Jul 4

Jul 4 Wimbledon's best last 16 Matches of the 2010s

Five of the Best Men’s Singles Wimbledon Last 16 Matches of the 2010s

The All England Club has played host to some wonderful affairs over the years, the tension of a final set decider in the second week of Wimbledon is one of the most gripping spectacles in sport, so let’s take a trip down recent memory lane to appreciate the epic affairs that graced our screens in the fourth round of the tournament in the 2010s. Here are our top five matches in ascending order.

5. Tomas Berdych Vs Dominic Thiem (2017)

Final score: Berdych def. Thiem 6-3 6-7 6-3 3-6 6-3

Tomas Berdych rolled back the years on the hallowed grass of Wimbledon in 2017, making a surging run to the semi-finals and defeating a then up and coming, now grand slam champion, Dominic Thiem at the fourth round stage.

The only grand slam final Berdych made in his career came in London and at 31 despite his fading fortunes and fitness, gathered himself to deny the Austrian a spot in the last eight.

The Czech had lost nine of ten against top ten opposition, so when Thiem levelled the match taking the fourth 6-3 it looked like an all too familiar story. But the 13-time ATP Tour title winner showed his true class and resilience to break early and calmly serve out the set 6-3. He would go on to lose to eventual champion Roger Federer.

Thiem hitting at Wimbledon in 2017

4. Lucas Pouille Vs Bernard Tomic (2016)

Final score: Pouille def. Tomic 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-4 10-8

Billed as a clash of future stars of the sport, this 2016 meeting will live long in the memory.

Pouille, the underdog Frenchman 22 at the time, facing off with the Aussie who looked to have the world at his feet aged 23. Now 27 and 28 cynics may see wasted potential particularly with the latter but they will always have this match to be proud of their own performance and the people they captivated as a result.

Pouille advanced into the last eight of a Slam for the second time that year with a tremendous comeback victory embodying his never say die attitude. He was broken twice to go two sets to one down after the third set but produced scenes of incredible guts and grit to wrestle the match his way. Briskly levelling by wrapping up the fourth in 24 minutes before digging deep to come through 10-8 in the fifth, providing an absorbing grandstand finish.

3. Lu Yen-Hsun Vs Andy Roddick (2010)

Final score: Lu def. Roddick 4-6 7-6 7-6 6-7 9-7

Throwing it back to the beginning and reminiscing about three-time finalist Andy Roddick. Just a year after his heart-wrenching 16-14 final set loss to Roger Federer, he crashed out in the last 16 at the hands of Chinese Taipei’s finest Lu Yen-Hsun.

It was Lu’s moment in the sun, also going on to make his career-high ranking of 33 later that year, reaching his only ever grand slam fourth round and then quarter-final with this stunning victory.

The then 26-year-old ground it out despite Roddick winning at least six games in every set, taking the decider 9-7 and upsetting the odds in a David and Goliath encounter.

2. Nick Kyrgios Vs Rafael Nadal (2014)

Final score: Kyrgios def. Nadal 7-6 5-7 7-6 6-3

Now we are entering all-time classic territory, and the moment larger than life character Nick Kyrgios burst onto the scene in SW19. This is the only non-five setter on the list but it could not be left out.

Rafa Nadal was toppled by the 19-year-old world no. 144, who served 37 aces and only dropped serve once all match. It was the first time Kyrgios’ care free exhibition-like brand of tennis was brought to the mainstream, typified by an unbelievable through the legs drop shot in the second set, the King of Clay’s woes at Wimbledon continued.

The Aussie is still yet to make a slam semi-final at the age of 26, but his incomprehensible talent can never be underestimated.

NK takes down Nadal in 2014

1. Gilles Muller Vs Rafael Nadal (2017)

Final score: Muller def. Nadal 6-3 6-4 3-6 4-6 15-13

Not intending to poke fun at Nadal but he does tend to lose well at Wimbledon and the Spaniard had the misfortune of facilitating Luxembourger Muller’s finest hour.

Rarely any great shakes outside of the grass-court season the then 34-year-old produced tennis of a far higher standard than previously in his career with a serving masterclass and marathon win. Nadal came back to equalise from two sets down and then a final set of two hours and 15 minutes ensued. Having passed up four match points at 4-5 and 9-10, Muller finally got over the line 15-13 to round it off in four hours and 51 minutes.

He reached a career-high of 21 that month and rode off into the retirement sunset the following year.