Wimbledon evokes a sense of passion and nostalgia that no other sporting or at least tennis event can match up to. It is no surprise then, that some of the greatest tennis matches ever played have come from the hallowed courts of the All England Club.
We are just a week away from the commencement of this year's championship and before we hit championship weekend, we take a look at some of the greatest matches to have unraveled on the lawns of Wimbledon.
#10 Federer outlasts Roddick: Roger Federer def Andy Roddick: 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14, 2009 men's final
With reigning champion Rafael Nadal having withdrawn from the 2009 event due to knee tendonitis, Federer was the overwhelming favorite going into the final against American Andy Roddick.
Having lost just one set en route the showpiece event, Federer was confident of winning his 15th grand slam title against the man he had already defeated in the 2004 and 2005 finals.
The match began on an unexpected note with Federer not at his best and Roddick matching him stroke for stroke. Funnily it turned into a battle of serves as aces were traded.It went all the way down to the wire in an epic fifth set. With neither player willing to give an inch, it was mental fatigue that gave way. At 8-8 in the fifth, 15-40, Federer crashed to massive serves to save the game and that seemingly turned the tide.
In the 30th game, Federer ahead 15-14, a drained Roddick mishit a forehand to award Federer the match and a record breaking 15th singles title. 4 hours 16 minute, a 95 minute 5th set, 77 games; the longest major final in history. Roddick's tears at the presentation summed it all up.
#9 Chris Evert vs Martina Navratilova, the epic battle: Martina Navratilova def Chris Evert 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 1978 ladies final
The two best players in women's tennis faced off in the 1978 final when Martina Navratilova battled Chris Evert. For a big part of the 1970s and 1980s, the two ladies ended up facing each other in 60 tournament finals; close to three finals a year.
As a result, one could be forgiven for thinking that there were only two players in women's tennis.
The 1978 final, though, was the best of all. Evert took the attack to Navratilova early in to try and wrest the initiative, but Martina, just a couple of years younger had the mental resources to fight back.
After being hammered 6-2 in the first set, Martina hit back in the second set to take it 6-4. In the third whilst Evert was tiring she was not the one to let and the ladies took it as long as they could till Navratilova broke Evert to take the 3rd set 7-5 and win her first ever Grand Slam. She went on to win 18 in all.
#8 Federer, the heir to Sampras' throne: Roger Federer def Pete Sampras: 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5, 2001, men's fourth round
It is not often that a fourth round match makes its way into a top 10 list but then it isn't often that a player makes his presence felt in such a strong manner.
In a match where Sampras passed the torch to Federer and relinquished his Wimbledon stronghold to the Swiss, the All England Club witnessed a new superstar in the making. Sampras, the reigning champion was nearing the end of his glittering career while Federer was just making his way towards stardom.
With a near identical game to the American bar the extreme baseline play, Federer was never going to have it easy. Sampras made it as tough as possible for the Young Turk, taking two sets to tie-breaks and the final one to 5-5 before being vanquished. Sampras won only one grand slam after this loss. Federer has gone on to break the American's grand slam record (now on 17) and matched his Wimbledon record (7 titles).
#7 Novotna brought to tears by Graf: Steffi Graf def Jana Novotna 7-6, 1-6, 6-4 in 1993 ladies final
The best player in the world, and darling of the crowd, Steffi Graf came into this match, confident of reeling off another easy victory against a much less fancied Jana Novotna.Contrary to belief and form though, the match went in a completely opposite direction. Novotna won the first set in a tie-break 7-6 and stunned the crowd. In the second, Graf hit back in a way she knew best, steamrolling her opponent 6-1.
In the decisive third, Novotna had the match all but won. Graf unexpectedly floundered and was trailing 1-4. Novotna was just a point away from taking an almost unassailable lead of 5-1. It was there for the taking but Graf had other ideas.
The pressure seemed to be too much for Novotna to take who made too many unforced errors and allowed Graf, with her relentless forehand, to fight back to win the set 7-5 and thus the match.
Novotna could not hold back her emotions and openly wept, thinking of what might have been.
#6 Goran Ivanisevic returns: Goran Ivanisevic def Patrick Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 in 2001 men's final
Rank -125th in the world; wild card qualifier for the 2001 Wimbledon and runner-up in 1992, 1994 and 1998, nobody had given Goran Ivanisevic a chance at progressing too far into the 2001 edition, let alone winning Wimbledon.
Recovering from a shoulder injury, Goran, against all odds defeated Australian Pat Rafter in an epic three-hour battle.
Creating an atmosphere resembling a football match rather than a serene Wimbledon final, the crowd was covered with Croatian flags and inflatable Kangaroos. A Topsy-turvy encounter with players trading sets and Goran firing ace after ace came down to the final set.
After heartbreaks in previous finals, Goran was not to be denied his fairytale and won a long fifth set 9-7 to seal an amazing victory. Goran remains the only wildcard entrant to have won a Grand Slam.
