The top 10 rivalries in tennis history
Martina Navratilova, right, is congratulated at the net by Chris Evert after Navratilova won the women's singles title at the U.S. Open on Saturday, Sept. 10, 1983. Credit: AP/CAROL NEWSOM
10. Boris Becker vs. Stefan Edberg (1984-96)
Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg in 1988. Credit: Bob Martin/Allsport/Getty Images; Steve Powell/Allsport/Getty Images
Considered two of the best grass players of all time, the two met in the finals of Wimbledon three straight times from 1988-90 with Edberg winning in 1988 and 1990. Roger Federer, after winning in 2009 at Wimbledon, cited the Becker-Edberg rivalry as his inspiration for choosing to play tennis over soccer.
9. Steffi Graf vs. Monica Seles (1989-99)
In this Sept. 8, 1996, file photo, Steffi Graf, right, and Monica Seles share a laugh before the women's singles final at the U.S. Open. Credit: AP/KATHY WILLENS
Rivalry was tragically interrupted after a deranged Graf fan attacked Seles with a knife during a match in Hamburg in 1993. The attack sent shock waves through tennis and Seles was never the same as a competitor. All told, the two met 15 times, with Graf holding a 10-5 edge. The pinnacle of the rivalry was in 1992 when two players won all four Grand Slams. That included meetings in the finals of the French Open (Seles won) and Wimbledon (Graf won).
8. Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi (1989-2002)
Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi during the US Open on Sept. 8, 2002. Credit: Getty Images
The major story line of men’s tennis for a decade, the Americans met each other in five Grand Slam finals, with Sampras winning four of them. Agassi’s brash manner and emotional style of play served as a much-needed contrast to Sampras’ steady demeanor. Sampras' quarterfinals win over Agassi in the 2001 U.S. Open, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (7-5) remains a classic.
7. Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal (2006-present)
Rafael Nadal, right, and Novak Djokovic pose before their men's singles second round match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. Credit: AP/Andy Wong
This rivalry may be on its last legs as Nadal most recently lost to Djokovic in the second round of the Paris Olympics and will not play in the U.S. Open. Still, the two have a storied past, having met each other 60 times with Djokovic holding a 31-29 lead. Their rivalry was long overshadowed by Nadal’s rivalry with Federer, but has still produced some classic matches.
6. Billie Jean King vs. Margaret Court (1962-73)
Margaret Smith (Court) with Billie Jean Moffitt (King) before the finals at Wimbledon in June 1962. Credit: AP/Anonymous
King and Court faced each other just 32 times, with Court winning 22, including two of their three meetings in Grand Slam finals. The rivalry, however, was not defined by what happened in face-to-face meetings on the court. King became a feminist icon in 1973 when, after Court lost to Bobby Riggs, King stepped up and beat him handily in the much ballyhooed “Battle of the Sexes” that was watched on television by 90 million.
5. Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams (1998-2020)
Wimbledon champion Serena Williams (right) poses with the winning trophy with runner-up and sister Venus Williams at Wimbledon in London on July 6, 2002. Credit: Getty Images
Greatest sibling rivalry in sports history, the Williams sisters met each other 31 times, with Serena owning a 19-12 record, including 7-2 in Grand Slam finals. Despite their competition, the two were personally very close and played a similar style of tennis. Their success inspired a generation of Black girls to take up tennis.
4. John McEnroe vs. Jimmy Connors (1977-91)
Jimmy Connors cautions fellow American John McEnroe on his bad behaviour on the Centre Court at Wimbledon on July 4, 1980. Credit: Getty Images
The Americans' dislike of one another drove tennis’ popularity to new heights. This rivalry featured both a clash of styles and personalities. There was no hugging at the net after a long match. Instead, there were meltdowns, obscene gestures with a tennis racket and more than an occasional exchange of obscenities. The two played 34 times between 1977 and 1991, McEnroe going 20–14.
3. John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg (1978-81)
John McEnroe, right, shakes hands after beating Bjorn Borg, left, in the U.S. Open final on Sept. 13, 1981. Credit: AP/Ron Frehm
When McEnroe and Borg met, it was always fire versus ice. Though the rivalry was short-lived, their contrasting personalities enthralled fans. The two met just 14 times with four of those meetings in Grand Slam finals. They were 7-7 against each other. Their 1980 Finals match at Wimbledon is among the most memorable matches ever played. McEnroe saved five match points and won a fourth-set tiebreaker that lasted more than 20 minutes, but lost the match in the fifth set. McEnroe was 3-1 in Grand Slam finals against Borg before the Swede retired in the prime of his career.
2. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal (2004-19)
Roger Federer (right) and Rafael Nadal embrace at the net after their semifinal match at Wimbledon on July 12, 2019 in London. Credit: Getty Images
Their rivalry defined men’s tennis for a better part of a decade. Nadal’s five-set 2008 Wimbledon win over Federer in a final match that lasted 4 hours, 48 minutes is regarded by some to be the greatest tennis match ever played. All told, the two played each other 40 times with Nadal winning, 24-16, including 14-10 in finals.
1. Martina Navratilova vs. Chris Evert (1972-88)
In this July 4, 1985, file photo, Chris Evert, left, and Martina Navratilova joke with Police Constable Les Bowie on Number Two Court at Wimbledon. Credit: AP/DAVE CAULKIN
With their contrasting styles and personalities, this rivalry is considered to be one of the best in all of sports. The two met each other 80 times, including 22 in a Grand Slam. Evert was at her best early when she won the first three slams, but Navratilova finished with a 14-8 edge in the majors, including 10-4 in finals, and 43-37 overall.
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.
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