Tonight's exhibit · Wimbledon 1980
John Mcenroe vs Bjorn Borg
6-1 5-7 3-6 7-6(16) 6-8
The 18-16 tiebreak — McEnroe saves five championship points, and Borg still has to win it twice.
Five-Set Wars
Matches that went the full distance, and then kept going.
Hard courtAustralian Open 2012 · FinalNovak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5Five hours fifty-three minutes, both men given chairs before the trophies come out.Grass courtWimbledon 2008 · FinalRoger Federer vs Rafael Nadal4-6 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(8) 7-99-7 in the gathering dark — the match everyone calls the greatest ever played.Grass courtWimbledon 2019 · FinalRoger Federer vs Novak Djokovic6-7(5) 6-1 6-7(4) 6-4 12-13(3)Two championship points on Federer's racquet, and the first 12-12 tiebreak in a Wimbledon final.Grass courtWimbledon 2009 · FinalAndy Roddick vs Roger Federer7-5 6-7(6) 6-7(5) 6-3 14-16Roddick loses serve exactly once all afternoon — in the 77th game.
The Great Comebacks
Two sets down, match points down — still standing at the end.
Hard courtAustralian Open 2022 · FinalRafael Nadal vs Daniil Medvedev2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5Two sets down after 1 a.m., five and a half hours to major number 21.Clay courtRoland Garros 1984 · FinalJohn Mcenroe vs Ivan Lendl6-3 6-2 4-6 5-7 5-7McEnroe two sets up and untouchable, then the slow-motion collapse that made Lendl.Hard courtAustralian Open 2005 · SemifinalSerena Williams vs Maria Sharapova2-6 7-5 8-6Three match points down to Sharapova, and Serena refuses every one of them.
Tiebreak Hell
Sudden death, stretched past any reasonable length.
Grass courtWimbledon 1980 · FinalJohn Mcenroe vs Bjorn Borg6-1 5-7 3-6 7-6(16) 6-8The 18-16 tiebreak — McEnroe saves five championship points, and Borg still has to win it twice.Grass courtWimbledon 2019 · FinalRoger Federer vs Novak Djokovic6-7(5) 6-1 6-7(4) 6-4 12-13(3)Two championship points on Federer's racquet, and the first 12-12 tiebreak in a Wimbledon final.Grass courtWimbledon 2008 · FinalRoger Federer vs Rafael Nadal4-6 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(8) 7-99-7 in the gathering dark — the match everyone calls the greatest ever played.
Centre Court Classics
Five Wimbledon finals, four decades apart.
Grass courtWimbledon 1980 · FinalJohn Mcenroe vs Bjorn Borg6-1 5-7 3-6 7-6(16) 6-8The 18-16 tiebreak — McEnroe saves five championship points, and Borg still has to win it twice.Grass courtWimbledon 2008 · FinalRoger Federer vs Rafael Nadal4-6 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(8) 7-99-7 in the gathering dark — the match everyone calls the greatest ever played.Grass courtWimbledon 2009 · FinalAndy Roddick vs Roger Federer7-5 6-7(6) 6-7(5) 6-3 14-16Roddick loses serve exactly once all afternoon — in the 77th game.Grass courtWimbledon 2019 · FinalRoger Federer vs Novak Djokovic6-7(5) 6-1 6-7(4) 6-4 12-13(3)Two championship points on Federer's racquet, and the first 12-12 tiebreak in a Wimbledon final.Grass courtWimbledon 2023 · FinalNovak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz6-1 6-7(6) 1-6 6-3 4-6A 26-minute game in the third set, and the torch changing hands on Centre Court.
Firsts & Lasts
Torches passed, doors opened, careers closed.
Clay courtRoland Garros 2011 · FinalFrancesca Schiavone vs Na Li4-6 6-7(0)Li Na plays for a billion people and brings China its first major.Hard courtUS Open 2018 · FinalSerena Williams vs Naomi Osaka2-6 4-6The final that boiled over — Osaka wins her first major through the chaos.Clay courtRoland Garros 1999 · FinalSteffi Graf vs Martina Hingis4-6 7-5 6-2An underarm serve, a crowd in revolt, and Graf's last, strangest major.Grass courtWimbledon 2023 · FinalNovak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz6-1 6-7(6) 1-6 6-3 4-6A 26-minute game in the third set, and the torch changing hands on Centre Court.