 20for20 list!
 
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beard said:
:-D
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Far less fast paced and crispy than the 3 matches I mentioned. There's no way I'd spend 5 hours watching that again. Don't get me wrong, I love the match, it's great, but on no planet is it better than those. The best thing about the match is that Nadal went Super Saiyan for a set against a zoning Djokovic that had owned him the past year and finally showed he was back. The slower you like your tennis, the more you'll like 2012 AO final, that match is the apex of extremely slow and heavy tennis which is why they could barely stand when it was over. Wimby 18 was higher quality and had better rallies and isn't at all exhausting to watch (y)
 
MichaelNadal said:
#1 is so wrong (n) (at least it doesn't compare to the two 2009 matches) besides one really epic set
Djokovic/Wawrinka is better than 12 too
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MichaelNadal said:
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8-B
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That was a great match to be sure, but I wouldn't even put it in my top 3. Super quality but it ended on a whimper with Fiasco finally rediscovering his true choking self after 5 hours of actually being a clutch beast. Djokodal AO12, Djorinka AO13, and Safin-Fed AO05 were all slightly better IMO. AO12 was a war of endurance unlike anything we'd ever seen before with both players fighting like gladiators to the last drop of strength. And the other 2 were epic from start to finish and kept rising in quality, almost like story beats in a movie. Nadasco didn't have the same perfectly paced drama to it that those 3 did.
 
MichaelNadal said:
Far less fast paced and crispy than the 3 matches I mentioned. There's no way I'd spend 5 hours watching that again. Don't get me wrong, I love the match, it's great, but on no planet is it better than those. The best thing about the match is that Nadal went Super Saiyan for a set against a zoning Djokovic that had owned him the past year and finally showed he was back. The slower you like your tennis, the more you'll like 2012 AO final, that match is the apex of extremely slow and heavy tennis which is why they could barely stand when it was over. Wimby 18 was higher quality and had better rallies and isn't at all exhausting to watch (y)
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Just no... 2009... final is so, so, so overrated... typical Fedal hype...Other one was better, but final is final...
Wawa match is great, but not final again...

I know we won't agree, this is so subjective topic...
 
King No1e said:
That was a great match to be sure, but I wouldn't even put it in my top 3. Super quality but it ended on a whimper with Fiasco finally rediscovering his true choking self after 5 hours of actually being a clutch beast. Djokodal AO12, Djorinka AO13, and Safin-Fed AO05 were all slightly better IMO.
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There is nothing wrong with playing a 5-hour match as demanding as that and DFing from such a long battle, a bad match point takes nothing away from a good match for me, especially one that good. I know why you REALLY like AO 2012, but as far as highlights go, there's only a few points I thought were THAT good in it. Nadal/Berdych and Nadal/Federer 12 had better rallies imo.

beard said:
Just no... 2009... final is so, so, so overrated... typical Fedal hype...Other one was better, but final is final...
Wawa match is great, but not final again...

I know we won't agree, this is so subjective topic...
Click to expand...

You mean you weren't watching tennis in 2009, it's ok. I watched live, we know the great Ultronian hatch happened in 2011.
 
beard said:
Just no... 2009... final is so, so, so overrated... typical Fedal hype...Other one was better, but final is final...
Wawa match is great, but not final again...

I know we won't agree, this is so subjective topic...
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The final is overrated, but the semi was leagues better. Even though I wouldn't put it at #1 like certain Vamosalaplayans here, it's still a match to marvel at. Verdasco was throwing absolute haymakers from the baseline, but it was like trying to hit through a brick wall.
 
MichaelNadal said:
There is nothing wrong with playing a 5-hour match as demanding as that and DFing from such a long battle, a bad match point takes nothing away from a good match for me, especially one that good. I know why you REALLY like AO 2012, but as far as highlights go, there's only a few points I thought were THAT good in it. Nadal/Berdych and Nadal/Federer 12 had better rallies imo.



You mean you weren't watching tennis in 2009, it's ok. I watched live, we know the great Ultronian hatch happened in 2011.
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If Nadal had broken back (as he almost did right at the end, Djokovic had to fight like hell to the very end) and gone on to win, I would've still called it the GOAT match (which would also mean Nadal wins the GOAT match on all 3 surfaces: W08 final, AO12 final, and RG13 semi).
 
