Grand Slam finals oftentimes tend to be rather epic. It doesn’t only happen because the quality of tennis in those matches is generally higher, but also because those who manage to get to a Grand Slam final are usually really great players.
They also tend to be dramatic because of their longevity, and some of them have been really long, pushing the contenders to their limits. We’re going to go over the three longest Grand Slam finals in the Open Era, one of which was a recent one.
#3 2022 Australian Open final: Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev
In an epic battle in the twilight of his career against Daniil Medvedev at the 2022 Australian Open, Rafael Nadal was two sets down but managed to fight back despite staring down the barrel of elimination with 2-3 down in the third set.
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It was a major display of resilience from both players and rightfully belongs in the third spot, considering that it lasted five hours and 24 minutes. That’s the third longest in the Open Era, with the final score reading 2–6, 6–7(5), 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 in favor of Nadal.
#2 2025 French Open final: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner
This is the most recent entry into this list. World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz took on the No. 1-ranked player in the world, Jannik Sinner, and the duo produced tennis out of their minds, giving it their all in Paris.
Sinner seemed to have the upper hand initially as he clinched the first two sets 6-4, 7-6(4). However, Alcaraz won the third set after trailing 1-0, with Sinner having a break. Then Sinner had three consecutive match points at 5-4 in the fourth set, but the Spaniard held his nerve to turn the tide in his favor and brought the game on level terms.
Alcaraz then served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set, but the Italian turned it around, after which Alcaraz won the epic first-to-ten tiebreak. The match lasted five hours and 29 minutes, making it the second-longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era. Alcaraz won 4–6, 6–7(4), 6–4, 7–6(3), 7–6(2), making it the longest final in the history of Roland Garros.
#1 2012 Australian Open final: Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal
This was the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era, and most tennis fans remember it vividly. It was the 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, which lasted five hours and 53 minutes and ended 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5), 7–5 in favor of the Serb.
It was arguably the greatest tennis match ever contested, with both players barely being able to stand after the outcome. It was a proper gladiator battle in the modern age, and rightfully is known as an iconic match due to both the quality of play and its longevity.
