10 Great Wimbledon Mens Finals

This is a selection of some of the finest men’s singles finals at Wimbledon.

There may be some great matches from earlier eras too but the matches picked here are from the last few decades and consequently a lot of TV coverage of the matches.

In most cases the matches here are tense long running contests where both players are at their best and they go the 5 set distance. But there is one example chosen of one player destroying another in just 3 sets that was truly memorable.

10. 1998- Pete Sampras beat Goran Ivanisevic 6-7 7-6 6-4 3-6 6-2

This was American Pete Sampras 5th out of 7 wins at Wimbledon and possibly the hardest as Croatian Goran Ivanisevic took him to 5 sets. Ivanisevic won the first on a tie break by 7-2 and then Sampras won on a tie break 9-7. Sampras won the 3rd set 6-4.Ivanisevic won 6-3 before the deciding set went to Sampras by 6-2

9. 1990-Stefan Edberg beat Boris Becker 6-2 6-2 3-6 3-6 6-4

This was the third consecutive final between Swedens Edberg and German Becker. They had previously won one match each. Edberg took control early on and went into a two sets to love lead, winning both 6-2. Becker stormed back though to win the next 2 both by scores of 6-3 before Edberg took the title by winning the decider 6-4.

8. 1992-Andre Agassi beat Goran Ivanisevic 6-7 6-4 6-4 1-6 6-4

A really exciting match involving 2 very popular players. American Agassi won his only title in a real scrap. Ivanisevic won the first set on a a tie break by 10-8,before Agassi stormed back to take the next 2,both by 6-4. Ivanisevic levelled by winning the 4^th set 6-1. It looked as if he would have the momentum but Agassi then went on to win the deciding set 6-4.

7. 2007- Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 7-6 4-6 7-6 2-6 6-2

This was a really exciting meeting between Switzerlands Federer and Spains Nadal which was their 2^nd of 3 consecutive finals. Federer won the first set on a tie break of 9-7 before Nadal won the next by 6-4. Federer won again on a tie break by 7-3 before Nadal equalised by winning 6-2 in the 4^th set but Federer took the title by winning the 5^th set 6-2.

6. 1982- Jimmy Connors beat John McEnroe 3-6 6-3 6-7 7-6 6-4

In this battle of the 2 Americans the older man Connors won to take his second title beating the defending champion McEnroe. McEnroe won the first 6-3 before Connors equalised winning by the same score. The 3^rd was won by McEnroe on a tie break by 7-2. The 4^th set also went to a tie break and it looked as if McEnroe was going to win the championship but Connors stole in to win 7-5. Then in the final set Connors held out to win 6-4.

5. 1984- John McEnroe beat Jimmy Connors 6-1 6-1 6-2

This is the only match that is included here that didn’t go to 5 sets. Again it was a Connors v McEnroe final and this time McEnroe hammered his opponent 3-0. He won in really quick time 6-1,6-1,6-2 and it was talked about as being a near faultless display. Although Connors was 31 at the time he was still regarded as a great competitor so the ease of this victory was hugely surprising.

4. 2001- Goran Ivanisevic beat Pat Rafter 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7

Ivanisevic finally got his victory after 3 previous final defeats in this pulsating match against Australian Rafter. Because of rain the final was played on Monday rather than the Sunday and this seemed to mean a different type of crowd who were a lot more noisy. More in fact like a football crowd. It was a match to remember. Ivanisevic won the first set 6-3, before Rafter won the next 6-3. 6-3 was again the score in the third and Ivanisevic went ahead again. Rafter equalised it by winning 6-2, and on to the final set in which both players gave their all before Ivanisevic eventually triumphed 9-7.

3. 1980-Bjorn Borg beat John McEnroe 1-6 7-5 6-3 6-7 8-6

You cannot be serious. This is only at number 3. Yes for years this was regarded as the best Wimbledon final and maybe even the best ever tennis match anywhere. But it has been overtaken by recent matches here.

This features 2 of the greats at the peak of their powers. Borg was going for his 5^th consecutive win and McEnroe was in his 1^st final at the age of 21. McEnroe took control, winning the first set 6-1. Borg stormed back to win the next 2 by 7-5 and 6-3. The fourth set went into a tie break and remains one of sports most memorable moments. The tie break seemed to go on and on. Borg looked as if he would win the match and then McEnroe looked liked he would win the set and it went on for a while with nobody landing the killer blow before McEnroe won it 18-16. The final set was just as fiercely contested before Borg finally won 8-6 to take the title again.

2. 2009-Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14

A classic match . Federer aiming to win for a 6^th time and American Roddick trying to win his first after 2 earlier final defeats to Federer. Roddick took an early lead when he won the first set 7-5.

The next two sets both went to tie breaks and while Roddick had major chances to win and take real control of the match Federer won them both by scores of 8-6 and 7-5. It looked like Federer might win comfortably now but Roddick won the fourth set 6-3 to level. Into the final set and the underdog Roddick had chances to win and Federer kept in the tie. Both gave their all in this lengthy battle of wills before Federer eventually won 16-14.

1. 2008- Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7

Now regarded as a major classic and the match to beat in Wimbledon final terms and maybe any match in history. Nadal looked in total control early on as he won the first 2 sets, both by 6-4. but Federer came back to win the next 2 sets both on tie breaks 7-5 and 10-8. In themselves just like the Borg- McEnroe match the tiebreaks really added to the occasion and the tension when so many times it looked like Nadal could win the title but Federer kept saving the points until he was to win the sets. In the final set it seemed as if Federer held all the aces. He was in the ascendancy having come back from 2-0 down, but in the end it was Nadal who ground out a fantastic win with a 9-7 final set victory. Along with all the drama it had certainly enough high quality moments of tennis that could normally be found over the course of few matches. This was definitely