Can Monday’s men’s U.S. Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal measure up to these memorable finals in the Open Era, which began in 1968? 5. Jimmy Connors def. Bjorn Borg (1976) » Connors took 70 minutes to win one of the greatest sets in tennis history in his 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11-9), 6-4 victory. Connors was the only player to win the Open on three surfaces: grass (1974), clay (1976) and hard court (1978).
4. Rod Laver def. Tony Roche (1969) » In a rain-delayed Monday final, a helicopter was needed to dry the soggy grass court before Laver donned spikes and won 7-9, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to become the last player to win the Grand Slam and the only one in history to capture it twice.
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3. Pete Sampras def. Andre Agassi (2002) » Here’s how closely the careers of Sampras and Agassi paralleled. Sampras’ 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory at age 31 was his 14th and final Grand Slam title. His first came in the 1990 Open — over then 20-year-old Agassi.
2. Juan Martin del Potro def. Roger Federer (2009) » The 20-year-old Argentine prevailed in a four-hour classic 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, halting Federer’s streak of five straight Open titles, the longest since Bill Tilden won six in a row (1920-25).
1. John McEnroe def. Bjorn Borg (1980) » McEnroe’s 7-6, 6-1, 6-7, 5-7, 6-4 win wasn’t as dramatic as Borg’s epic five-set victory that summer at Wimbledon. But it was a turning point in Borg’s career, contributing to his abrupt retirement in 1981.
– Kevin Dunleavy
