The most important tennis matches are not always the longest or closest. Some changed how the game was played; others opened doors, ended eras or gave a rivalry its defining moment. Together, they show why a single match can matter far beyond the final score.
This selection brings together landmark matches from men’s and women’s tennis, from Billie Jean King’s 1973 showdown with Bobby Riggs to Rafael Nadal’s comeback at the 2022 Australian Open. It is not a definitive ranking, but a guide to the matches every tennis fan should know—and what made each one matter.
Eight important tennis matches in history
| Match | Result | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs, 1973 | King won 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 | A defining moment in the fight for respect and opportunity in women’s sport |
| Björn Borg vs. John McEnroe, 1980 | Borg won 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16), 8–6 | One of Wimbledon’s most famous finals and a showcase for contrasting styles |
| Ivan Lendl vs. John McEnroe, 1984 | Lendl won 3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 7–5 | Lendl overturned a two-set deficit to win the French Open |
| Goran Ivanišević vs. Pat Rafter, 2001 | Ivanišević won 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7 | A wildcard became the first man to win Wimbledon as a wildcard entry |
| Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer, 2008 | Nadal won 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7 | A landmark match in one of tennis’s great rivalries |
| Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams, 2017 | Serena won 6–4, 6–4 | Serena claimed her 23rd Grand Slam singles title in the Open Era |
| Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer, 2019 | Djokovic won 7–6(5), 1–6, 7–6(4), 4–6, 13–12(3) | The first Wimbledon singles final decided by a final-set tiebreak at 12–12 |
| Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev, 2022 | Nadal won 2–6, 6–7(5), 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 | Nadal came back from two sets down to win a record-setting 21st major at the time |
Matches that changed tennis history
Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs, 1973
King’s win at the Houston Astrodome was more than a tennis result. Riggs, a former Wimbledon champion, had publicly claimed that a top male player could beat the best woman. King faced him in a highly publicized match watched by a large television audience—and won in straight sets.
The contest did not settle every debate about gender or sport. But it brought huge attention to women’s tennis and gave King a powerful platform in her push for equal respect and opportunity. Its importance is cultural as much as sporting.
Björn Borg vs. John McEnroe, Wimbledon 1980
Borg and McEnroe made an ideal contrast: Borg’s calm, heavy topspin against McEnroe’s sharp serve-and-volley game and explosive emotion. Their 1980 Wimbledon final delivered one of the most memorable tiebreaks in tennis. McEnroe won it 18–16, saving championship points along the way, but Borg took the fifth set 8–6.
The match helped turn their rivalry into a defining story of the era. It also showed how different approaches to the game could push each other to remarkable levels.
Ivan Lendl vs. John McEnroe, French Open 1984
McEnroe arrived in Paris on a 42-match winning streak and took the first two sets. Lendl, chasing his first Grand Slam title, steadied himself and began to take control of the rallies from the baseline. He won the next three sets, denying McEnroe a title at Roland-Garros.
For Lendl, it was a breakthrough. For McEnroe, it was a rare collapse after holding a commanding position. The match also underlined the challenge of adapting an attacking, serve-and-volley game to the slower clay courts.
Goran Ivanišević vs. Pat Rafter, Wimbledon 2001
Ivanišević was a former Wimbledon finalist with a famously powerful left-handed serve, but injuries and poor form had pushed him down the rankings. He entered the tournament as a wildcard. After a tight five-set final against Rafter, he finally won the title on his fourth attempt.
His victory was Wimbledon’s first men’s singles title won by a wildcard. It is remembered as a rare mix of sporting drama and personal persistence: a player who had come close before, returning when few expected him to lift the trophy.
Rivalries and record-setting finals
Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer, Wimbledon 2008
Nadal beat Federer after nearly five hours in a final interrupted by rain and delayed by fading light. The match swung back and forth: Federer saved two championship points in the fourth-set tiebreak, then Nadal found a way through in the fifth, winning 9–7.
The result ended Federer’s run of five straight Wimbledon titles and gave Nadal his first title at the tournament. It was a landmark in their rivalry, proving that Nadal’s success on clay could translate to grass—and making the idea of him challenging Federer at Wimbledon impossible to dismiss.
Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams, Australian Open 2017
The sisters met in a Grand Slam final for the ninth time, with Serena winning 6–4, 6–4. The title was her 23rd Grand Slam singles crown in the Open Era, moving her past Steffi Graf’s record of 22. She also returned to the top of the world rankings.
The result was remarkable on its own, but the family story made it even more poignant. Venus had fought through serious health challenges to reach the final, while Serena delivered a composed performance under enormous pressure.
Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer, Wimbledon 2019
Federer held two championship points on Djokovic’s serve in the fifth set, but Djokovic saved both and took the match in a final-set tiebreak. At 4 hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon singles final by playing time. The 12–12 tiebreak rule, introduced that year, gave the finish a new shape.
Federer had won more points overall, but Djokovic won the points that decided the match. That contrast captures one of his greatest strengths: remaining steady in the moments when the pressure is highest.
Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev, Australian Open 2022
Medvedev took the first two sets and looked close to securing his second major title. Nadal changed the rhythm, worked longer rallies and gradually made the match more physical. He saved himself with patient, committed tennis, then finished the comeback by winning the fifth set 7–5.
The victory gave Nadal his 21st Grand Slam singles title at the time, moving him ahead of Djokovic and Federer in the men’s major-title race then. It also became a striking example of how fitness, belief and tactical adjustment can turn a match that appears almost lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is often called the greatest tennis match ever?
Nadal’s 2008 Wimbledon final against Federer and Djokovic’s 2019 Wimbledon final against Federer are frequent choices. The 1980 Borg–McEnroe final is another leading candidate. The answer depends on whether you value drama, quality, rivalry or historical impact most.
Which tennis match had the biggest cultural impact?
King’s 1973 match against Riggs is one of the strongest candidates. It brought women’s tennis and the fight for equality in sport to a wide audience.
What is the longest match in this selection?
Djokovic’s 2019 Wimbledon final against Federer lasted 4 hours and 57 minutes, making it the longest Wimbledon singles final by playing time.
Why include matches that were not Grand Slam finals?
A match can matter because of its effect on the sport, not just the trophy at stake. King’s 1973 match, for example, was an exhibition, but its cultural influence reached well beyond the court.
Final Thoughts
The most important tennis matches tell different kinds of stories. Some changed public attitudes; others marked a champion’s breakthrough or showed a great rivalry at its peak. Watching them with their context in mind makes the scores more than numbers—it reveals how tennis has changed, and why its biggest moments still resonate.
