The Greatest Wimbledon Finals We've Ever Seen
The best Wimbledon finals all have something in common: drama. Whether it’s a five-set thriller or an against-the-odds comeback, Wimbledon has served up some absolute classics down the years.
Reaching the final of Wimbledon is the pinnacle of a player’s career – but going that extra match on Centre Court to clinch the trophy requires a cool head, determination and supreme talent.
Tennis betting fans preparing for this year’s grand slam could be in for a treat, with the Wimbledon odds revealing there’s no clear favourite in either the women’s or men’s singles draws.
Here, we look at the best Wimbledon finals ever and what makes them so great.
The Top 5 Wimbledon Finals
1. Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer (2008)
Perhaps the greatest tennis match in history, the 2008 showdown between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer certainly ranks top of the greatest Wimbledon finals.
This was also the peak of the Federer vs Nadal rivalry. Federer was seeking a sixth successive Wimbledon men's singles title when facing Nadal in the final for the third year on the bounce. Having beaten the Spaniard in five sets the previous year, tennis betting fans were expecting another marathon match.
What ensued was a five-set classic that featured two tie breaks and a 16-game final set. Rain interrupted play twice, meaning the match took more than seven hours to complete. Nadal won the first two sets 6-4 to seemingly wrestle power from Federer, who has on a 65-match unbeaten streak on grass. But the Swiss maestro hit back in style, refusing to give up when winning a third-set tie break, and then edging another tie break 10-8 to force a deciding set.
It was getting dark in London when Nadal finally broke Federer's serve to make it 8-7 in the final set – but only after fluffing three break points. He also required four Championship points to finally put Federer to bed and collapse on the dusty, barely-visible Centre Court grass in triumph.
Final score: Nadal wins 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(8–10), 9–7
Match time: 4 hours and 48 minutes (plus two rain delays)
2. Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer (2019)
Eleven years after losing one of the best Wimbledon finals ever, Federer was back on Centre Court for what would be an even longer showpiece match – this time against Novak Djokovic. Federer was seeking a ninth SW19 title and had previously lost two finals in London to Djokovic. The Serb, meanwhile, had already usurped the Swiss and Nadal as World No 1, and was two-time defending champion.
In a truly epic encounter, Federer twice came back from a set down to level the match, after Djokovic had gotten the better of two tie breaks. But the real drama was still to come. As the match passed four hours, both players looked utterly exhausted and relied on their monstrous serves to bludgeon their way to games.
The fifth set eventually went to 12-12, which marked a new cut-off point at Wimbledon after the previous year saw John Isner and Kevin Anderson break the record for the longest match in history when their semi-final fifth set finished 26-24 to Anderson. Understandably, an exhausted Anderson lost in three sets to Djokovic in the 2018 final – a one-sided outcome the authorities wanted to avoid in the future.
In what would eventually be called the “13-12 final”, the 2019 showdown was settled by a tie-break, which Djokovic won 7-3. Wimbledon eventually tweaked their rules again to force a tie break at 6-6 in the final set, after which a player needs to win a 10-point tie break.
Final score: Djokovic wins 7–6(7–5), 1–6, 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 13–12
Match time: 4 hours and 57 minutes
3. Venus Williams vs. Lindsay Davenport (2005)
The 2005 Wimbledon final was a showdown between two greats of the game at the peak of their powers, but who were both desperately scrapping for limited grand slam silverware. Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport had won four and three slams respectively when they faced each other across the net on Centre Court in 2005. They both would have won plenty more had Serena Williams not entered the picture a few years earlier.
Venus was looking to end a four-year Slam drought, having lost five successive finals (all to Serena) since her last major trophy at the 2001 US Open. Davenport hadn’t claimed a Slam since the 2000 Australian Open, and had lost three finals since (two to Venus, one to Serena).
Was this the moment Davenport would settle the score and get one over her rival? She gave as good as she got but in a three-set thriller Davenport lost the final set 9-7 to the cool-headed Williams.
Davenport took the first set and served for the match in the second, before Williams hit back and took a gritty tie break to force a decider. Davenport saw another match point go begging in the third set and was visibly struggling with a back injury as Williams ground out point after point. In the end, Williams claimed the decisive break at 7-7 with a remarkably calm rally, before serving out to win the title.
Final score: Williams wins 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 9–7
Match time: 2 hours and 45 minutes
4. Goran Ivanišević vs. Pat Rafter (2001)
Goran Ivanišević famously beat Tim Henman in the 2001 Wimbledon semi-finals across three rain-affected days, and was still the darling of SW19 for the final against Pat Rafter despite dumping out the home favourite. Ivanišević was a wildcard in 2001 and had lost all three of his previous Wimbledon final appearances.
He was a self-deprecating but tempestuous player who fed off the Wimbledon crowd. In the 2001 final, played on the Monday after he beat Henman, the Croat came up against another well-loved figure in Pat Rafter. The Aussie had lost the previous year's final to Pete Sampras and was desperate to claim victory this time around – it was a dream final for many supporters.
