Greatest Grand Slam Finals: Iconic Tennis Matches Captured in Photos

Brief overview: Grand Slam finals are considered the pinnacle of tennis. This article guides you through six iconic finals from Wimbledon, Roland Garros, the US Open and the Australian Open. It highlights the dramatic twists, the players and their historical backgrounds, and explains how IMAGO provides appropriate sports photos and licenses.

The dramatic highlight of tennis

Grand Slam finals represent the peak of tennis. Each of these finals is far more than just a match – they are moments that turn great athletes into legends. On the great stages of Wimbledon, Roland Garros, the US Open and the Australian Open, epic duels unfold that are characterized by emotion, drama and unexpected twists. Grand Slam finals write sporting history for both men and women and shape the perception of entire generations of tennis fans.

This article presents six of the most famous Grand Slam finals, considered to be the greatest tennis matches of all time. We shed light on the background and context, describe the progress of the matches and honor the protagonists. In doing so, we follow the tone of the IMAGO blog, which focuses on images, historical contexts and editorial classification. At the same time, we integrate practical notes on the use and licensing of sports images via IMAGO.

Why these finals are so significant

The legendary Wimbledon finals, historic US Open finals, memorable Roland Garros finals and famous Australian Open finals in our selection are characterized by a special combination of peak performance, drama and historical context. Often the world No. 1 met No. 2, players engaged in marathon matches lasting four or five hours, and a possible Grand Slam victory frequently marked the start of an entire era. These contests redefine the term “epic tennis battle”.

1. Steffi Graf vs. Monica Seles – Roland Garros 1992

Meeting of the giants

In 1992, two players who shaped women’s tennis in the late 1980s and early 1990s faced each other in Paris: four-time Grand Slam champion and world number one Monica Seles, and German exceptional athlete Steffi Graf. Although Graf had won the Golden Slam in 1988, four years later she was no longer the undisputed No. 1. Seles had won four of the previous five majors. When they met at Court Philippe Chatrier on June 6, 1992, Seles was 19 years old, Graf was about to turn 23 and was “only” ranked No. 2. The final therefore promised a genuine test of power – a duel between an old master and youthful dominance.

The course of the match

Seles started offensively. Her two-handed forehand and backhand put Graf under pressure from the outset. Graf had to adjust and varied her play with topspin, slice and long shots; nevertheless, the first set went clearly to the defending champion. In the second set, Graf succeeded in disrupting her opponent’s rhythm: she extended the rallies, kept the ball low and used her powerful serve to push Seles out of position. It worked – she leveled at one set all.

The third set became the epitome of a French clay-court thriller. Both players held their service games, saved themselves with desperation shots from seemingly hopeless positions and spurred each other to ever greater heights. After 18 games and 91 minutes of the finest rallies, it was 8–8. Graf was able to fend off five match points, while Seles saved just as many set points. It was Seles who eventually made the decisive point and won the match 6–2, 3–6, 10–8. “It was the most emotional match I ever played,” Seles said later.

Significance and aftermath

The 1992 Roland Garros final is often described as “the rivalry that should have been”. It could have been the start of a long era of duels between Seles and Graf. But less than a year later, Seles was stabbed in Hamburg by a mentally disturbed fan, a tragedy that still overshadows her career. The 1992 match is therefore one of the last meetings in which both players were at their peak, and it showed how narrow the margin at the top of the sport was at the time.

For Steffi Graf, the defeat was a painful setback, but in 1993 she returned impressively by winning Wimbledon against Jana Novotná and captured several more majors. Monica Seles won her third consecutive French Open title and consolidated her status as No. 1. The fact that the match went to three sets and ended 10–8 underscores the quality of this women's final – many experts count it among the greatest tennis matches of all time.

IMAGO / Stockhoff I Steffi Graf (GER) and Monika Seles (USA) at the Tennis French Open 1992.

IMAGO / ABACAPRESS / Szwarc Henri I Monica Seles winner of the French Tennis Open against Germany's Steffi Graf In Roland-Garros Stadium, Paris, France on May 25th, 1992.

2. Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka – US Open 2012

Match progress in the sign of a comeback

The 2012 US Open promised a high-class women’s final: 14-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams versus world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka. Williams had a brilliant 2012 season with titles at Wimbledon and the Olympics; Azarenka had won the Australian Open earlier that year. Williams controlled the action from the outset with her powerful serve and took the first set clearly. But Azarenka fought back, broke Williams’ serve and won the second set.

In the decisive third set, the Belarusian seemed within reach of her first US Open title. She led 5–3 and served for the championship. But Williams, known for her unwavering mental strength, stayed calm and broke back. With a strong service game she leveled, captured another break and eventually took the match 6–2, 2–6, 7–5. The match lasted two hours and 18 minutes – a time span that appears short in the statistics but barely reflects the drama of the last set.

Historical context

Williams’ 2012 victory was remarkable because it was the first women’s final at the US Open to go to three sets since 1995. Azarenka stood on the cusp of her first New York triumph, but against Williams she could not seize the final chance. The American captured her fourth US Open final and raised her Grand Slam tally to 15 titles. Coach Patrick Mouratoglou later emphasized: “If it had been anyone other than Serena on the other side of the court, we’d be having a different conversation today.”

In retrospect, the final is counted among the greatest comebacks in US Open history. It showed how thin the line is between triumph and defeat in tennis, and how mental strength shapes great careers. After the match, Williams displayed a rarely seen emotional side and celebrated her success exuberantly – an image etched in the collective memory.

IMAGO / ABACAPRESS / Corinne Dubreuil I Serena Williams defeats Victoria Azarenka and wins the 2012 US Open Championships in New York City.

IMAGO / ABACAPRESS / Corinne Dubreuil I Serena Williams defeats Victoria Azarenka and wins the 2012 US Open Championships in New York City.

3. Venus Williams vs. Lindsay Davenport – Wimbledon 2005

Conditions and narrative

Many experts describe the 2005 Wimbledon final as perhaps the best women’s final ever. Venus Williams, then ranked 16th, faced world number one Lindsay Davenport. Davenport had enjoyed a successful year and was the favorite. Venus Williams, however, had not won a Grand Slam tournament since 2001 and came to London as an outsider.

The match began with Davenport in control: she broke Venus early and won the first set 6–4. In the second set, Davenport led with a break, but at 4–5 Williams saved a set point, broke back and forced a tie-break. There she showed nerves of steel and won 7–4. The match was wide open again.

In the third set, Davenport again led 4–2 and even had a match point at 5–4. But Venus saved it – with a risky backhand winner – and leveled at 5–5. At 7–7 she finally secured the decisive break and served out to 9–7. Williams thus claimed her third Wimbledon title and at the same time became the first woman in 70 years to win the Wimbledon women’s event after saving a match point.

Historical significance

This thriller lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes and is considered a benchmark for a dramatic Wimbledon final by journalists. The encounter impressed with high strike speeds, brilliant baseline rallies and the unbending will of both players. Davenport later said she had “tried everything”, but whenever she was close to victory, Venus played her best tennis. Aside from the sporting aspect, the match was also culturally significant: one day before the final, Venus had called on the organizers to award equal prize money for women and men – an objective that was implemented two years later.

For Venus Williams, the Wimbledon triumph marked the start of a second career phase. She won further titles in the following years and remained competitive well into the new decade. Davenport, who held the top ranking in 1999 and 2000, was in a Grand Slam final for the last time in 2005. The 2005 final remains one of the legendary Wimbledon decisions.

IMAGO / ABACAPRESS / Corinne Dubreuil | US tennis player Venus Williams defeats US player Lindsay Davenport.

IMAGO / ABACAPRESS / Corinne Dubreuil | US tennis player Venus Williams defeats US player Lindsay Davenport.

4. Björn Borg vs. John McEnroe – Wimbledon 1980

The Iceman versus the hothead

The rivalry between Björn Borg and John McEnroe is one of tennis’s mythical tales. In 1980, the stoic Swede and the tempestuous New Yorker met in the Wimbledon final. For Borg it was the chance for his fifth consecutive title; McEnroe was appearing in the All England Club final for the first time. Even the players’ entrance was accompanied by boos, a novelty in the then traditionally polite London crowd.