King No1e said:
If Nadal had broken back (as he almost did right at the end, Djokovic had to fight like hell to the very end) and gone on to win, I would've still called it the GOAT match (which would also mean Nadal wins the GOAT match on all 3 surfaces: W08 final, AO12 final, and RG13 semi).
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Well im not going to argue about it, as I like the match too, but I can't imagine thinking it was the best match ever. Just in the past 2 years, Nadal/Medvedev, Nadal/Delpotro Wimby 18/Nadal/Djokovic Wimby 18 are better imo. Maybe I'd like it more if they didn't make the ball look so slowwwwwww lol

Then there's this exercise in crispiness:

 
Well done putting this list and accompanying videos together. No list will please everyone - especially here. It's interesting to me that only 3 of the 20 were finals.
 
I honestly can't recall a single point from the '12 final save that costly BH miss by Rafa, and I say this as a Djoko fan who saw it from beginning to end wide awake. (That and both guys clutching their knees afterwards.) Doesn't really speak well of the match, no?

Even 20-shot rallies played with the highest athleticism can be boring if they follow the same pattern and/or neither player takes much initiative. That's why I much prefer the '13 Novak-Stan where both players took the ball earlier and came to the net more often. Hell, the 5th set alone had more memorable points than the entire '12 final, capped off by Nole's dipping CC BH pass of course but the most impressive shot of 'em all is Stan's uber-clutch DTL BH to save the 2nd MP:


Also while that's still the best AO match I've seen and I wouldn't include the '00 Sampras-Agassi among the top contenders, the latter boasts one of the greatest of all TBs (of any major):


Like I said the other day, ZERO UFEs despite both playing with the slimmest of margins, and some of the biggest serves you'll ever see (yes, even from Dre). Throw in the contrast of styles and you can see why it remains my fave TB ever.
 
Can’t list 20, but I’ll do 10:

10. Nadal-Dimitrov AO 2017
9. Nadal-Federer AO 2017 (lower quality than the SF, but I enjoy this one more for the drama)
8. Federer-Tipsarevic AO 2008
7. Safin-Agassi AO 2004 (those first three sets have some of the best ball striking ever)
6. Roddick-El Aynaoui AO 2003
5. Federer-Nadal AO 2009
4. Djokovic-Nadal AO 2012
3. Djokovic-Wawrinka AO 2013
2. Nadal-Verdasco AO 2009
1. Federer-Safin AO 2005
 
top 10 quality wise :

Safin Federer AO 2005
Nadal Verdasco AO 2009
Roddick El Ayanoui AO 2003
Nadal Federer AO 2009
Safin Agassi AO 2004
Djokovic Wawrinka AO 2013
Agassi Sampras AO 2000
Wawrinka Djokovic AO 2014
Djokovic Nadal AO 2012
Nadal Dimitrov AO 2017/Federer Nadal AO 2017


top 10 overall :

Safin Federer AO 2005
Nadal Verdasco AO 2009
Roddick El Ayanoui AO 2003
Nadal Federer AO 2009
Djokovic Wawrinka AO 2013
Safin Agassi AO 2004
Djokovic Nadal AO 2012
Federer Nadal AO 2017
Wawrinka Djokovic AO 2014
Nadal Dimitrov AO 2017/Agassi Sampras AO 2000

couldn't leave out any of these, so made it 11.
 
Last edited:
NonP said:
I honestly can't recall a single point from the '12 final save that costly BH miss by Rafa, and I say this as a Djoko fan who saw it from beginning to end wide awake. (That and both guys clutching their knees afterwards.) Doesn't really speak well of the match, no?

Even 20-shot rallies played with the highest athleticism can be boring if they follow the same pattern and/or neither player takes much initiative. That's why I much prefer the '13 Novak-Stan where both players took the ball earlier and came to the net more often. Hell, the 5th set alone had more memorable points than the entire '12 final, capped off by Nole's dipping CC BH pass of course but the most impressive shot of 'em all is Stan's uber-clutch DTL BH to save the 2nd MP:


Also while that's still the best AO match I've seen and I wouldn't include the '00 Sampras-Agassi among the top contenders, the latter boasts one of the greatest of all TBs (of any major):


Like I said the other day, ZERO UFEs despite both playing with the slimmest of margins, and some of the biggest serves you'll ever see (yes, even from Dre). Throw in the contrast of styles and you can see why it remains my fave TB ever.
Click to expand...
So in the Sampras-Agassi match, neither player commited an UE in that tiebreak?:oops:
 
NonP said:
I honestly can't recall a single point from the '12 final save that costly BH miss by Rafa, and I say this as a Djoko fan who saw it from beginning to end wide awake. (That and both guys clutching their knees afterwards.) Doesn't really speak well of the match, no?

