The greatest tennis comebacks are more than matches won after losing a set or two. They are moments when a player finds a new plan under pressure, turns the crowd, or saves a match that seemed almost over. Some of the sport’s best examples came on Grand Slam finals’ biggest stages; others changed the course of a player’s career.
Here are landmark comebacks from men’s and women’s tennis, including wins from two sets down, a dramatic recovery in a fifth set, and a Wimbledon title that capped a long road back. Each one shows a different way to fight back.
Memorable comebacks in tennis history
| Match | Comeback | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Ivan Lendl def. John McEnroe, 1984 French Open final | Won after losing the first two sets | Ended McEnroe’s remarkable run of 42 straight wins |
| Andre Agassi def. Andrei Medvedev, 1999 French Open final | Won after losing the first two sets | Completed Agassi’s career Grand Slam |
| Venus Williams def. Lindsay Davenport, 2005 Wimbledon final | Won in three close sets | One of the most dramatic women’s finals at Wimbledon |
| Marat Safin def. Roger Federer, 2005 Australian Open semifinal | Saved match point, then won in five sets | A breakthrough win over the world No. 1 |
| Roger Federer def. Rafael Nadal, 2017 Australian Open final | Recovered from a break down in the fifth set | A remarkable return after a long injury layoff |
| Novak Djokovic def. Roger Federer, 2019 Wimbledon final | Saved two championship points | The first Wimbledon final decided by a fifth-set tiebreak |
| Rafael Nadal def. Daniil Medvedev, 2022 Australian Open final | Won after losing the first two sets | Captured a record-setting 21st men’s major title at the time |
Comebacks that changed Grand Slam finals
Ivan Lendl over John McEnroe: 1984 French Open
John McEnroe arrived in Paris in extraordinary form, having won his first 42 matches of the year. He looked in control of the final too, taking the first two sets against Ivan Lendl. But Lendl stayed patient, worked his way into the rallies, and took the next three sets, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5.
The shift was as much mental as tactical. Lendl kept making McEnroe play, rather than rushing to end points against one of the best volleyers in the game. The win gave Lendl his first Grand Slam singles title and stopped McEnroe’s unbeaten run.
Andre Agassi over Andrei Medvedev: 1999 French Open
Agassi’s final in Paris looked lost after he dropped the first two sets, 1-6 and 2-6. He turned it around with a steadier, more patient game, winning the next three sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. The victory made him just the fifth man to complete a career Grand Slam at that point: winning all four major singles titles.
The comeback carried extra weight because Agassi had spent years away from the top of the sport. In Paris, he did not need to overpower Medvedev. He needed to stay composed, extend rallies, and trust that his chances would come.
Venus Williams over Lindsay Davenport: 2005 Wimbledon
The all-American final was a tense, close contest that lasted nearly three hours. Davenport won the first set, but Venus kept pressing and took the second in a tiebreak. The third set went to 9-7, with Venus finally pulling away to claim her third Wimbledon singles title.
It was a reminder that a comeback does not have to start with a huge deficit. In a tight match, a player can recover by winning a few key points at the right time. Venus handled those points with the calm and aggressive serving that had made her so dangerous on grass.
Match points, fifth sets, and late surges
Marat Safin over Roger Federer: 2005 Australian Open
Federer was the defending champion and world No. 1, but Safin pushed him into a five-set semifinal. At 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6, 9-7, the match swung on the smallest margins. Safin saved a match point in the fourth-set tiebreak, then carried that momentum into the deciding set.
Safin’s big groundstrokes could take time away from Federer, but the key was that he kept taking risks even when the match was close to ending. He went on to win the title, making the semifinal a turning point in the tournament.
Roger Federer over Rafael Nadal: 2017 Australian Open
After six months away with a knee injury, Federer returned to Melbourne as the 17th seed. In the final against Nadal, he won the first set, lost the next two, and then found his best tennis again. Nadal broke early in the fifth set to lead 3-1, but Federer won five of the last six games for a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
Federer’s attacking backhand was a major part of the turnaround. Instead of letting Nadal control rallies with heavy topspin to the backhand, he stepped in and hit through the ball. At 35, after a long injury break, he claimed his 18th major title.
Novak Djokovic over Roger Federer: 2019 Wimbledon
Federer had two championship points on his serve at 8-7 in the fifth set. Djokovic saved both, held serve, and eventually won the first Wimbledon final decided by a final-set tiebreak, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12. The match lasted four hours and 57 minutes.
Djokovic’s recovery was built on nerve as much as shot-making. He stayed focused through long stretches when Federer looked in control, then played two steady points when the title was on the line. Saving championship points does not always lead to a win, but here it opened the door to one of Wimbledon’s most memorable finishes.
Rafael Nadal over Daniil Medvedev: 2022 Australian Open
Nadal was two sets down and facing a formidable opponent in Medvedev, whose deep returns and steady defence had disrupted his game. Nadal adjusted, took more control of the rallies, and won the next three sets, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. The final lasted five hours and 24 minutes.
The victory gave Nadal his 21st men’s Grand Slam singles title, moving him ahead of Federer and Djokovic in the major-title race at the time. It was also a striking example of how a player can change a match without abandoning their strengths: Nadal kept using his forehand, but found better ways to open the court and attack.
A different kind of comeback: Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon
Not every great tennis comeback happens within one match. Goran Ivanisevic had lost three Wimbledon finals before returning in 2001 as a wildcard. Ranked outside the top 100, he won the title by beating Pat Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7. The win was a career revival as well as a five-set triumph: Ivanisevic finally lifted the trophy at the tournament that had brought him so close before.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the greatest comeback in tennis history?
There is no single agreed answer. Nadal’s two-set comeback against Medvedev in the 2022 Australian Open final, Djokovic saving two championship points against Federer at Wimbledon in 2019, and Lendl’s win over McEnroe in 1984 are all strong choices.
Which players have won a Grand Slam final after losing the first two sets?
Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi, and Rafael Nadal are among the players who won major finals after falling two sets behind. Nadal’s 2022 Australian Open final against Medvedev is one of the most recent examples.
Has a player won a Grand Slam match after saving match point?
Yes. Marat Safin saved a match point against Roger Federer in their 2005 Australian Open semifinal before winning in five sets. Novak Djokovic also saved two championship points against Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final.
What makes a tennis comeback possible?
A comeback often starts with a tactical adjustment: changing return positions, attacking a weaker shot, or extending rallies to test an opponent’s patience. Staying composed matters too, because one strong service game or saved match point can shift the pressure.
Final Thoughts
The best tennis comebacks are memorable because they combine skill with belief. Lendl and Agassi recovered from two sets down; Safin and Djokovic survived match points; Federer and Nadal found new answers in deciding sets. Whether the turnaround takes one set or a whole career, these matches show why a tennis contest is rarely over until the final point.
