The Australian Open, affectionately known as the “Happy Slam,” has a long-standing reputation for producing some of the most emotional high-quality tennis matches in the history of the sport. Held in the sweltering heat of the Melbourne summer, the tournament tests the physical and mental limits of the world’s best players.
Here is a look at some of the most iconic matches in Australian Open history, highlighting the moments that defined careers and shifted the landscape of professional tennis.
1. Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal (2012 Final)
The Score: 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5), 7–5
Duration: 5 hours and 53 minutes
This is widely considered not just the greatest Australian Open match, but perhaps the most physical tennis match ever played. It remains the longest Grand Slam final in history. For nearly six hours, Djokovic and Nadal engaged in brutal baseline rallies that seemed to defy human endurance.
The level of tennis was remarkably high from start to finish. Nadal took the first set, but Djokovic roared back to take a 2–1 lead in sets. Just when it looked like the Serb would cruise to victory, Nadal staged a heroic comeback in the fourth-set tiebreak. In the fifth set, Nadal led 4–2, but Djokovic found an extra gear to break back and eventually clinch the title. By the time the trophy ceremony began, both men were so exhausted they had to be given chairs to sit on, a rare and iconic sight in professional sports.
Finals like these are great for betting as well, as we saw high volumes in online bookmakers such as Netbet and others.
2. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal (2009 Final)
The Score: 7–5, 3–6, 7–6(3), 3–6, 6–2
In 2009, Roger Federer was chasing Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles, while Rafael Nadal was looking to prove he could dominate on hard courts as well as clay and grass. This final was a masterclass in shot-making and tactical diversity.
The match swung back and forth, with Nadal’s relentless defense clashing against Federer’s elegant aggression. After four intense sets, Federer seemed to run out of steam in the fifth, allowing Nadal to become the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open. The match is equally remembered for the emotional aftermath; a tearful Federer was comforted by Nadal during the trophy presentation, a moment that cemented the “Fedal” rivalry as one of the most respectful and legendary in sports history.
3. Marat Safin vs. Roger Federer (2005 Semifinal)
The Score: 5–7, 6–4, 5–7, 7–6(6), 9–7
Before the “Big Three” era truly took hold, Marat Safin and Roger Federer produced a semifinal for the ages. Federer was the defending champion and in the midst of a 26-match winning streak. Safin, a mercurial talent with immense power, played the match of his life.
Federer had a match point in the fourth-set tiebreak but attempted a “tweener” (a shot between the legs) that Safin easily handled. That small opening was all Safin needed. The fifth set was a high-stakes shootout, with both players holding serve under immense pressure until Safin finally broke through to win 9–7. Safin went on to win the title, and this match remains a fan favorite for its raw power and unpredictable momentum shifts.
4. Monica Seles vs. Steffi Graf (1993 Final)
The Score: 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
In the early 1990s, the rivalry between Monica Seles and Steffi Graf was the pinnacle of women’s tennis. Seles was the young, gritty baseliner with a two-handed style on both sides, while Graf was the “Fräulein Forehand” with unparalleled athleticism.
The 1993 final was their most significant meeting in Melbourne. Graf won the first set, looking like she might overwhelm the teenager. However, Seles’s mental toughness was on full display as she began taking the ball earlier and hitting with more angles, frustrating the German legend. Seles’s victory marked her eighth Grand Slam title before the age of 20. It was a match that showed the evolution of the women’s game toward the high-powered baseline style we see today.
5. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal (2017 Final)
The Score: 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
Eight years after their 2009 classic, the two legends met again in a final that many thought would never happen. Both players were returning from long injury layoffs and were well into their 30s. The tennis world stopped to watch what felt like a “throwback” final.
The match reached its climax in the fifth set, where Nadal took an early break and led 3–1. In a stunning turn of events, Federer won five consecutive games, playing a brand of fearless, “neo-backhand” tennis that left Nadal stunned. It was Federer’s 18th Grand Slam title and arguably his most emotional victory, proving that greatness has no expiration date.
Honorable Mentions
- Novak Djokovic vs. Stan Wawrinka (2013 & 2014): These two played back-to-back five-set epics. Djokovic won the first 12–10 in the fifth, and Wawrinka won the second 9–7 in the fifth on his way to his first title.
- Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams (2003 Final): This match completed the first “Serena Slam,” where Serena held all four major titles simultaneously after defeating her sister in a high-quality three-set battle.
- Pete Sampras vs. Jim Courier (1995 Quarterfinal): Famous for Sampras weeping on court after his coach was diagnosed with a terminal illness, yet still finding a way to win in five sets.
As the tournament evolves, new stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are already adding their names to this prestigious list of classic encounters.