#5 Connors' experience overcomes Pernfors' youth: Jimmy Connors def Mikael Pernfors 1-6, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2, 1987, men's fourth round
Once again, a fourth round match offering an absolute epic. At all of 35 years old, Jimmy Connors was 10 years older than his opponent Mikael Pernfors.
With his powers on the wane and a fitter, younger opponent against him, Connors was found out. The first two sets went in favor of Pernfors 6-1, 6-1. Connors fought back, however, and won the third set 7-5 after trailing 1-4, only to trail 0-3 in the fourth.
The experience of Connors though held fort against the exuberance of Perfnors' youth. In a scintillating display of tennis and mental strength, Connors rallied to win the fourth set 6-4 and cruised through the decided 6-2.
Pretty decent for an "old fellow".
#4 No tie breaks: Margaret Court def Billie Jean King 14-12, 11-9 – 1970, ladies final
In an era when tie breaks didn't exist and sets had to be played till a difference of two, Margaret Court and the legendary Bille jean King produced a thriller on Center Court.
The first set was a complete serve-and-volley battle, with both ladies employing same tactics. The number of precise volleys and lobs in this set could in itself form a highlights package of the best in women's tennis. Court won the first of two long sets 14-12.
In the second set, Jean King started to employ drop shots to fatigue her opponent. It was a testament to Court's speed that she managed to reach most of them. Margaret didn't tire and Jean King didn't stop trying to tire her.
Eventually, the match did end with Court winning 11-9 in a superb second set, ending what is easily the greatest Women's Wimbledon final ever.
#3 A two-day match: Pancho Gonzales def Charlie Pasarell 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9 1969, 1st round
An absolute marathon of a match, spanning over two days was played between a 41-year-old Pancho Gonzales and Charlie Pasarell – almost half of Pancho's age.
The crazy scoreline is more down to a lack of tie breakers and it's easy to see why they were introduced into the tennis rulebooks, but it does not take away from the stamina and spirit that Pancho showed that day; or on those days.
A total playing time of five hours and twelve minutes would bring most current players to their knees, even if it meant playing over two days. After a first set that took an eon to complete, play had to be halted when Pancho almost threw the second set and walked off in fading daylight.
The next day, Pasarell tried to make the older Pancho chase after soft serves and run around the court. It made no difference. Gonzales faced seven match points in the fifth set, which were all repelled until he finally won 11-9. It remained the longest game in tennis history till the famous Isner vs Mahut match of 2010.
#2 5th straight Wimbledon for Borg: Bjorn Borg def John McEnroe – 14-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(16-18), 8-6: 1980 final
In what is very much the best of all time, one of the greatest tennis rivalries of all time surfaced in the 1980 final. Bjorn Borg vs John McEnroe, the Calm Swede against fiery American, righty vs lefty, four Wimbledons against first final.
This match had it all. Some fantastic tennis in the first set showed why McEnroe was so feared. Borg, a slow started, played poorly and McEnroe took advantage to romp home 6-1. But Borg, on the back of four straight Wimbledon wins, was not to be left behind. He rallied back to win the next two sets 7-5 and 6-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Wimbledon had installed a tie-break system in 1979 and the fourth set breaker showed just why it was one of the best decisions ever made at the All England Club.
What would be known as the War of 18-16, over 34 points, the two men produced some of the best tennis they could have ever come up with. McEnroe and Borg saved five match points and set points respectively. Brilliance upon more brilliance; approaches being defeated by crisp passing shots; it was everything a tennis fan could have asked for. At 16-17, Borg hit a drop shot into the net and one thought that match was done with the tie-breaker ending 18-16 to McEnroe.
The Swede, however, summoned all of his experience and his Ice Man status came to the fore when he fought back and produced a superb reversal in the fifth set losing just two points in seven service games.
McEnroe, so close to a win, could only admire his rival's mental strength.
#1 Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon 2008 final
Federer vs Nadal. One of the greatest rivalries to have gone down in the history of the sport saw the stage set for it to be displayed at the finals of Wimbledon, 2008. World No. 1 Roger Federer took on World No. 2 Rafael Nadal. Both in form, both raging, hungry and ready to go.
The two had met in the finals of both the previous two years on the grass courts of Wimbledon, and Federer had taken victory both times – also winning the title the three years in a row prior, meaning he was looking for his sixth title in a row.
Federer had been stricken by an infection only a month prior and struggling, despite which he managed to reach the finals of the event.
On the Swiss’ favourite surface, it was Nadal who won the first two sets 6-4, 6-4, with Federer winning the third. The fourth set saw the two tied at 6 games apiece – with Federer scrambling to save championship points on two occasions, which he eventually did.
He would ultimately force a fifth set against Nadal in a match that went on for nearly five hours. Nadal eventually won, with Federer expressing that he felt he had lost the match over dim lighting.
The match is largely considered the greatest of all time.
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