In pictures: Our top 10 Grand Slam men’s matches of 2020

From Djokovic-Thiem to Federer-Millman, we at Tennis Majors have put together a pictorial selection of our 10 best matches from the Grand Slam events in 2020.

17 December 2020

Novak Djokovic & Dominic Thiem, 2020 Australian Open

Simon Cambers

1/10

9. US Open - 1st round: Murray beats Nishioka 4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4

Why this match is so memorable : For the first time in more than three years, Andy Murray takes down a Top 10 player. Alexander Zverev paid the price after a fierce 2:31 fight. The Scot's mental toughness made the difference again.
The key moment : When serving for the win at 5-4 in the last set, Alexander Zverev commits… three double faults. His luck had run out.
The quote : “If you had seen my training and the preparation for the tournament, you wouldn't have believed it. It was also the case when I played practice matches and practice sets at home. I couldn't win one.” Andy Murray
2/10

9 Australian Open - 4th round: Nadal beats Kyrgios 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6

- Why this match is memorable: So often the clown, Kyrgios produces the goods in front of his home crowd and earns the respect of Nadal, who is pushed close to the limit before edging over the line thanks to two consecutive tiebreak wins.
- The key moment: Nadal is broken when trying to close out the match at 5-4 but his mind never wavers and once he gets to the tiebreak he refocuses and gets the job done.
- The quote: “When he wants to play tennis, when he's focused on what he's doing, I think he's a very important player for our sport because he has a big talent," Nadal said.
3/10

8 US Open - 3rd round - Coric beats Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6

- Why this match is memorable: Four hours, 36 minutes of fight between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Borna Coric, who finally wins in five sets, after saving six match points. The Greek is very angry during the match, making for an even more electric atmosphere.
- The key moment: Tsitsipas is unable to finish off as he leads 5-4, 40-0 on his serve in the fourth set.
- The quote: “ I have to be honest and say I was real lucky. Pure luck, to be honest,” Borna Coric
4/10

7 Australian Open - Fourth round: Federer beats Millman 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, (10-8)

- Why the match is memorable: Federer and Millman played an epic at the US Open in 2018 that almost finished off the Swiss. Physically, this was almost as gruelling but when it came to the crunch, Federer stands tall to win the first deciding 10-point tiebreak in the tournament’s history.
- The key moment: Champions trust themselves in the biggest moments and though he made 48 unforced errors on his forehand, he finds the range when he needed it and slaps a winner to take victory.
- The quote: "John played a great match. I was getting ready to explain myself in the press conference. The demons are always there, but what a match. John deserves half of this win." Roger Federer
5/10

6 US Open - Final: Thiem beats Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6

- Why this match is memorable: A final without the Big 3 had to be memorable. Although the level of play is not sensational throughout, the suspense and tension of the match makes it an incredibly exciting match and Thiem has the last word.
- The key moment: Trailing 5-3 in the final set, Thiem breaks back and holds on in the tiebreak to win his first Grand Slam title.
- The quote: "I accomplished the goal of a lifetime, a dream I've had for many years, since I was a kid when I started playing," Dominic Thiem
6/10

5 Australian Open - Quarter-final: Federer beats Sandgren 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3

- Why this match is memorable: Because Federer, whose back seized up early in the match, somehow saves seven match points in an incredible fourth set, taking advantage of Sandgren’s faltering nerve to reach the semis.
- The key moment: At 5-4 in the fourth set, Sandgren has three match points but they are on the Federer serve. At 6-3 in the tiebreak, though, the match is on his racquet but he can’t put Federer away and the Swiss snatches the set before running away with the fifth.
- The quote: “I don't deserve this one, but I'm standing here and I'm very, very happy." Roger Federer
7/10

4 Roland-Garros - 4th round - Thiem beats Gaston 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3

- Why this match is memorable: Hugo Gaston, who had beaten Stan Wawrinka in the previous round, is given almost no chance to win before the beginning of the match. However, down two sets to love, the Frenchman rallies and delivers an exceptional fightback, punctuated by 58 drop shots, to level at two sets all before eventually going down in five. Enough to make the French fans proud
- The key moment: Gaston leads 6-5 in the third set and takes the second of his two set points.
- The quote: "I haven't seen a player with such a touch in a very long time. His drop shots come from another planet, he made me sprint 4o0 times to the net. If he keeps this up, he's going to be a great player," Thiem said of Gaston
8/10

3 Roland-Garros - Quarter-finals: Schwartzman beats Thiem 7-6, 5-7, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2

- Why this match is memorable: 112 winners and a match that lasts five hours, 10 minutes, this is the biggest battle of Roland-Garros. Sensational exchanges from the beginning to the end of the match at the back of the court that sent shivers down the spines of fans.
- The key moment: At 0-2 in the fourth set, Schwartzman breaks back and the battle is on again.
- The quote: "At the end of the game, I gave it all I had. It was an incredible game. I think it's the first one in my career to go over five hours. Diego totally deserves his victory," Thiem said.
9/10

3 Roland-Garros - Quarter-final: Thiem beats Nadal 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6

- Why this match is memorable: Nadal leads by a break of serve in each of the first two sets and holds set point in the first but Thiem is a man on a mission, bashing thunderous groundstrokes and playing three superb tiebreaks to snatch victory.
- The key moment: Thiem serves for the match at 5-4 only to falter and a lesser man would have crumbled. But the Austrian holds on and then wins the match on his third match point.
- The quote: “It was such a mentally tough situation," Thiem said of trying to serve out the match. "I couldn't handle it. But I did really well to win the tiebreak."
10/10

1 Australian Open - Final: Djokovic beats Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

- Why this match is memorable: Thiem has a real chance to win his first slam final when he wins the third set as Djokovic looks to be struggling physically. But yet again the Serb shows his powers of recovery and mental strength to win his eighth Australian Open title.
- The key moment: Down two sets to one, Djokovic faces a break point in the third game of the fourth set but Thiem blinks. Djokovic finds an extra gear from somewhere to take the title again
- The quote: “You were very close to winning it and you definitely have a lot more time in your career. I am sure you will get a Grand Slam trophy, more than one," Djokovic said of Thiem

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In pictures: Our top 10 Grand Slam men’s matches of 2020

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