[hhynmtrxcp]

there are stories about each match on the website, you can read them at http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ten...oel&id=4762272

"So how to determine the decade's best matches? After all, in some cases brilliant tennis was played but the occasion was hardly significant. Impressive as the ballstriking is, very few people ever remember much that takes place in the European fall season. And in other cases, the overall quality of tennis is only part of what makes a match significant. With that in mind, here are the top matches of the past decade. By all means toss in your own opinions":

1. 2008 Wimbledon Final: Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7
2. 2005 US Open QF: Andre Agassi def. James Blake 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6
3. 2000 Wimbledon Final:Pete Sampras def. Patrick Rafter, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. 2002 US Open Final: Pete Sampras def. Andre Agassi, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
5. 2004 Miami 2nd Round: Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer, 6-3, 6-3

Honorable Mention:

2001 U.S. Open QF: Pete Sampras def. Andre Agassi, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6
2004 French Open Final: Gaston Gaudio def. Guillermo Coria, 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6
2005 Australian Semi: Marat Safin def. Roger Federer, 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6, 9-7
2006 Rome final: Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6
2009 Wimbledon Final: Roger Federer def. Andy Roddick, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14

[Glanteeignile]

Some of those are obvious, others are simply WTF. Even with 20-20 hindsight.

[hhynmtrxcp]

Some of those are obvious, others are simply WTF. Even with 20-20 hindsight.

The '01 USO Sampras/Agassi match was, in my opinion, one of the 3 or so best matches I have ever seen. So much better than the '02 final, which is more about Sampras's final match/title than anything else. '02 was good, but '01 was classic.

And while I admit to showing some bias, Kohlschreiber/Roddick at the Australian '08 is not only my all time favorite personal match, but I think is simply an epic match. Especially since PEHK hit 104 winners in that match.

[JAMES PIETERSE]

Whatever. I recoiled at the sight of Gaston Gaudio on this list. Coria choked, that's all. I'd give the spot to one of these:

Ivanisevic over Agassi, 2001 Wimbledon final (I think it was 2001, not looking it up)
Nadal over Verdasco, 2009 Aussie semi
Roddick-El Anayoui at the Aussie whenever
One of Baghdatis' wins at the Aussie they year he reached the final (06?). Maybe the comeback semi win over Nalbandian.

Maybe even Federer over Nadal at Key Biscayne in, what, 2004 or 05? When Fed came back after trailing two sets and a break?

[foonlesse]

The '01 USO Sampras/Agassi match was, in my opinion, one of the 3 or so best matches I have ever seen. So much better than the '02 final, which is more about Sampras's final match/title than anything else. '02 was good, but '01 was classic.

Agreed.

Also, I remember the Agassi/Blake USO match where Blake served for the match at 6-5 but Agassi hit some laserlike returns for winners.

[foonlesse]

Maybe even Federer over Nadal at Key Biscayne in, what, 2004 or 05? When Fed came back after trailing two sets and a break?

I want to say that was in 2005 when Roger won Key Biscayne for the first time in his career and defended it in 2006 when he defeated Ivan in 3 tiebreak sets.

[foonlesse]

Some of those are obvious, others are simply WTF. Even with 20-20 hindsight.

Are we talking about the 2004 match where Rafael defeated Roger at Key Biscayne in straight sets?

[Glanteeignile]

Are we talking about the 2004 match where Rafael defeated Roger at Key Biscayne in straight sets?

Certainly about that one as well - absolutely nothing special about it other than it being the first match between the two, but Agassi-Blake shouldn't be there either. 2004 and 2007 Wimbledon finals ought to be there instead.

[Luisabens]

For me Federer-Safin AO is #2 for the decade, never mind honorable mention. The most memorable match in one of the most memorable Slams I've ever watched. And Suliso, totally agree.

If there was a best "year" of the decade, I'd nominate 2008. There were so many incredible matches from beginning to end!

[goctorsurger]

Yeah, it seems somebody doesn't like Roger...