And it also turned out to be a classic. Ivanišević claimed the first set, only to be knocked back by Rafter in the second. The same pattern played out again to force a deciding set. Ivanišević eventually won the decider 9-7 as the clock ticked over three hours. The noise inside Centre Court was deafening, fuelled by Ivanišević's three missed championship points and extended by Rafter's gracious congratulations to the champ afterwards. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
Final score: Ivanišević wins 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7
Match time: 3 hours and 2 minutes
5. Björn Borg vs. John McEnroe (1980)
Björn Borg and John McEnroe produced not only one of the best Wimbledon finals in history but one of the best sporting events of all time.
Back in 1980, Borg was the master of SW19, having won four successive titles at a remarkably young age. He was calm and composed on court – the ideal role model for a 'gentleman's' sport. McEnroe was the opposite. A punky, loud-mouthed, opinionated talent, he was booed onto Centre Court that day, having scrapped for every inch en route to the final in a way that Borg simply didn't have to.
It made for a tantalising final, in which McEnroe won the first set 6-1 and looked in total control. But his Swedish opponent hit back to lead heading into the fourth set.
It took all of McEnroe's guile and courage to save five championship points in the tie break and force a fifth set. But that 18-16 tie break had taken too much out of the American, as Borg kept his cool to break in the fifth and clinch the championship in just under four hours.
This level of sporting drama – coupled with the contrasting personalities on court – was unlike anything the TV viewing audience had witnessed before. The 1980 final is not merely considered a great match, but was arguably the cultural peak of the sport – a moment when tennis reached a level of mainstream popularity and influence it would never surpass. 17.3 million Brits watched it on TV.
The rivalry between Borg and McEnroe kept the tennis boom of the 1970s alive into the '80s. McEnroe's volatile genius then paved the way for the celebrity era that followed, where personality was as important as results – and where Boris Becker's teenage bravado and Andre Agassi's rock-star image ensured tennis remained box office well into the 1990s.
Final score: Borg wins 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16–18), 8–6 Match time: 3 hours and 53 minutes
What makes a great Wimbledon final?
The best Wimbledon finals ever are all packed with drama – both on and off the court. They all culminate in a final-set showdown and all pack an epic narrative behind the action. But what truly sets apart these remarkable finals from the others?
- Exceptional tennis – You don’t reach the Wimbledon final without being an elite tennis player. The very best finals pit two evenly-matched players against each other, both performing at the top of their game. It results in better rallies, bigger serves, more gruelling baseline lunges, and plenty of twists and turns.
- Added drama – A great Wimbledon final needs drama. Whether it’s a rivalry, an underdog story, or the return of a beloved SW19 favourite, there has to be on-court drama for the match to resonate years later. In most cases, this means last-set epics where the tennis betting favourite switches multiple times in just a few minutes.
- Personal heartbreak – While glory is the ultimate goal at Wimbledon, a truly great final needs a loser. The likes of Pat Rafter and Lindsay Davenport played their part in these incredible finals and their stock rose among fans afterwards. They came agonisingly close to winning.
- Tense tiebreaks – There’s something about tie breaks and Wimbledon. Four of the five greatest Wimbledon finals in our list feature tie breaks, where a player’s championship fate can rest on just one or two points. Tie breaks create drama and also give the underdog a fighting chance of an upset.
- Fifth set marathon – Every one of the best Wimbledon finals in history featured an extended fifth set. This is where players are utterly exhausted and force their bodies to fight for every point. No wonder Wimbledon changed the rules after Djokovic’s ‘13-12’ final against Federer in 2019 to protect the players.
Tips for betting on Wimbledon
If you’re betting on Wimbledon this summer, then check out these tips for maximising your knowledge and placing smarter bets:
Monitor the form of each player
Form is everything at Wimbledon. Players come into the slam after the clay swing and most will play at least one grass tournament before heading to SW19. Grass and clay are much more technical surfaces to play on than hard courts (where brute force often wins out) so be sure to assess who is in form on grass before placing a bet.
Check for injury news (no matter how slight)
By this stage of the summer, many players are nursing injuries and struggling to keep their bodies intact. There is a post-Wimbledon pause before the US Open, so everyone is pushing themselves to get through this fortnight – no matter the costs. And yet, injuries do force early exits. Players will battle on while carrying strains and swellings, until they’re finally ground into the dirt. If a player is carrying an injury, be wary of backing them (especially in the live betting markets!).
Identify grass court specialists
Players who thrive on grass may not fare as well on hard courts, which dominate the majority of the ATP and WTA seasons. Therefore, a grass court specialist can carry a low seeding into Wimbledon. Look for the players who persistently fare better on grass compared to other surfaces.
Unearth market value
If you dig a little deeper into the stats, you may unearth value in the tennis odds. For example, spotting a player who regularly forces tie breaks makes their matches ideal for the Over/Under Total Games market. They may be a big server who struggles with their return game. Or, you may spot a player who is nailing their serves match after match. They’re a good bet for the Total Aces market.
Be wary of the weather
Melbourne, Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows are all affected by extreme summer heat. At Wimbledon, you’re more likely to have a match interrupted because of rain. London’s varied early-summer weather means rain can interrupt play at any time. This often helps higher seeds when they’re struggling in a match. The rain stops the underdog’s momentum, and the favourite has time to centre themselves, before cruising to victory.
