5 most epic ATP World Tour Finals matches

The ATP World Tour Finals event held every year involves the best eight players in the world of that year. Some of the sport’s greatest legends have produced the best tennis of their lives at the year-ending tournament.Here’s a look at 5 of the most epic ATP World Tour Finals matches in history.

#5 Nikolay Davydenko vs Roger Federer, 2009 ATP World Tour Finals, semifinal

Nikolay Davydenko

In 2009, the O2 Arena in London was host to the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time. Roger Federer faced off against Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the first semifinal, with both players having progressed smoothly so far, courtesy a few victories in the previous rounds.

Federer began as the favourite, but It was Davydenko who snatched the initiative when he won the first set 6-2. A comeback from the Swiss ace was expected and Federer didn't disappoint, winning the second set 7-5. However, Davydenko produced some of his best tennis to win the third set and the match 6–2, 4–6, 7–5.

The Russian eventually carried that confidence over and won the title that year, beating Juan Martin del Potro in the final.

#4 Alex Corretja vs Carlos Moya, 1998 ATP Tour Championships final

Alex Corretja

No. 5 seed Alex Corretja faced off against No. 4 seed Carlos Moya in an all-Spanish final of the 1998 ATP World Championships at the Hartford Civic Center in Connecticut. The two players had reached the final on the back of impressive semi-final wins over Pete Sampras and Tim Henman respectively.

It seemed after the first two sets that Moya would win the game in straight sets and romp home with a win. However, that was not to be the case as Corretja fought his way back into the game by winning the next two sets.

Corretja won the deciding set 7-5 to clinch a memorable 3–6, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3, 7–5 win over Moya.

#3 David Nalbandian vs Roger Federer, 2005 Tennis Masters Cup final

David Nalbandian

In one of the most pulsating finals of the last decade, David Nalbandian defeated Roger Federer in the final of the 2005 Tennis Masters, held in Shanghai. Both the finalists had progressed to the final with straight sets wins, but no one expected as good a final as the one that they put on.

Right from the first set, neither players gave an inch away, but Federer managed to edge ahead. With Federer leading two sets to love though, Nalbandian stormed his way back into the match by winning the next two sets, thereby taking the match into a deciding 5th set.

Overcoming all odds, the Argentian won the 5th set to win the title 6–7(4–7), 6–7(11–13), 6–2, 6–1, 7–6(7–3).

#2 Lleyton Hewitt vs Juan Carlos Ferrro 2002 Tennis Masters Cup final

Lleyton Hewitt and Juan Carlos Ferrero

Lleyton Hewitt was in the form of his life heading into the Tennis Masters Cup in 2002. Having defeated Roger Federer in the semifinals, the Australian faced Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final.

After the first two sets it seemed like the Australian would secure an easy win and round off the year with yet another title, but the Spaniard came storming back, winning the next two sets 6-2, 6-2.

Hewitt was not to be denied though, as he won the deciding set quite convincingly to win the match and finish the year off on a high. The final scoreline read 7–5, 7–5, 2–6, 2–6, 6–4 in favour of Hewitt.

#1 Pete Sampras vs Boris Becker, 1996 Masters final

Pete Sampras and Boris Becker

Pete Sampras was the dominant player in the world in 1996 as he took on Boris Becker in the final of the ATP World Championships. The crowd was witness to some scintillating offensive tennis from the start with Becker blasting four aces in the first set itself.

However, the American wasn’t to be left behind and he won back-to-back sets after losing the first one. The match entered into the fifth set after Becker stormed his way back into the match by winning the fourth. The American won the deciding set 6-4 to win a thrilling match 3–6, 7–6 (7–5), 7–6 (7–4), 6–7 (11–13), 6–4.