Top six most-played Grand Slam men's singles final rivalries

The rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest in the history of tennis.

Over the past two decades, several intense matchups have defined eras, making tennis even more exciting. Majorly dominated by the ‘Big 3’, here we look at the top five most-played Grand Slam men’s singles final rivalries, each with its unique history and drama.

6. Ivan Lendl vs Mats Wilander – 5 Grand Slam Finals

The rivalry between Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander was a defining fixture of 1980s tennis, contrasting Lendl’s relentless baseline power with Wilander’s strategic variety and mental resilience. They clashed 22 times overall, with five of those meetings coming in Grand Slam finals.

Wilander drew first blood, beating Lendl at the 1983 Australian Open and again at the 1985 French Open. Lendl bounced back with key wins in both the 1987 French and US Opens.

Their rivalry reached its peak at the 1988 US Open final, a marathon that lasted 4 hours and 55 minutes—the longest in the tournament’s history at that time. Wilander triumphed in five sets, capturing his third major of the year and the world No. 1 ranking.

While Lendl ended his career with one more Slam (eight to Wilander’s seven), the Swede won three of their five Slam final meetings, cementing one of the era’s most hard-fought and tactically rich rivalries.

5. Pete Sampras vs Andre Agassi – 5

Few rivalries in tennis history are as iconic as that between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Their contrasting styles—Sampras’s composed serve-and-volley versus Agassi’s fiery baseline play—defined American men’s tennis through the 1990s and early 2000s.

They met five times in Grand Slam finals, with Sampras winning four, including their clashes at the US Open (1990, 1995, 2002) and Wimbledon (1999). Agassi’s lone win in a Slam final against Sampras came at the 1995 Australian Open, where he claimed his first title in Melbourne.

4. Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer – 5

The Djokovic-Federer rivalry is the most prolific in Grand Slam history, but they met five times in major finals, with Djokovic winning four. The Swiss icon claimed their first final at the 2007 US Open, but Novak Djokovic turned the tide, defeating Roger Federer in the 2014, 2015, and 2019 Wimbledon finals, as well as the 2015 US Open final. 

The most spectacular win was at Wimbledon 2019, where Djokovic saved two match points on Federer’s serve, stunned the crowd, and won the title.

3. Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray – 7

Djokovic and Murray’s rivalry peaked in the 2010s, culminating in seven Grand Slam finals, with Djokovic prevailing in five. They are the only pair in the Open Era to have met in the final of all four majors. The Serbian’s victories include four Australian Open finals (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016) and the 2016 French Open, where he completed his Career Grand Slam.

Murray’s two wins were career-defining: his breakthrough at the 2012 US Open, where he claimed his first major, and his historic 2013 Wimbledon triumph, ending Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s singles champion. Andy Murray was the only player (Alongside Wawrinka) who consistently challenged the ‘Big 3’ across surfaces.

2. Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal – 9

While Nadal trails Djokovic on the overall h2h, he leads 5-4 in Grand Slam finals. Their battles have spanned all four majors, but the French Open finals of 2012, 2014, and 2020 stand out for Nadal’s dominance on clay. Rafael Nadal also triumphed at the US Open in 2010 and 2013.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner delivered some of the most memorable wins in their rivalry, including the 2011 Wimbledon final, the 2011 US Open final, the 2019 Australian Open, and the marathon 2012 Australian Open final, popularly known as the greatest and most physically demanding matches ever played.

1. Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal – 9

The Federer-Nadal rivalry is perhaps the greatest in tennis history, with Nadal dominating the head-to-head record. The Spaniard dominated their early meetings at Roland Garros, winning the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2011 French Open finals, repeatedly denying Federer the elusive clay crown.

Their 2008 Wimbledon final is regarded as the greatest of all time, with Nadal winning the All England Club championship in a five-set thriller.

Nadal also bested Federer in the 2009 Australian Open final, showcasing his growing prowess on hard courts. Roger Federer’s victories came in the 2006 and 2007 Wimbledon finals, where he fended off the Spaniard’s challenge, and in the 2017 Australian Open, where he staged a remarkable comeback to claim his 18th major at age 35.

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