Two of the Big 4 (or what is now the Big 3 plus an on-the-way-back Andy Murray) swept the four Grand Slams in 2019, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic each winning two. As such, they finished one-two in the rankings with room to spare. Roger Federer finished No. 3 and also played his fair share of memorable matches–including against Djokovic in a historic Wimbledon final. Murray, meanwhile, famously “retired” at the Australian Open only to return later in the season following successful hip surgery.
Let’s look back on the four multi-slam champions’ 2019 highlights and best matches (not necessarily their best performances, but the best matches in which they were involved–win or lose).
Rafael Nadal
Highlights:
Best matches:
Acapulco R2: Nick Kyrgios d. Nadal 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(6)
French Open F: Nadal d. Dominic Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1
Wimbledon R2: Nadal d. Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3)
Wimbledon SF: Roger Federer d. Nadal 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
U.S. Open F: Nadal d. Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4
Nitto ATP Finals RR: Nadal d. Daniil Medvedev 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(4)
Nitto ATP Finals RR: Nadal d. Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5
Novak Djokovic
Highlights:
Best matches:
Australian Open R4: Djokovic d. Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3
Monte-Carlo QF: Daniil Medvedev d. Djokovic 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Madrid SF: Djokovic d. Dominic Thiem 7-6(2), 7-6(4)
Rome QF: Djokovic d. Juan Martin Del Potro 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4
French Open SF: Dominic Thiem vs. Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5
Wimbledon F: Djokovic d. Roger Federer 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12(3)
Cincinnati SF: Daniil Medvedev d. Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Nitto ATP Finals RR: Dominic Thiem d. Djokovic 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(5)
Roger Federer
Highlights:
Best matches:
Australian Open R4: Stefanos Tsitsipas d. Federer 6-7(11), 7-6(3), 7-5, 7-6(5)
Indian Wells F: Dominic Thiem d. Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Madrid QF: Dominic Thiem vs. Federer 3-6, 7-6(11), 6-4
Rome R3: Federer d. Borna Coric 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(7)
French Open QF: Federer d. Stan Wawrinka 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
Wimbledon SF: Federer d. Rafael Nadal 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Wimbledon F: Novak Djokovic d. Federer 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12(3)
Andy Murray
Highlights:
Best matches:
Australian Open R1: Roberto Bautista Agut d. Murray 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(4), 6-2
Zhuhai R1: Murray d. Tennys Sandgren 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-1
Zhuhai R2: Alex de Minaur d. Murray 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Shanghai R2: Fabio Fognini d. Murray 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(2)
Antwerp SF: Murray d. Ugo Humbert 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
Antwerp F: Murray d. Stan Wawrinka 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
[crowdsignal poll=10460740]
favorite match?
USO final, wimby final , wtf Thiem djokovic, wtf Nadal Medvedev I think are best 4 of the year
USO final, RG final, Wawrinka d Tsitsipas RG 4th round and I have to admit having a soft spot for Nadal beating up on Djoker in Rome final. I also loved Rafa’s DC heroics run! My favorite thing about the new DC format is that Rafa can play both singles and doubles. 🙂
he could do that in the old format, as well, technically
Yup!
Well, yeah, if they weren’t worried about Rafa’s knees – and sundry other body parts. Actually Rafa was pretty amazed he got through this DC tournament without injury. As it was most Rafans were pretty dubious that Rafa was going to last through a 3rd set with Shapo (who has the 20 yo legs that Rafa so envies) OR win the doubles if needed. He looked awfully tired.
It’s certainly possible. Berdych and Stepanek was a couple of DC’s as basically a two man team.
Ramara, while I also enjoyed that Rafa was playing doubles, the new Davis Cup format had nothing to do with it. There are many instances of players competing in singles and doubles when the old format was still in place. 1995 in Moscow Pete Sampras won the DC almost singlehandedly for the US team by winning his two singles matches and the doubles match as well, and he teamed up with Todd Martin. This was even more remarkable because the surface was (very wet) clay and all matches were best-of-five. IMO this DC win was one of Sampras’ greatest although underappreciated career achievements. But there are many more examples of players having competed in singles as well as in doubles. I guess that in the old format Rafa just didn’t play doubles because it wasn’t necessary. The Spanish Armada was good enough for getting it done by winning at least three singles matches, since Rafa would play and win two singles matches.