Even 20-shot rallies played with the highest athleticism can be boring if they follow the same pattern and/or neither player takes much initiative. That's why I much prefer the '13 Novak-Stan where both players took the ball earlier and came to the net more often. Hell, the 5th set alone had more memorable points than the entire '12 final, capped off by Nole's dipping CC BH pass of course but the most impressive shot of 'em all is Stan's uber-clutch DTL BH to save the 2nd MP:


Also while that's still the best AO match I've seen and I wouldn't include the '00 Sampras-Agassi among the top contenders, the latter boasts one of the greatest of all TBs (of any major):


Like I said the other day, ZERO UFEs despite both playing with the slimmest of margins, and some of the biggest serves you'll ever see (yes, even from Dre). Throw in the contrast of styles and you can see why it remains my fave TB ever.
Click to expand...

Yep @ AO 2000 semi TB. No like for chosing Djokowrinka 13 over Fed-Safin , Nadal-Verdasco !
 
Cabeza del Demonio said:
My top 20 AO matches (starting in 2000) from my 20for20 series:
1. 2012 Final, Nadal vs Djokovic
2. 2013 SF, Djokovic vs Wawrinka
3. 2009 SF, Nadal vs Verdasco
4. 2005 SF, Safin vs Federer
5. 2009 Final, Nadal vs Federer
6. 2006 QF, Roddick vs El Aynaoui
7. 2008 3R, Federer vs Tipsarevic
8. 2000 SF, Agassi vs Sampras
9. 2017 SF, Nadal vs Dimitrov
10. 2017 Final, Federer vs Nadal
11. 2008 3R, Hewitt vs Baghdatis
12. 2014 QF, Wawrinka vs Djokovic
13. 2004 SF, Safin vs Agassi
14. 2006 SF, Baghdatis vs Nalbandian
15. 2008 3R, Kohlschreiber vs Roddick
16. 2013 SF, Murray vs Federer
17. 2012 SF, Djokovic vs Murray
18. 2017 2R, Istomin vs Djokovic
19. 2011 1R, Hewitt vs Nalbandian
20. 2001 SF, Agassi vs Rafter

What do you think? Agree or disagree? Reply with your own 20for20 list!
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Only a true Fed hater would put the 2017 final at #10. One of the most important and discussed tennis matches of the century.... but in at #10? :-D
 
BeatlesFan said:
Only a true Fed hater would put the 2017 final at #10. One of the most important and discussed tennis matches of the century.... but in at #10? :-D
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I guess it depends on your criteria. The importance was huge - among other things, it's responsible for Fed still leading the slam race and Rafa still seeking his second AO title and double career slam, along with Fed improbably surging to #1 again later that season - but there were so many epic matches quality-wise that I'm not sure how high I would put it, either.
No list for me, but I would tend to put it in the 6-8 range?
 
BeatlesFan said:
Only a true Fed hater would put the 2017 final at #10. One of the most important and discussed tennis matches of the century.... but in at #10? :-D
Click to expand...
Nah, that match was pretty unremarkable as far as 5-setters go. Easily Fedal's worst 5-set match. Only midway through the 5th did both play at a high level at the same time. Compare that to AO12 where both Nadal and Djokovic were deadlocked throughout the match, save for the 3rd set when Djokovic blew Nadal off the court.
The AO17 final and the outcome is certainly one of the best stories in our sport, but as a match it's not the best.
 
King No1e said:
Nah, that match was pretty unremarkable as far as 5-setters go. Easily Fedal's worst 5-set match. Only midway through the 5th did both play at a high level at the same time. Compare that to AO12 where both Nadal and Djokovic were deadlocked throughout the match, save for the 3rd set when Djokovic blew Nadal off the court.
The AO17 final and the outcome is certainly one of the best stories in our sport, but as a match it's not the best.
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AO 2017 - both federer and nadal played well in the 1st set, even 4th set there was some good tennis.

