Top 5 Grand Slam matches of 2014

[bksballer89]

5. Andy Murray d. Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10, Roland Garros third round

Talk about late-night drama. With the score level at 7-7 in the fifth set, breaks squandered and cramp taking hold, the light finally went at Roland Garros. Andy Murray and Philipp Kohlschreiber both went to sleep that night pondering a spate of missed opportunities to have closed it out sooner.

Resuming Sunday, the level of tennis was back to its best and Kohlschreiber rose to the occasion to thwart Murray on a match point chance at 8-9. Murray saved a break point himself a game later before taking his chance in the 22nd game of the set. With two match points, Murray rifled a backhand return winner to clinch victory in four hours and seven minutes.

4. Roger Federer d. Gael Monfils, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2, US Open quarter-finals
Gael Monfils was a man on a mission at the US Open. After reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals, the Frenchman had endured an indifferent summer, but found his form at Flushing Meadows, sweeping through the first four rounds without dropping a set, including victories over Richard Gasquet and Grigor Dimitrov.

A break at the start of the third set got Federer back into the match, and the momentum looked to have shifted firmly in the Basel native’s direction as he broke at the start of the fourth. But there was more to come from Monfils. The flamboyant Frenchman broke back and found himself with two match points after a pair of unforced errors from Federer in the 10th game.

Indeed, after fighting back to clinch the fourth set, Federer stormed through the fifth in just 27 minutes, allowing Monfils only 11 points, to book his semi-final spot.

3. Kei Nishikori d. Stan Wawrinka, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 6-7(5), 6-4, US Open quarter-finals

It was arguably the making of Kei Nishikori. Two nights earlier, the 24 year old had tied for the latest-ever US Open finish as he edged Milos Raonic in five sets at 2:26am. But he found the strength he needed to win another five-setter, this time against Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, to make history as the first Japanese man since 1933 to reach a Grand Slam semi-finals.

Best Grand Slam Matches Of 2014 - Nos. 3-5 - Tennis - ATP World Tour

 

[bksballer89]

2. Stan Wawrinka d. Novak Djokovic, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7, Australian Open quarter-finals

Putting behind him the heartbreaking Melbourne defeat of 2013, that saw Djokovic prevail 12-10 in the fifth set, not to mention a subsequent five-set semi-final defeat at the US Open and two straight-sets losses to Djokovic at the back end of the season, Wawrinka recorded the biggest win of his career over the Serb en route to lifting his maiden Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open.

It took a near-perfect performance and nerves of steel from Wawrinka to end Djokovic’s three-year reign at Melbourne Park, which had seen the Serb win 25 matches in a row. Indeed, the Belgrade native had gone into the match on a 28-match winning streak, having not lost a match since the US Open final against Rafael Nadal the previous September.

With the match poised at two-sets-apiece, it was Djokovic who drew first blood in the decider as he broke for a 2-1 advantage. His lead was short-lived, though, as Wawrinka immediately struck back. The Swiss then held his nerve to save break points in the fifth and seventh games to stay ahead of Djokovic.

In the end, it was Djokovic who blinked. Serving at 7-8, 30/30, the Serb chased down a short ball but placed his forehand wide. Down match point, he came in behind his serve, but skewed the forehand volley wide.

1. Novak Djokovic d. Roger Federer, 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4, Wimbledon final

The 27-year-old Djokovic looked set to wrap up victory in four sets. Having edged the third set in a tie-break, he strode out to a commanding 5-2 lead in the fourth. The right-hander served for the match at 5-3, but could not close it out as 17-time major champion Federer fought back.

The Serb was then denied on a match point in the following game as Federer hit an ace, and five straight games for the Swiss forced a deciding set, to the delight of the Centre Court crowd and HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who were cheering from the front row of the Royal Box.

Djokovic did not let Federer build momentum, though. The Serb missed three break point chances in the eighth game of the decider, but when presented with two more match points in the 10th game, he did not falter. He won the dramatic match in four minutes shy of four hours.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/11/48/Best-Grand-Slam-Matches-Top-2.aspx

 

[bksballer89]

Pretty good list but I would have put Nishikori vs Raonic in that US Open round of 16 match.

What is your top 5?