The 10 Greatest Grand Slam Finals in Tennis History – Ranked

July 12, 2025 Oliver Obel

Grand Slam finals often produce legendary moments, but some stand out as the most dramatic and unforgettable clashes the sport has ever seen. Based on historical impact, thrilling rallies, and iconic shot-making, here are the ten greatest Grand Slam finals of all time—starting from number ten and working our way up to the most legendary match ever played.

10. Chris Evert vs Martina Navratilova – 1985 French Open

Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova’s legendary rivalry reached a peak in the 1985 French Open final. Evert narrowly triumphed in three tight sets, sealing the win with a backhand down the line to claim her sixth title at Roland Garros.

9. Roger Federer vs Andy Roddick – 2009 Wimbledon

Federer entered the final one win away from overtaking Pete Sampras’ Grand Slam record. In a marathon battle, he defeated Roddick 16-14 in the fifth set, securing his 15th Grand Slam and regaining the world No. 1 ranking.

8. Steffi Graf vs Martina Navratilova – 1988 Wimbledon

Graf’s first Wimbledon title marked a generational shift as she ended Navratilova’s six-year reign at the All England Club. This match kickstarted her legendary season, where she became the only player to achieve the Golden Slam.

7. Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka – 2012 US Open

Azarenka was just two games from victory, but Serena Williams staged a comeback filled with grit and power. The American broke back and won three straight games to secure her fourth US Open title in a thrilling final set.

6. Steffi Graf vs Monica Seles – 1992 French Open

The 1992 French Open final featured a dramatic 18-game deciding set between two titans of women’s tennis. Monica Seles emerged victorious 10-8 in the third, completing a historic three-peat at Roland Garros in the Open Era.

5. Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner – 2025 French Open

In the longest French Open final ever, Carlos Alcaraz overcame a two-set deficit and saved match points to defeat Jannik Sinner. The five-set clash ended in a tense 10-point tiebreak, cementing Alcaraz’s fifth Grand Slam title and a burgeoning rivalry.

4. Venus Williams vs Lindsay Davenport – 2005 Wimbledon

Venus Williams mounted a heroic comeback in the longest women’s Wimbledon final on record. After saving match points in the second set, she rallied to a 9-7 win in the third, securing her third singles title at the tournament.

3. Bjorn Borg vs John McEnroe – 1980 Wimbledon

Björn Borg — Oleg Golovnev / Shutterstock.com

Borg and McEnroe delivered a stylistic clash for the ages, highlighted by a 34-point tiebreak in the fourth set. Borg prevailed 8-6 in the decider, winning his fifth straight Wimbledon title in one of the most iconic finals in history.

2. Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal – 2012 Australian Open

The longest Grand Slam final ever at 5 hours and 53 minutes saw Djokovic and Nadal push each other to the limit. After nearly six hours of punishing rallies, Djokovic clawed back from a break down in the final set to secure his third Australian Open crown.

1. Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer – 2008 Wimbledon

Widely regarded as the greatest match in tennis history, Nadal finally dethroned Federer after two rain delays and five breathtaking sets. The Spaniard sealed the win 9-7 in the final set to win his first Wimbledon title and end Federer’s dominance on grass.

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