AO 2012 - djokovic played below par in the 1st set, still took nadal 7-5 (nadal winning the set)
 
AO17 Final is the greatest match of all time. I don’t care what the quality was. It’s all about the story and how nervous the match makes the fans. Federer and Nadal fans were probably dying during that match, with grand slam count being closer than ever before.

Wimbledon 2008 would have been the greatest if Fed had won.
 
abmk said:
AO 2017 - both federer and nadal played well in the 1st set, even 4th set there was some good tennis.

AO 2012 - djokovic played below par in the 1st set, still took nadal 7-5 (nadal winning the set)
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2012 1st set had so many grinding rallies that 2017 Nadal wouldn't have been able to keep up with. It was a physical war of attrition, and the level of play only took off from there.
 
Great list and I've enjoyed following it. I've only got a couple gripes. My big gripe is that I think the 2012 SF is criminally underrated. The rallies, returning, court coverage, and physicality were out of this world good. I would also like to see the Nadal-Berdych QF on here but I understand since it's only a 4 setter. Also, I can't believe that Federer-Tipsarevic ranking. I've never seen the match and I'm not sure I've even seen highlights I just remember waking up surprised it took so long for Fed to beat him. On here I only hear it mentioned as a way to discredit Djokovic's win over Fed that year. Was it really such a quality match? Maybe I should give it a watch.
 
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The Guru said:
Great list and I've enjoyed following it. I've only got a couple gripes. My big gripe is that I think the 2012 SF is criminally underrated. The rallies, returning, court coverage, and physicality were out of this world good. I would also like to see the Nadal-Berdych QF on here but I understand since it's only a 4 setter. Also, I can't believe that Federer-Tipsarevic ranking. I've never seen the match and I'm not sure I've even seen highlights I just remember waking up surprised it took so long for Fed to beat him. On here I only hear it mentioned as a way to discredit Djokovic's win over Fed that year. Was it really such a quality match? Maybe I should give it a watch.
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The extended 10-8 fifth set obviously has to do with the ranking. Good drama all along, every set down to the wire except the blowout fourth.
 
The Guru said:
Great list and I've enjoyed following it. I've only got a couple gripes. My big gripe is that I think the 2012 SF is criminally underrated. The rallies, returning, court coverage, and physicality were out of this world good. I would also like to see the Nadal-Berdych QF on here but I understand since it's only a 4 setter. Also, I can't believe that Federer-Tipsarevic ranking. I've never seen the match and I'm not sure I've even seen highlights I just remember waking up surprised it took so long for Fed to beat him. On here I only hear it mentioned as a way to discredit Djokovic's win over Fed that year. Was it really such a quality match? Maybe I should give it a watch.
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You definitely should.

The Murray-Djokovic semifinal is a little overrated to me. I think it’s the fact that it was a five-setter that makes it appealing. And I’m not saying that is because I hate Murrovic because I do think they’ve had better matches.

The Nadal-Berdych match, though. If it were me, I would have replaced the Murray-Djokovic match with that one on the list.
 
King No1e said:
2012 1st set had so many grinding rallies that 2017 Nadal wouldn't have been able to keep up with. It was a physical war of attrition, and the level of play only took off from there.
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I already put AO 2012 final over AO 2017 final.
The reason I mentioned the AO 12 final 1st set from djokovic was because how high you were rating that final.

The more pertinent point anyhow was how much good tennis was there in the AO 2017 final.

All of 1st set, 4th set and 5th set were good or better.
Fed's level dipped in the 2nd and Nadal's in the 3rd.

People need to stop making it look like the 5th set was the only good tennis from both sides in the final.
 
abmk said:
The more pertinent point anyhow was how much good tennis was there in the AO 2017 final.
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It's not about the good tennis unless they are playing awful like Djokovic did for two sets in the Wimbledon 2019 final. It's about the story. AO17 forever!
 
FRV3 said:
It's not about the good tennis unless they are playing awful like Djokovic did for two sets in the Wimbledon 2019 final. It's about the story. AO17 forever!
Click to expand...

Different people give different weightage to levels, drama etc.
 
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