[JAMES PIETERSE]

Interesting that Roger is on the losing end of 4 of these matches, and won 1. Shows that beating Roger takes a spectacular effort. Nalbandian over Federer in the year-end championships in Shanghai was pretty good, too. 2007?

[#[SoftAzerZx]]

And while I admit to showing some bias, Kohlschreiber/Roddick at the Australian '08 is not only my all time favorite personal match, but I think is simply an epic match. Especially since PEHK hit 104 winners in that match.

Moose, you know I'm with you on that one. And while we're talking 2008 Australian, how about Federer-Tipsarevic and Hewitt-Baghdatis? That weekend was the greatest 48 hours of tennis ever. I thought there were five hugely dramatic matches that weekend, but I can't pick the others out right now, although there were a huge number of five-set matches in the second and third rounds. Maybe Blake rallying from two sets down to beat Grosjean? (Was that his first (only) five-set win?)

[Glanteeignile]

Interesting that Roger is on the losing end of 4 of these matches, and won 1. Shows that beating Roger takes a spectacular effort. Nalbandian over Federer in the year-end championships in Shanghai was pretty good, too. 2007?

Alternative answer: it shows a bias of the author

[JAMES PIETERSE]

Alternative answer: it shows a bias of the author

Correct answer: Roger is just that difficult to beat, and stellar even in defeat (mostly). Every writer is biased.

[hhynmtrxcp]

Moose, you know I'm with you on that one. And while we're talking 2008 Australian, how about Federer-Tipsarevic and Hewitt-Baghdatis? That weekend was the greatest 48 hours of tennis ever. I thought there were five hugely dramatic matches that weekend, but I can't pick the others out right now, although there were a huge number of five-set matches in the second and third rounds. Maybe Blake rallying from two sets down to beat Grosjean? (Was that his first (only) five-set win?)

That Australian was just phenomenal. Match after match after match produced epic tennis. Tsonga became a star. Novak broke the Federer/Nadal stranglehold on Slams. I think that was a slam that left indelible memories for everyone.

[koebforfrn]

In 2010....when I watch a match that kills me with joy, I'm going to write it down. I hate remembering trivia facts and I'll only remember my MOST favorite matches...ergo..I tend to forget a lot of them after they've been replaced, but they are still great matches. This coming year, I'm going to keep track of all of them

[loikrso]

Hard to take seriously a list that doesn't even mention Andy Roddick d. Younes El Aynaoui 4–6, 7–6, 4–6, 6–4, 21–19 in the 2003 Australian Open quarterfinals. The tennis was superb. The drama, otherworldly.

That match brought me back to tennis after a long hiatus.

[loikrso]

Interesting that Roger is on the losing end of 4 of these matches, and won 1. Shows that beating Roger takes a spectacular effort. Nalbandian over Federer in the year-end championships in Shanghai was pretty good, too. 2007?

2005. Extraordinary match.

[Karinochka]

Hard to take seriously a list that doesn't even mention Andy Roddick d. Younes El Aynaoui 4–6, 7–6, 4–6, 6–4, 21–19 in the 2003 Australian Open quarterfinals. The tennis was superb. The drama, otherworldly.

That match brought me back to tennis after a long hiatus.

That was the one I was expecting on this list too. It was insane, and I didn't even see it live!

[smifatv]

This one is even more messed up.

Safin's win over Roger at the 2005 Aussie was HUGE at the time. It should have been ranked IMO.

Megan makes an excellent point about the Hewitt/Baghdatis match.

And for those of us who stayed awake into the early morning last year (I remember several of us following it live here), the Kohlschreiber d. Roddick Australian Open match was one of the most amazing I have ever seen, bar none. Maybe it's hard to work in mention of an R32 won by a rather obscure player, but that was simply brilliant tennis.

Hard to take seriously a list that doesn't even mention Andy Roddick d. Younes El Aynaoui 4–6, 7–6, 4–6, 6–4, 21–19 in the 2003 Australian Open quarterfinals. The tennis was superb. The drama, otherworldly.

That match brought me back to tennis after a long hiatus.

Honestly, I didn't even think about that one. But you're right.

(Noticing a pattern: Melbourne brings out the best in men's tennis.)