Grand Slam championship comebacks can turn a match—and sometimes a player’s place in tennis history—on a few crucial points. Some champions recover from two sets down. Others are one point from defeat before finding a way back. The best-known examples show that a comeback is rarely just about grit: tactics, fitness, and handling pressure all matter.
From Rafael Nadal’s five-set win at the 2022 Australian Open to Novak Djokovic saving two championship points at Wimbledon in 2019, these matches offer a useful look at how champions respond when the odds are against them. Here are some of the most memorable comebacks in Grand Slam finals, plus the turning points that helped make them possible.
What counts as a Grand Slam championship comeback?
A championship comeback usually means a player fell well behind during a major final and still won the title. That can mean recovering from two sets down, coming back after losing the opening set, or surviving match points. These are different kinds of adversity, but each demands a player stay focused while the opponent is close to winning.
It also helps to separate a comeback in a final from one during the tournament. A player might recover from a big deficit in a semifinal or earlier round and then go on to win the championship. Those matches can shape a title run, but the final itself is where the championship is decided.
Famous Grand Slam finals won from two sets down
Coming back from two sets down in a best-of-five final is rare. The player must win three sets in a row, often after the opponent has already had a long stretch of control. These finals stand out for the size of the deficit and the quality of the response.
| Final | Champion | Comeback |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 French Open | Ivan Lendl | Beat John McEnroe after losing the first two sets |
| 1999 French Open | Andre Agassi | Beat Andrei Medvedev after losing the first two sets |
| 2022 Australian Open | Rafael Nadal | Beat Daniil Medvedev after losing the first two sets |
| 2020 US Open | Dominic Thiem | Beat Alexander Zverev after losing the first two sets |
Ivan Lendl, 1984 French Open
John McEnroe took the first two sets, putting Lendl on the edge of defeat in a final played on clay. Lendl changed the tone by extending rallies and making McEnroe work for points rather than letting him finish quickly at the net. He won the third set, then edged a tense fourth and fifth to take the title, 3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 7–5.
Andre Agassi, 1999 French Open
Andrei Medvedev dominated the opening sets, winning them 6–1 and 6–2. Agassi steadied his play and began winning the longer exchanges, taking the next three sets 6–4, 6–3, 6–4. The victory completed Agassi’s career Grand Slam: he had now won all four major singles titles.
Rafael Nadal, 2022 Australian Open
Nadal’s final against Medvedev is one of the defining Grand Slam comebacks of the modern era. Medvedev led by two sets and made Nadal defend for long stretches. Nadal kept competing, found more success moving forward, and gradually made the rallies less comfortable for his opponent. He won 2–6, 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5, claiming a record-breaking 21st major singles title at the time.
Dominic Thiem, 2020 US Open
Thiem lost the first two sets to Zverev, then worked his way back into the match with steadier groundstrokes and a stronger return. The final went to a fifth-set tiebreak, where Thiem won 8–6 after trailing in the breaker. He became the first man in the Open Era to win a US Open final from two sets down.
Comebacks built on a set deficit or match points
A final does not need to begin with a two-set hole to become a great comeback. Elena Rybakina lost the first set of the 2022 Wimbledon final to Ons Jabeur, then took control with powerful, accurate serving and more aggressive groundstrokes. She won 3–6, 6–2, 6–2 to earn her first major title.
At the 2023 Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka also recovered after losing the opening set. Elena Rybakina had taken the first 6–4, but Sabalenka lifted her level on serve and hit with greater control in the next two sets. Her 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 win delivered her first Grand Slam singles championship.
One of the most dramatic finals came at Wimbledon in 2019. Roger Federer held two championship points against Djokovic in the fifth set, but Djokovic saved both and eventually won a deciding tiebreak, 7–3. The match is a reminder that a player can be close to victory and still have to earn every last point. Djokovic won 7–6, 1–6, 7–6, 4–6, 13–12.
What helps a champion turn a match around?
- Make a clear tactical change. A player might return from a different position, target the opponent’s weaker wing, or take the ball earlier to reduce the opponent’s time.
- Protect the serve. Holding serve can stop a run of lost games and give a player room to press on return.
- Keep points manageable. When a match feels overwhelming, focusing on the next serve, return, or rally can be more useful than thinking about the final score.
- Use fitness and patience. Long matches test movement and concentration. The player who keeps making solid decisions can benefit when an opponent’s level dips.
- Stay composed after a missed chance. A missed break point or lost tiebreak can sting, but dwelling on it makes the next game harder.
None of these steps guarantees a win. A comeback also depends on the opponent, the surface, and how much time and energy remain. But the examples share a pattern: champions often stop trying to solve the whole match at once. They look for a way to win the next stretch of points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won a Grand Slam final from two sets down?
Notable men’s champions include Ivan Lendl at the 1984 French Open, Andre Agassi at the 1999 French Open, Rafael Nadal at the 2022 Australian Open, and Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open.
What is one of the most famous Grand Slam final comebacks?
Nadal’s 2022 Australian Open final win is among the most famous. He came back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in five sets and win his 21st major singles title.
Has a player saved match points and still won a Grand Slam final?
Yes. Novak Djokovic saved two championship points against Roger Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final and went on to win the deciding-set tiebreak.
Can losing the first set still lead to a Grand Slam title?
Absolutely. Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon in 2022 and Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 Australian Open both lost the opening set of their finals before winning the next two sets and the championship.
Final Thoughts
Grand Slam championship comebacks are memorable because they combine skill with the ability to handle pressure when a match seems to be slipping away. Lendl, Agassi, Nadal, Thiem, Rybakina, and Sabalenka all found different ways back into their finals. Their matches show that a deficit is serious—but until the last point, it is not the same as defeat.