The epic course of the match

McEnroe got off to the better start and won the first set convincingly 6–1. Borg took the second and third sets, but in the fourth McEnroe was back in the ascendancy. It went to a tie-break, and this went down in history: over 34 points, both players produced their best tennis, fending off multiple match or set points each and thrilling the crowd. McEnroe took the tie-break 18–16 – a legendary stretch of tennis history to this day.

Anyone who thought McEnroe now had the momentum was mistaken: in the fifth set Borg raised his level again. He served almost perfectly and conceded only two points in his seven service games. McEnroe had no answer, and Borg won 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16–18), 8–6 after 3 hours and 53 minutes.

Significance of the match

The 1980 Wimbledon final marked the climax of the short but intense Borg–McEnroe rivalry. To this day, the fourth set is considered one of the best tie-breaks ever. Borg claimed his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title – a record later equaled by Roger Federer. For McEnroe, the defeat was not a setback but rather the start of his own dominance: the following year he won Wimbledon and the US Open, while Borg left the sport soon after. The 1980 match is a prime example of legendary Wimbledon finals that have had a lasting influence on sport, pop culture and media.

IMAGO / Sven Simon I Bjoern Borg and John McEnroe at the net.

IMAGO / Laci Prerenyi I Borg Bjoern SWE wins for the 5th time in Wimbledon at the Wimbledon Cup Men Final 1980.

5. Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal – Australian Open 2012

Two giants at their peak 

In January 2012, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal faced each other in Melbourne Park. At that time both dominated the men’s tour: Djokovic was world No. 1, Nadal No. 2. The previous Grand Slam finals – Wimbledon and the US Open 2011 – had already been contested by the two, with Djokovic winning both. The showdown in Australia therefore promised the next peak of their rivalry.

The longest final in Grand Slam history

The match developed into an epic battle. Nadal won the first set 7–5, but Djokovic struck back and took the second and third sets. In the fourth set Djokovic led with a break, but Nadal fought back and forced a tie-break. The Spaniard won it 7–5, taking the match into a decisive fifth set.

In the final set Nadal initially led 4–2 with a break. But Djokovic once again showed his mental strength: he broke back and won five of the last six games. After 5 hours and 53 minutes, at 1:37 in the morning, the result was set – Djokovic triumphed 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5), 7–5. It was the longest final in Grand Slam history.

IMAGO / Schreyer | Rafael Nadal (ESP) and Novak Djokovic (SRB) before the men's final of 2012 Tennis Australian Open in Melbourne.

IMAGO / Xinhua / Chen Xiaowei | Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with his trophy after winning the men s singles final at 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.

6. Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer – Wimbledon 2008

The Conditions for a Classic

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had already faced each other in the Wimbledon final in 2006 and 2007, with Federer winning both times. In 2008, however, Nadal arrived as the newly crowned four-time French Open champion and was determined to triumph in London as well. Federer had already won five consecutive Wimbledon titles and was on the verge of holding the record outright. The setup was clear: defending champion versus challenger, world No. 1 versus world No. 2.

A Final Drama in Five Acts

Nadal came out flying, playing aggressively from the baseline and winning the first two sets 6–4, 6–4. Federer seemed to have his back against the wall, but he stayed composed. In the third set, he pushed Nadal into a tiebreak and won it 7–5. In the fourth set, Nadal was already leading 5:2 in the tiebreak, but the Swiss star saved two match points and battled his way back to take it 10:8, forcing a fifth set.

The match was interrupted twice by rain, which meant it ended late in the evening in almost complete darkness. At 7:7 in the fifth set, Nadal secured the decisive break. With a bold serve-and-volley, he played his only net approach of the match, which Federer could only return into the net. After 4 hours and 48 minutes, Nadal converted his fourth match point to win 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7 and became the first Spanish Wimbledon champion since 1966. The match was the longest Wimbledon final in history and is widely regarded as the greatest tennis match of all time because of its quality and drama.

Reactions and Legacy

The match sparked excitement all over the world. Even the usually critical tennis journalist Bud Collins described it as the greatest contest of his career. Federer said afterward that he would probably only be able to see the positive side of it years later. Nadal, by contrast, spoke of an indescribable feeling of joy. His triumph ended Federer’s five-year reign at Wimbledon and made him the first player since Björn Borg to repeat the “French Open–Wimbledon double.”

