A player can be one point from defeat, with the crowd already bracing for the handshake, and still turn a Grand Slam match around. A handful of the sport’s most memorable wins began exactly there: with a player facing match point, finding a way to survive it, then changing the match before the opponent could finish the job.
These escapes are rare, and they are not all the same. Some players save a match point and win immediately; others endure several more games, sets or hours before completing the comeback. The examples below show how a single point can alter a match—and why surviving it is only the beginning.
What counts as a Grand Slam match point comeback?
A match point is a point that, if won by the player leading, ends the match. If it occurs in a final, it may also be called a championship point. A player saves one by winning the point and continuing the match. In the strictest sense, a match point comeback means the player then goes on to win.
That distinction matters. Roger Federer saved two championship points against Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final, but Nadal eventually won. It was an extraordinary escape within the match, not a match-point comeback victory. By contrast, Novak Djokovic saved two championship points against Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final and went on to lift the trophy.
Famous Grand Slam wins after saving match points
| Match | What happened | Final score |
|---|---|---|
| Serena Williams vs. Kim Clijsters, 2003 Australian Open semifinal | Williams saved two match points before winning the deciding set. | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer, 2010 US Open semifinal | Djokovic saved two match points and won in five sets. | 5–7, 6–1, 5–7, 6–2, 7–5 |
| Marat Safin vs. Roger Federer, 2005 Australian Open semifinal | Safin saved a match point in the fourth-set tiebreak and won the fifth. | 5–7, 6–4, 5–7, 7–6(6), 9–7 |
| Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer, 2011 US Open semifinal | Djokovic erased two match points on Federer’s serve, then won in five. | 6–7(7), 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 7–5 |
| Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer, 2019 Wimbledon final | Djokovic saved two championship points and won the first final-set tiebreak at 12–12. | 7–6(5), 1–6, 7–6(4), 4–6, 13–12(3) |
Serena Williams turns the tide against Clijsters
In the 2003 Australian Open semifinal, Williams was defending the title and facing a formidable opponent in Clijsters. Clijsters came within two points of victory, but Williams saved both match points and found a way to win the third set 7–5. The comeback carried her into the final, where she beat her sister Venus to complete what became known as the “Serena Slam”: holding all four major singles titles at the same time.
The match is a useful reminder that a player under pressure does not always need a spectacular winner. Staying composed, making one more return and forcing the opponent to play another point can be enough to change the feeling of a contest.
Djokovic’s US Open escapes against Federer
Djokovic saved two match points against Federer in back-to-back US Open semifinals. In 2010, he recovered from two sets down and finished the fifth set 7–5. The following year, Federer again had two match points, this time on his serve at 5–3 in the fifth. Djokovic attacked the second serve and struck a bold forehand return winner to stay alive. He went on to break, level the set and win it 7–5.
That return is remembered not just for its nerve, but for its intent. Djokovic did not simply block the ball back and hope Federer missed. He took a calculated risk, putting pressure straight back on the player who was about to serve for the match.
Safin survives against the defending champion
Marat Safin’s 2005 Australian Open semifinal against Federer became a five-set test of patience and power. Safin faced match point in the fourth-set tiebreak, saved it, won the breaker and eventually took the final set 9–7. Federer was the defending champion and had been on a remarkable run; Safin’s win ended that streak and sent him to the final, where he beat Lleyton Hewitt for the title.
The escape did not make the next set easy. Safin still had to hold his nerve deep into the fifth, showing that saving match point can reopen the door without making the finish any less demanding.
Djokovic’s Wimbledon final survival
The 2019 Wimbledon final between Djokovic and Federer was the first men’s singles final at the tournament decided by a final-set tiebreak. Federer served for the championship at 8–7 in the fifth and earned two championship points. Djokovic saved them, held on, and eventually won the tiebreak 7–3 at 12–12. At four hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon final at the time.
Federer had played the more aggressive tennis for long stretches, but Djokovic’s calm under pressure was striking. He kept returning serves, competed through long rallies and did not let the missed championship points decide the match for him.
Why saving match point does not guarantee a win
A match point is a moment, not a finish line for the player facing it. The opponent who misses can still reset, and the player who saves it may still have to win several difficult points just to hold serve. In a deciding set without a tiebreak, that pressure can last for a long time.
Federer’s escape in the 2008 Wimbledon final is a classic example. Nadal had two championship points on his serve at 5–4 in the fourth set. Federer saved them, won the set in a tiebreak and pushed the final into a fifth. Nadal recovered and won 9–7. The save was remarkable, but it did not change the eventual winner.
What players do under match-point pressure
- Choose a clear plan. A player might target a weaker backhand, serve wide to open the court or attack a second serve. A simple decision is easier to execute under stress.
- Commit rather than steer. Tentative shots often sit up for the opponent. Djokovic’s 2011 return against Federer worked because he went after the ball instead of merely trying to keep it in play.
- Focus on the next point. The player facing match point cannot win the match on that point; they can only extend it. Breaking the task into one point at a time helps limit panic.
- Make the opponent earn it. A strong return or a deep rally can put pressure on the player serving for the match. Even a saved point may make the next one feel different.
For the player with match point, the challenge is just as real: finish with a purposeful shot or serve, but avoid trying to force a winner that is not there. The best choice depends on the score, the surface, the opponent’s position and what has worked throughout the match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which player has the most famous Grand Slam match-point comeback?
There is no single official ranking, but Djokovic’s 2019 Wimbledon final win over Federer is often considered the standout example. He saved two championship points in a final before winning a five-set match that ended in a final-set tiebreak.
Did Federer face match points in the 2008 Wimbledon final?
Federer saved two championship points on Nadal’s serve in the fourth set, then won that set. He lost the deciding set 9–7, so it was a famous match-point escape, but not a comeback win.
Can a player save match point and still lose the match?
Yes. Saving match point keeps the match going, but the player still has to win the remaining points and games. Federer’s 2008 Wimbledon final is a prominent example.
What is the difference between match point and championship point?
They describe the same point from different perspectives. “Match point” means the point could end the match; “championship point” emphasizes that it could also decide the title in a final.
Final Thoughts
Grand Slam match-point comebacks stand out because they combine skill with the nerve to use it at the hardest possible moment. Williams against Clijsters, Safin against Federer and Djokovic’s repeated escapes all show how a player can turn one saved point into a route back into the match. But survival is only the first step: the true comeback is finishing the job.
