Top 10 men's tennis matches of 2014

The men’s season has come to an end and what a year it has been for tennis. We saw some brilliant play from the best competitors in the world, we saw two new Grand Slam champions being crowned (at the Australian Open and the US Open) and we saw a lot of other players make it big this year. There were some epic matches which went right down to the wire. On several occasions, a player won a match after saving match points against the opponent. There have also been a lot of upsets during the course of the year. Let’s have a look at the top 10 men’s matches of 2014.

#10 Rafael Nadal vs Pablo Andujar - Rio Open semifinal

It was a season of upsets for Rafael Nadal in 2014. After years of dominance on clay, his fellow countrymen finally learnt how to defeat him on the surface. David Ferrer halted the World No. 3’s nine-year run of reaching the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters final with a straight-sets win in the quarterfinals, and a week later Nicolas Almagro handed him his first defeat in 11 years at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.

But before either of those losses, it looked like Pablo Andujar would be the first person in 2014 to defeat him on clay, when he won the first set 6-2 with aggresive play in the Rio Open semifinals. Nadal looked to have restored order after snatching the second set and securing a break in the seventh game of the decider, but Andujar was far from willing to lose as he broke back immediately.

The match went on to the tie-break in the third set, where Nadal looked in control. Andujar kept fighting back and saving match points, but he could not do enough as Nadal kept his nerve to win the match.

Score: Rafael Nadal def. Pablo Andujar 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(10).

#9 Roger Federer vs Leonardo Mayer - Shanghai Masters first round

Roger Federer himself hails this as his luckiest escape ever.

In a dramatic first round match which should have been a walk in the park for the Swiss Maestro against Argentinian Leonardo Mayer, Federer managed to pull something out of the bag and save five match points before winning the match in three sets.

Nerves got the better of Mayer quite a few times in the match. He was serving for the first set, but errors from the Argentinian saw Federer break back and take the set 7-5. Mayer bounced back in the second set after breaking Roger’s serve once.

Federer found himself in a similar situation like he did with Monfils at the US Open, serving at 15-40 while down 4-5, giving Mayer two match points. The Argentine had an incredible opportunity to win the match, but his backhand which he should have easily dispatched went right into the net. Federer escaped and won the game.

In the tiebreak, Mayer was leading 5-2. He had three more match points at 6-4 and 7-6, but again was not able to hold his nerve. Federer eventually took the tiebreak and the match with an amazing lob.

Score: Roger Federer def. Leonardo Mayer 7-5. 4-6, 7-6(8)

#8 Andy Murray vs Philipp Kohlschreiber - French Open third round

Andy Murray was not having a great season on court in 2014 and he was looking to turn things around at the French Open. He was up against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round, and the Scot was expected to win the match with little diffculty. But Kohlschrieber proved to be quite a menace!

Murray looked to have the match all but won when he led 4-2 in the fourth set. But Kohlschreiber would not give in, imposing his game with a tenacious attacking display off his backhand wing, reeling off four straight games to steal the fourth set and force a decider.

In the decider, with the scores tied at 7-7, the lights at Roland Garros finally faded away and the players were asked to stop play for the day and continue the next day. With the play resuming on the next day, Murray squandered a match point at 8-9, but later saved a break point on his serve. Murray was able to take the match in the 22nd game of the set.

Score: Andy Murray def. Philip Kohlschrieber 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10.

#7 Kei Nishikori vs David Ferrer - Mutua Madrid Open semifinal

Kei Nishikori had the best season of his career in 2014. He broke a lot of records in the process as well. He became the first Asian to ever reach a Grand Slam singles final, the first Asian to qualify for the World Tour Finals in singles and also the first Asian to have broken into the top 5 in men’s singles.

Nishikori’s first breakthrough performance of the year came at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he lost to Rafael Nadal in the finals due to an injury. On his way to the final, he came up against David Ferrer in the semifinals and it turned out to be perhaps the best claycourt match of the year.

It would take 10 match points and a little less than three hours for Nishikori to navigate Ferrer’s dogged defence, surviving their seventh meeting in dramatic fashion. Nishikori ultimately held his nerve to see out the match.

Score: Kei Nishikori def. David Ferrer 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-3.

#6 Roger Federer vs Gael Monfils - US Open quarterfinal

This match is going to be remembered by Federer fans for years to come. He was angry, he was pumped up, he lost, he won – fans got to see all sides of Federer in this epic five-set thriller.

The match started off with Monfils controlling the game and Federer making a lot of mistakes. The Swiss made 26 unforced errors in the first two sets, and Monfils took full advantage of that, playing some brilliant tennis to take the first two sets. But Federer played a nearly flawless third set as he made only one unforced error and took the set.

It looked like the tables had turned as Federer broke Monfils in the third game of the fourth set. Monfils did not lose his confidence though, and fired himself up as he broke right back in the next game.

Federer was serving at 4-5 to stay in the match and found himself in a very sticky situation, with Monfils having two match points at 15-40. Federer held his nerve with two big serves and aggresive play to take the game. It was all Federer after that as he broke Monfils in the 11th game and held his serve after that to take the set 7-5.