However, since the new format means that there’s only one singles match per player, it made a lot sense to use Rafa for the doubles as well in case of a tie because he’s also an excellent doubles player and can make a big difference even if his partner is not a top player.
Rafa didn’t play doubles in DC after a certain point because the 5 set format meant it took too much out of him. He was much too valuable in singles to risk it. As a kid he did play dubs in DC, usually with Tommy Robredo. Spain was actually pretty weak in doubles. Their go-to in their heyday was Verdasco-Lopez, never a great pairing. When Corretja became captain he paired Granollers-M.Lopez, who could never win a “big” doubles in DC despite being a pretty successful duo on tour. I don’t think Lo-Lo did much better in DC. But when Spain had Nadal-Ferrer playing singles the doubles didn’t matter much.
Rafa v Medddy USO , Rafa v Meddy WTFs, Murray v Wawa Antwerp ….
Fed’s semi-final win over Rafa at Wimbledon.
Yes. The real final.
Rafa’s semi-final win over Fed at Roland Garros.
Never thought any match will be crueler than the 3 ao finals that Rafa lost to djokovic, fed and wawrinka. But this one is definitely the cruelest for fed and his fans
https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2019/12/mens-match-decade-no-1-novak-djokovic-d-roger-federer-wimbledon-2019/86042/
Urgh not a Federer fan, but that was painful to watch, and i never want to sit through that AO final again, the W semi Rafa had with Federer was dissapointing as thought Rafa wouldve put up more of a fight, its likely that Federer fans will love his wins, and Rafa fans will love his i suppose ….
I liked Murray over Wawa in Antwerp. Mostly because I meant Muzza’s back.
Djoko over Fed at Wimbledon was one of the craziest things I’ve ever watched. On many, many levels.
Murray over Wawa was a sentimental highlight!
I would love if Murray can establish himself again at least at a level where he doesn’t need to rely on protective ranking and wild cards for entering the important tournaments. I have always had a soft spot for Murray! He is a player who has been dealt a hard lot by the tennis deities when they gave him an abundance of natural talent – and then cruelly placed him in a period with not just one but three GOAT candidates. And he was still expected to somehow win a Wimby trophy for the Brits and finally exorcise Fred Perry’s pesky ghost! But unlike other also very talented players he accepted the long term challenge and was able to survive and make the most of his possibilities. It was almost symbolic that in Antwerp he won over Wawa who also managed to snag somehow three slam trophies from the Big Three. But Murray’s career has been far superior IMO because his success story isn’t just founded on slam trophies. He won Olympic singles gold twice and managed to finish 2016 as year-end No 1, which is even more remarkable because he needed to win the WTF final against none other than King Novak in order to secure his one and only year-end pole position. His body was not ready to carry on after these monumental efforts. I also love Murray’s humorous and intelligent off-court persona who is a nice contrast to his somewhat dire oncourt personality.
2019 has given us some great matches and momentum swings. For me the most remarkable matches were Thiem’s win over Novak at the FO semis, Novak’s win over Roger at Wimby and of course Rafa winning his 19th slam title at the USO against Medvedev. All three matches were mindboggling five-set thrillers which could’ve gone either way – especially the Wimby final should’ve been won by Roger. I still can’t believe that he couldn’t close it out. That was one cruel loss! And all three matches may well have a great impact on the still raging GOAT race. Novak missed the chance to complete a second Novak-Slam, which would’ve been so remarkable and rare that it would’ve installed him IMO as the instant reigning GOAT. At Wimby Roger may well have missed an increasingly rare opportunity to distance himself again from Rafa and Novak. And Rafa needed more non-clay slams in order to have a realistic shot at Roger’s still – barely – standing record. And he got his opening at the USO, where he was able to fight off a wonderful young challenger.
After this remarkable 2019 season the three-peet GOAT race has never been closer – while the young generation advanced in great leaps!