This encounter unquestionably belongs among the legendary Wimbledon finals and the greatest tennis match of all time. It showcased the extraordinary rivalry between two contrasting styles — Federer’s elegance and Nadal’s relentless fighting spirit — and left a lasting mark on the perception of modern men’s tennis.

IMAGO / The Independent / David Ashdown I Wimbledon 2008 Men's Final Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal.

IMAGO / H.J.D. Productions I Roger Federer (Switzerland, left) and Rafael Nadal (Spain) drying themselves.

IMAGO / H.J.D. Productions I Rafael Nadal (Spain), winner of the 2008 All England Championships, presents the trophy.

Licensing Images Safely: IMAGO as a Partner for Sports Photography

Anyone writing about these historic matches or publishing images of them should be aware of the importance of image rights. An image license does not transfer ownership of the image; it only regulates the right of use, while copyright remains with the photographer or the agency. For legally compliant use of photos, it is essential to distinguish between image rights, personality rights, and the intended purpose of use.

License Models at IMAGO

IMAGO offers various licensing models tailored to different use cases:

• Rights Managed (RM): This license is suitable for clearly defined, one-time uses—for example, a single article, a specific social media post, or a defined print run. Parameters such as duration, territory, and medium can be individually specified.

• Royalty Free Classic (RF): This license allows repeated use of the same image without the need to purchase a new license for each use. It is particularly suitable for blogs, websites, and standard social media formats.

• Royalty Free Premium (RF Premium): This model provides especially flexible usage rights and covers more extensive projects, such as print campaigns, packaging, or merchandising—provided that additional rights are available.

In addition to the distinction between RM and RF, it is especially important for sports images to determine whether the usage is editorial or commercial. Editorial use includes reporting, documentation, and informational purposes—for example, in articles, chronicles, or educational materials. Commercial use includes advertising, sponsorship, or product marketing and may require additional permissions. If individuals or private locations are clearly identifiable, model releases (consent from the depicted persons) or property releases (approval from property owners) may be required. IMAGO indicates the release status of images in the metadata and supports targeted searches via filters.

Ways to Purchase at IMAGO

To ensure that editorial teams and organizations can quickly access the right visual material, IMAGO offers three common purchasing options:

• Webshop – Single License (internal link: IMAGO Webshop): Individual licenses can be purchased directly for specific uses.

• Webshop – Credit Packages (internal link: Credit Packages): For regular buyers, IMAGO offers credit packages valid for 365 days. These are particularly useful for frequent image use.

• Sales Manager (internal link: Sales Manager): For larger projects, recurring needs, or customized licensing models, personal consultation is available.

Additionally, editorial teams should regularly review internal sections such as “Licenses,” “Rights Managed,” and “Royalty Free Premium” to ensure consistency and legal compliance in recurring formats. A structured workflow and coordination with image rights departments are essential to avoid legal issues.

We advise you on the right images for tennis and other sports – including customized media packages.

Why These Final Classics Endure

Grand Slam finals are the stage on which tennis greats become legends. Whether it is the epic duel between Borg and McEnroe with its 34-point tiebreak, the marathon match between Djokovic and Nadal where both players had to sit down from exhaustion at the end, or the dramatic clash between Nadal and Federer in near darkness at Wimbledon—each of these matches has shaped the history of the sport. They demonstrate that Grand Slam finals are far more than numbers and statistics: they are stories of rivalries, determination, and emotional highs.

At the same time, this overview highlights that the greatest tennis finals of all time are spread across all four Grand Slam tournaments. The legendary Wimbledon finals, the historic US Open finals, the memorable Roland Garros finals, and the famous Australian Open finals offer insights into different eras of tennis and reflect how playing styles, equipment, and conditions have evolved.

For media professionals, IMAGO provides the right imagery to visually support these stories. With the licensing models and purchasing options outlined above, you can source content efficiently and with legal certainty. Make use of IMAGO’s extensive tennis image archive—not only to revisit iconic moments, but also to accompany upcoming tournaments and tell new stories.

Photo Selection by André Ziegler