Rank Alcaraz v. Sinner Roland Garros Final 2025 in terms of ATG men's matches

[Moxie]

I noticed @Federberg was saying, during the match, that this match was rising by the moment in its stature amongst the greatest men's matches. I think that's true. I wonder where folks might think it stands. It's now the longest RG final in the open era. And now I think it's second only to the 2012 AO final Djokovic d. Nadal. But long isn't necessarily great. It had the changing of fortunes of the 2008 Wimbledon. It was full of great shot-making, and sportsmanship.

Feel free to revisit favorite matches, and say, more or less, how this one ranks, or if it doesn't. Great matches that aren't finals or even in Slams are allowed. Why not?

PS: I thought I added a poll, but it didn't show up. The poll question was: #1? Top 5? Top 10? Outside of your top 10 best?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I noticed @Federberg was saying, during the match, that this match was rising by the moment in its stature amongst the greatest men's matches. I think that's true. I wonder where folks might think it stands. It's now the longest RG final in the open era. And now I think it's second only to the 2012 AO final Djokovic d. Nadal. But long isn't necessarily great. It had the changing of fortunes of the 2008 Wimbledon. It was full of great shot-making, and sportsmanship.

Feel free to revisit favorite matches, and say, more or less, how this one ranks, or if it doesn't. Great matches that aren't finals or even in Slams are allowed. Why not?

PS: I thought I added a poll, but it didn't show up. The poll question was: #1? Top 5? Top 10? Outside of your top 10 best?

I was there live at the AO 2012 final, quite frankly it turned out to be a 'boxing match' to me it wasnt good tennis at all by either player and a lot of the fans around me said the same thing, we were all just wanting the match to be over quite frankly.
I need sleep now I will think about my favorite slams or matches etc later.

 

[Federberg]

hmmm.. the ones that come to mind, and in no particular order...

Federer v Nadal Wimbledon 2008
Djokovic v Nadal US Open 2012
Wawrinka v Djokovic RG.. I forget the year
Federer v Nadal AO 2017
Sinner v Alcaraz RG 2025

Honourable mentions to Djokovic v Alcaraz Wimbledon 2023

I won't mention pre 2000, otherwise Edberg v Becker Wimbledon part 3 and Borg v McEnroe would obviously feature.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Wawrinka v Djokovic RG.. I forget the year

That one sucked. 01, 09, and 19 Wimbledon were all way better matches than that one.

 

[Fiero425]

hmmm.. the ones that come to mind, and in no particular order...

Federer v Nadal Wimbledon 2008
Djokovic v Nadal US Open 2012
Wawrinka v Djokovic RG.. I forget the year
Federer v Nadal AO 2017
Sinner v Alcaraz RG 2025

Honourable mentions to Djokovic v Alcaraz Wimbledon 2023

I won't mention pre 2000, otherwise Edberg v Becker Wimbledon part 3 and Borg v McEnroe would obviously feature.

I guess 2019 Wimbledon Final isn't in consideration! It may not have been the best tennis, but the scores, drama, & how ended in a 5th set TB for the 1st time in Wimbledon history! Djokovic won all 3 TB's saving 2 MP's along the way when Roger was serving for the title!

 

[Moxie]

hmmm.. the ones that come to mind, and in no particular order...

Federer v Nadal Wimbledon 2008
Djokovic v Nadal US Open 2012
Wawrinka v Djokovic RG.. I forget the year
Federer v Nadal AO 2017
Sinner v Alcaraz RG 2025

Honourable mentions to Djokovic v Alcaraz Wimbledon 2023

I won't mention pre 2000, otherwise Edberg v Becker Wimbledon part 3 and Borg v McEnroe would obviously feature.

I still think Nadal d. Federer 2008 Wimbledon is still the top.
I wouldn't put Djokovic d. Nadal USOpen 2012 on my top 5 list.
Nor the Wawrkinka d. Djokovic final at RG, which was 2014.
Federer d. Nadal AO 2017, yes.
I would put Nadal d. Djokovic SF 2013 at RG in my top 5.
I'd also put Safin d. Federer SF AO 2005 in my top 5.
I thought Alcaraz d. Djokovic at Wimbledon 2023 was excellent.

I would put the match today in top 5 of all time. Probably 2nd, if I put it ahead of Borg d. McEnroe Wimbledon 1980. Which is was a great match, but not as great as this one.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I think he meant Djokovic d. Nadal AO 2012. That's certainly on the short list of greatest match ever.

Andy Murray won the 2012 US Open.

 

[Moxie]

I think he meant Djokovic d. Nadal AO 2012. That's certainly on the short list of greatest match ever.

Andy Murray won the 2012 US Open.

Oh, true. I was thinking of the 2010 and 2011 finals between them at the USO. Still, I think the 2012 AO was just long. I don't think it was great, or certainly not as exciting as the one today.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think he meant Djokovic d. Nadal AO 2012. That's certainly on the short list of greatest match ever.

Andy Murray won the 2012 US Open.

Please AO 2012 wasnt a great match at all, I was there live, the quality of the tennis was poor from both players, it ended up like a Boxing Match, it was awful, most people wanted it to end!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Oh, true. I was thinking of the 2010 and 2011 finals between them at the USO. Still, I think the 2012 AO was just long. I don't think it was great, or certainly not as exciting as the one today

AO 2012 wast not great at all, believe me I had to suffer that poor quality of a match, which took years of my life and others that wished it would End!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A great match that just comes to mind
Rome Masrers final in 2006 Rafa d Federer in a 5 hour 5 sets match,
I really need my sleep now, .

 

[Jelenafan]

No doubt This FO final was a great match but now it’s being compared to the ATG in tennis history, so…

My issue with this match per that high bar is that while there were ebbs and flows and momentum shifts for both players, the final tie breaker was anticlimactic , didn’t Alcaraz get to 7-0 ? So the tension was missing at the very end, with Alcaraz running a way with a 10-2 5th set tiebreaker.