The best finals in Australian Open history include matches that stretch beyond an afternoon of tennis. Several are crucial episodes in rivalries that lasted for years. Others are a fightback, and some are a breakthrough on the Grand Slam stage.
1. Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer (2009)
The 2008 Wimbledon Final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is considered the greatest match of all-time and less than 12 months later the pair engaged in another titanic struggle. In an emotional, five set affair, the Spaniard overcame the Fed, who broke down in tears at the trophy ceremony. The image of Nadal embracing an inconsolable Federer is one of the iconic images of the Australian Open as well as tennis as a whole. The score was 7-5,3-6,7-6(7-3),3-6,6-2.
2. Naomi Osaka defeats Petra Kvitova (2019)
In one of the hardest to predict Australian Opens in recent history, Noami Osaka not only registered her first slam win at Melbourne Park, but she also claimed the number one world ranking. In a three set thriller, Osaka overcame a disastrous second set to claim a second grand slam title. The score was 7-6(7-2),5-7,6-4.
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3. Roger Federer defeats Rafael Nadal (2017)
Almost a decade after their brilliant 2009 showdown, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal met in the 2012 Australian Open Final in a match that was equal to its predecessor. Federer got his revenge after losing that first meeting in a roller-coaster match that captivated the world. The score was 6-4,3-6,6-1,3-6,6-3.
4. Novak Djokovic defeats Rafael Nadal (2012)
Not only is this one of the great Australian Open Finals in history, it ranks comfortably inside most top ten lists of all-time matches. There’s a cliche relating to tennis that both players “left everything out on the court” but this match left everyone watching speechless. The score was 5-7,6-4,6-2,6-7,7-5.
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5. Serena Williams defeats Venus Williams (2003)
Leave it to the Williams sisters to deliver an all-time classic in a Grand Slam Final. Serena took out the first set in a tiebreak, only to have Venus fight back to claim the second. Serena then rallied hard in the third set to claim a famous victory. The win was Serena’s fourth-straight grand slam final win, which completed the “Serena Slam” and rubber-stamped Williams as the dominant force in world tennis. The score was 7-6(7-4),3-6,6-4.
