In Grand Slam tennis, few scenarios test a player’s mental fortitude more than trailing by two sets in a final. Overcoming that deficit requires exceptional resilience, tactical adjustments, and an unyielding belief. The five matches below rank among the most dramatic such comebacks in recent history, each delivering unforgettable tension and career-defining moments.
Let’s take a look at this story and find out about the five most dramatic Grand Slam comebacks from two sets down
Five most dramatic Grand Slam comebacks from two sets down
1. Rafael Nadal vs Daniil Medvedev – Australian Open 2022 Final
Rafael Nadal’s 2022 Australian Open final victory is considered one of the greatest comebacks in the tennis world. The Spaniard trailed 2-6, 6-7(5) against a dominant Medvedev but bounced back 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in a 5-hour-24-minute epic to secure his 21st Grand Slam.
Nadal, who was 35 years old during the time of the match, was recovering from injury. He dug deep when serving at 2-3, 0-40 in the fifth set. He saved those break points, broke back after losing serve at 5-4, and closed it out to love. This win not only surpassed Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for the all-time lead at the time but marked the first Australian Open final comeback from two sets down in the Open Era.
2. Dominic Thiem vs Alexander Zverev – US Open 2020 Final
During the US Open 2020 final in an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium during the COVID-affected time, Dominic Thiem staged a historic comeback against Alexander Zverev. Down 2-6, 4-6 to his friend Alexander Zverev, Thiem fought back 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6) to win his first (and only) Grand Slam title.
Thiem also became the first player in the Open Era to rally from two sets down in a US Open final. Both men served for the match in the fifth set (Zverev at 5-3, Thiem at 6-5), but Thiem, who was battling cramps, overcame in the tie-break. The Austrian’s baseline consistency and mental toughness played a key role in a match filled with 15 breaks of serve.
3. Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas – French Open 2021 Final
Novak Djokovic is also part of the list as he delivered a masterclass in resilience at Roland Garros in 2021. Trailing 6-7(6), 2-6 against a surging Stefanos Tsitsipas in his first major final, Djokovic stormed back with 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to secure his second French Open title and 19th Grand Slam title overall
This victory completed Djokovic’s double career Grand Slam, which means he won each major at least twice, and made him the first man in the Open Era to win a major after coming back from two sets down twice in the same tournament. Djokovic’s experience and precision overwhelmed the younger Greek after a rain delay and medical timeout shifted momentum.
4. Andre Agassi vs Andrei Medvedev – French Open 1999 Final
Andre Agassi’s 1999 French Open triumph completed his career Grand Slam in dramatic fashion. Down 1-6, 2-6 to Andrei Medvedev, Agassi bounced back 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. A rain delay in the third set and coach Brad Gilbert’s fiery locker-room pep talk played a key role in Agassi’s comeback.
Agassi, who had lost two previous French Open finals, became the first man since Rod Laver to achieve the career Grand Slam across three surfaces. His emotional celebration reflected years of redemption after personal and professional struggles.
5. Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev – Australian Open 2024 Final
Jannik Sinner announced his arrival as a Grand Slam champion with a stunning comeback in the 2024 Australian Open final. Trailing 3-6, 3-6 against Medvedev, the 22-year-old Italian turned the match around with 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to claim his first major title.
It was in the middle of the third set when Sinner found his rhythm back, capitalizing on the fatigue of Medvedev. Sinner broke Medvedev decisively in the fifth set and won the game with a forehand winner, making him the youngest male winner of the Australian Open since Novak Djokovic in 2008. He also became the first Italian man to win a major since 1976. Medvedev, for the second time in Melbourne (after 2022 vs. Nadal), lost a final from two sets up.
