A Grand Slam comeback can mean several things: winning after losing the first two sets, turning around a final, or surviving match points. Those moments are rare because best-of-five matches give players more time to recover—but they also demand unusual stamina and nerve.
Roger Federer holds the Open Era men’s singles record for Grand Slam wins after falling two sets behind, with 10. Some of the most famous major comebacks, though, belong to other players: Gaston Gaudio and Novak Djokovic both won French Open finals after losing the opening two sets, while Djokovic also saved two championship points in the 2019 Wimbledon final.
Grand Slam comeback records at a glance
Comeback statistics depend on what counts as a comeback. Losing two sets is a bigger hole than losing one, and saving a match point is different from recovering a set deficit. The table below focuses on some of the clearest records and landmark examples in Open Era singles.
| Comeback mark | Player and tournament | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Most men’s Grand Slam wins from two sets down | Roger Federer | 10 wins in the Open Era |
| French Open final won from two sets down | Gaston Gaudio, 2004 | Recovered from two sets behind to beat Guillermo Coria in five |
| Wimbledon final match points saved | Novak Djokovic, 2019 | Saved two championship points against Federer, then won the final |
| Memorable comeback after facing match points | Federer, Wimbledon 2016 | Overturned three match points against Marin Čilić in the quarter-final |
These are men’s singles examples. Men’s Grand Slam matches are usually best of five sets, while women’s singles matches are best of three. A woman can come back from a set down, but not from two sets down.
Federer’s record for comebacks from two sets down
Federer’s 10 wins after losing the first two sets are the most in the men’s Open Era. The number reflects more than his shot-making. His calm between points, ability to shorten rallies when tired, and skill at finding better serving patterns helped him stay in matches that looked close to lost.
One striking example came at Wimbledon in 2010 against Alejandro Falla. Federer dropped the first two sets, then steadied himself and won in five. In 2016, also at Wimbledon, he was two sets down against Čilić and faced three match points. Federer saved them, took the fourth set in a tiebreak, and won the deciding set 6–3.
That Čilić match shows why a comeback is often built one point at a time. A player does not need to suddenly dominate. Federer first had to avoid losing the match, then make Čilić play another set, and finally carry that pressure into the fifth.
Comebacks in Grand Slam finals
Two French Open finals stand out for the same remarkable scoreline: the winner lost the first two sets and then took the title. In 2004, Argentina’s Gaudio recovered from a 6–0, 6–3 start by Coria to win 0–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 8–6. The deciding set was especially tense, with Gaudio eventually closing out the match 8–6.
In 2021, Djokovic followed a similar path against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas won the first two sets, but Djokovic changed the pace and began controlling more of the rallies. He won the next three sets to claim the title. The final showed how a player can use a break between sets to reset, then target a tactical weakness—in this case, Djokovic’s growing success in longer exchanges.
Coming back from two sets down in a major final is exceptionally difficult. The opponent is only one set from the trophy, the crowd is fully engaged, and there is little room for a slow start. Gaudio and Djokovic had to win three sets in a row while keeping their focus through long, high-pressure stretches.
Saving match points: comebacks by a single point
A player does not need to trail by two sets for a comeback to become part of Grand Slam history. Sometimes the turning point is a single point that keeps a tournament alive.
At the 2019 Wimbledon final, Federer held two championship points on his serve at 8–7 in the fifth set against Djokovic. Djokovic saved both and went on to win the match in a final-set tiebreak. The moment was especially striking because Federer was serving for the title, but Djokovic stayed composed, returned well, and made the Swiss play the next ball.
Djokovic also saved two match points against Federer in the 2011 US Open semi-final, then won and went on to take the title. Federer had held match points against Djokovic in the same round at the 2010 US Open, too. These matches are reminders that a lead or a match point is not the same as a finished match—especially against a player who can keep returning under pressure.
Why Grand Slam comebacks happen
Long matches create chances to adjust. A player may serve better after settling down, change where they direct their returns, or use more height and spin to disrupt an opponent’s rhythm. Fatigue can also change the balance: a player who looked sharp early may begin making errors or moving less freely several hours later.
Momentum matters, but it is not magic. A comeback often starts with a practical goal: hold serve, win the next return game, or make the opponent play one more shot. In a best-of-five match, those small steps can add up. That extra time is one reason the most dramatic two-set comebacks are a feature of men’s Grand Slam singles, where the format allows five sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most Grand Slam comebacks from two sets down?
Roger Federer holds the men’s Open Era record, with 10 Grand Slam singles wins after losing the first two sets.
Has anyone won a Grand Slam final after losing the first two sets?
Yes. Gaston Gaudio did it against Guillermo Coria at the 2004 French Open, and Novak Djokovic did it against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2021 French Open.
Can a woman come back from two sets down at a Grand Slam?
No. Women’s Grand Slam singles matches are best of three sets, so a player can fall one set behind but cannot lose two sets and continue the match.
What is one of the most famous Grand Slam comebacks after match points?
Djokovic’s 2019 Wimbledon final win over Federer is a leading example. Federer had two championship points while serving in the fifth set, but Djokovic saved both and won the title.
Final Thoughts
Grand Slam comeback records are about more than scorelines. Federer’s 10 wins from two sets down, Gaudio’s and Djokovic’s French Open final recoveries, and Djokovic’s Wimbledon championship-point saves each show a different kind of resilience. The common thread is patience: keep the match alive, make a small adjustment, and give yourself another chance to compete.
