Top 5 Grand Slam men's singles matches of 2019

#2 2019 US Open Final: Rafael Nadal beats Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4

Nadal beats Medvedev in an epic 5-set final

In his first Grand Slam final, Daniil Medvedev made a brisk start by grabbing the first break of the match to take a 2-1 lead. But Rafael Nadal returned the compliment in the following game, and then another break in the 12th game of the set gave the Spaniard a one-set lead.

A single break of serve sufficed in the second set as Nadal took a seemingly insurmountable two-set advantage.

When Medvedev dropped serve to trail 2-3 in the third, a swift end was in sight. But the Russian quickly bounced back to recoup the break.

Games proceeded on serve till Nadal served to stay in the set at 5-6. Medvedev sensed the moment to lay siege on the Nadal serve; the Russian eked out a 0-40 lead and converted his second break point to take the third set against the run of play.

What initially looked like a straight-set affair, had suddenly sprung into life.

In a competitive fourth set, there were no breaks of serve in the first nine games as Medvedev held for a 5-4 lead. Serving to stay in the set, Nadal looked good for a routine hold by taking a 30-0 lead. But Medvedev reeled off three straight points and on his break point opportunity, blasted a brilliant backhand return winner past the stunned Spaniard to force a decider.

The US Open final would go the distance for the first time since 2012 (where Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic).

With the momentum now firmly in his favor, Medvedev held serve to begin the fifth. But he would rue not converting three break points in the next game as Nadal held serve and broke twice to take a seemingly insurmountable 5-2 lead.

Medvedev was still not done though.

In one final twist to the tale, the Russian broke Nadal for 3-5 and saved two championship points to hold for 4-5. A break point to get back on serve came and went for Medvedev in the next game before Nadal closed out a 4hr 49min battle for his fourth US Open triumph and 19th Grand Slam title.

In the process, Medvedev fell short in his bid to become the first player in 70 years, since Pancho Gonzalez, to win the US Open after losing the first two sets in the final.