The 2009 season was flush with spectacular matches. In a series of posts that originally ran on his Concrete Elbow blog, Steve Tignor offers his Top 10 list.
No. 10: Totally American. For Sure
Melanie Oudin continues her dream U.S. Open run with a fourth-round upset of Maria Sharapova.
No. 9: Denting the Net
Playing in his first U.S. Open since 2005, Taylor Dent staves off fellow serve-and-volleyer Ivan Navarro in a five-set epic.
No. 8: Cannon Fodder
Ivo Karlovic belts 78 aces—but loses—in a six-hour Davis Cup rubber against Radek Stepanek.
No. 7: Killing Him
Nadal bests Federer in the Australian Open final to collect his first hardcourt Slam title.
No. 6: Fortune Favors the Good
By the narrowest of margins, Serena Williams defeats Elena Dementieva in the Wimbledon semis.
No. 5: Bringing Out the Heavy Artillery
Juan Martin del Potro takes the fourth and fifth sets of the U.S. Open final to win his first career major.
No. 4: Serving It Fresh
Fernando Gonzalez and Richard Gasquet put on a jaw-dropping display in Melbourne.
No. 3: Death in the Afternoon
Fending off two match points, Nadal overcomes a dogged Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Masters.
No. 2: Noble Efforts
Roger Federer makes history—and extends Andy Roddick's misery—on Centre Court.
No. 1: Going to the Ledge
Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco held nothing back during their historic Aussie Open semi.