The fifth set saw Federer continue from where he left off. With some agressive tennis, he broke Monfils in the first and fifth games and eventually took the set 6-2. Federer ended up losing to eventual champion Marin Cilic in the semifinals.

Score: Roger Federer def. Gael Monfils 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

#5 Kei Nishikori vs Stan Wawrinka - US Open quarterfinal

Kei Nishikori, after having a dissapointing French Open and Wimbledon, came into the US Open as one of the underdogs. Most people expected him to be knocked out early in the tournament. But it was not to be, as the Asian went on to reach his first ever Grand Slam final, where he eventually lost to Marin Cilic in straight sets.

On his way to the final, he had this epic five set encounter against Australian Open champion and World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka. Two nights earlier, the 24-year-old had tied for the latest-ever US Open finish as he edged Milos Raonic in five sets at 2:26 am. But he found the strength he needed to win another five-setter.

The momentum kept switching between the two players in this epic match. Nishikori almost lost the third set after some poor shot selection, but found his rythm to win that set. Wawrinka fought back to win the fourth set, but it was ultimately Nishikori who had the final say.

Score: Kei Nishikori def. Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 6-7(5), 6-4.

#4 Andy Murray vs Tommy Robredo - Valencia Open final

Priceless reaction by Robredo after losing

Andy Murray and Tommy Robredo faced each other in a tournament final for the second time in a month, and it was Murray who came out on top yet again, beating the Spaniard in his home town this time, and what a match it turned out to be.

The Brit saved five match points before defeating the Spaniard in three sets in a gruelling 3 hour 20 minute Valencia final, making it the longest ATP tour match of the year. It was a match that contained high-quality shot-making and incredible drama, but one that ended in heartbreak for local hero Robredo.

What makes it even more strange, however, is that this was the second time in three weeks that Murray had saved five match points against Robredo. The first time was on his way to his Shenzen Open victory in China the previous month. The circumstances of Murray’s two victories over Robredo could not have been more eerily similar.

Robredo’s reaction after losing to Murray was priceless.

Score: Andy Murray def. Tommy Robredo 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (8).

#3 Roger Federer vs Stan Wawrinka - ATP World Tour Finals (semifinal)

Roger Federer came into the semis of the ATP World Tour Finals having won all three of his round robin matches, including a crushing victory over Andy Murray in his previous match. Wawrinka on the other hand came into the semifinals after two wins and a loss, with the reverse coming at the hands of Novak Djokovic.

Federer’s red hot form made him the favourite to win easily against his compatriot, but Wawrinka had other plans in mind as he took Federer all the way.

Wawrinka looked in control for most of the match, but a few crucial errors from him along with a few brilliant points by Federer at crucial times saw Federer take the match. Wawrinka had the opportunity to win the match on four occasions, but was unable to do so.

Federer saved three match points when Wawrinka was serving for the match at 5-4. That game went on for 10 minutes after which Federer finally broke Wawrinka. The fourth match point which Federer saved came in the deciding tie-break when Federer was serving at 6-7. The World No. 2 finally won the match with a brilliant drop shot.

Score: Roger Federer def. Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6).

#2 Stan Wawrinka vs Novak Djokovic - Australian Open quarterfinal

Towards the end of the 2013 season, ATP had listed the same match-up as one of the best contests of 2013, but last year it was Novak Djokovic who won the epic five set match, winning 12-10 in the fifth set. Djokovic defeated Wawrinka three more times in 2013, and most of them were close encounters.

But Wawrinka made sure that the same thing did not happen in 2014. He came out all guns blazing in his quarterfinal match against the World no. 1.

With the match poised at two sets apiece, Djokovic drew first blood in the decider as he broke for a 2-1 advantage. His lead was short-lived, though, as the Swiss immediately struck back. Wawrinka then held his nerve to save break points in the fifth and seventh games to stay ahead of Djokovic. It was ultimately Djokovic who succumbed to the pressure; he committed two unforced errors serving at 7-8 to give Wawrinka the match.

Wawrinka went on to win his first ever Grand Slam, defeating Rafael Nadal in the finals.

Score: Stanislas Wawrinka def. Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7.

#1 Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer - Wimbledon final

This match will surely go down in history as one of the best Grand Slam finals ever played. It comes pretty close to the epic match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2008 or the 5 hour 53 minute war between Novak Djokovic and Nadal at Melbourne a couple of years ago. This match had everything in it – brilliant shot making, good serving, comebacks, and a whole lot of emotions by both the players.

Djokovic had come into the match after losing five of his last six Grand Slam finals, while Federer had reached a Grand Slam final for the first time since Wimbledon 2012. Both players gave it everything right from the word go. Djokovic took a 2-1 set lead and he looked to wrap it all up in the fourth set leading 5-2, but the 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer had different ideas. He made an amazing recovery to win five straight games to take the set.

It looked like Federer would then go on and script an amazing comeback, but Djokovic broke Federer at the perfect time in the fifth set to take home the title.

Score: Novak Djokovic def. Roger Federer 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4.