[n8]

I like them as they are something unique about the Open. I am still waiting for a final to be decided this way. There have been two semi-finals:

1980 - (2)John McEnroe (eventual winner) d. (3)Jimmy Connors 6-4 5-7 0-6 6-3 7-6(3)
1984 - (2)Ivan Lendl d. (15)Pat Cash 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-7 7-6(4)

Below are the final set tiebreaker records (tour level excluding World Team Championship and dead Davis Cup rubbers) of the top 10. For the top 40 and a list of the biggest matches decided by final set tiebreakers see my signature.

 

[TennisOnWood]

It was 7-4 for Lendl and 7-3 for John m8

 

[Chirag]

I dont know .I dont want matches to be decided on 1-2 points .You can have a perfect serving day barely losing points on serve but lose the point at 65 in the fifth set TB and lose the match as a result

 

[Chiseller]

Not a fan of it for obvious reasons but don't mind it as long as it stays exclusive to the USO

 

[Agrajag]

Love it! As others have said, I wouldn't want the other slams to do it, but I think it goes perfectly with the atmosphere in NYC.

The tiebreaker between Navarro and Dent in 09 still gives me chills. Horrible quality, great excitement.

 

[MaxPower]

I'm on the train that thinks all slams should have 5th set TB. That Isner vs Mahut match was a parody just like all insanely long 5th sets. The winner is ruined for the rest of the tournament usually

If the match has gone to 6-6 and TB in the 5th loser can't complain. If it's gone that far you only have yourself to blame for not taking your chances. All players are used to having TBs decide important matches anyway and I don't see people wanting long sets in the 3 set matches

 

[n8]

It was 7-4 for Lendl and 7-3 for John m8

Awesome. You rule. (Am starting on your article right now.)

 

[TennisOnWood]

Awesome. You rule. (Am starting on your article right now.)

Sure

I put all 4 results in article comment

 

[Action Jackson]

Of course not, but it suits the US Open.

 

[Pirata.]

Maybe all the matches except the final? Kind of like how the Masters used to be best three with a five set final.

 

[n8]

The top three final set tiebreaker matches.

Novak Djokovic Wins

Andy Murray (GBR) 	         Rome 2011	    W 6-1	 3-6	 7-6(2) 
Rafael Nadal (ESP) 	         Miami 2011	    W 4-6	 6-3	 7-6(4) 
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 	 Indian Wells 2010  W 6-3	 2-6	 7-6(3) 
Gael Monfils (FRA) 	         Paris 2009	    W 6-2	 5-7	 7-6(3)
Radek Stepanek (CZE) 		 US Open 2007       W 6-7(4)	 7-6(5)	 5-7	 7-5	 7-6(2) 
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 	 Vienna 2007	    W 6-3	 5-7	 7-6(2) 
Roger Federer (SUI) 	         Canada 2007	    W 7-6(2)	 2-6	 7-6(2) 
Igor Andreev (RUS) 	         Estoril 2007       W 6-2	 4-6	 7-6(5) 
Alexander Waske (GER) 	         's-Hertogenb.. '06 W 6-7(9)	 7-6(4)	 7-6(4) 

Novak Djokovic Losses

Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 	 Shanghai 2009	    L 6-4	 4-6	 6-7(1) 
Rafael Nadal (ESP) 	         Madrid 2009	    L 6-3	 6-7(5)	 6-7(9) 
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 	         Marseille 2007     L 4-6	 6-4	 6-7 
Radek Stepanek (CZE) 	         Rotterdam 2006	    L 5-7	 6-4	 6-7(2) 

Rafael Nadal wins

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 	 Cincinnati 2011    W 7-6(5)	 6-7(4)	 7-6(9) 		
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 	         Indian Wells 2011  W 5-7	 6-1	 7-6(7) 		
Andy Murray (GBR) 	         WTF 2010	    W 7-6(5)	 3-6	 7-6(6) 		
Viktor Troicki (SRB) 	         Tokyo 2010	    W 7-6(4)	 4-6	 7-6(7) 		
Novak Djokovic (SRB) 	         Madrid 2009	    W 3-6	 7-6(5)	 7-6(9) 		
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 	         Queen's 2008	    W 6-7(5)	 7-6(5)	 7-6(4) 		
Carlos Moya (ESP) 	         Chennai 2008	    W 6-7(3)	 7-6(8)	 7-6(1) 		
Igor Andreev (RUS) 	         Dubai 2007	    W 6-2	 3-6	 7-6(2) 		
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 	 Queen's 2006	    W 2-6	 7-6(3)	 7-6(3) 		
Roger Federer (SUI) 	         Rome 2006	    W 6-7(0)	 7-6(5)	 6-4	 2-6	 7-6(5) 
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 	         Madrid 2005	    W 3-6	 2-6	 6-3	 6-4	 7-6(3) 
Guillermo Coria (ARG) 	         Rome 2005	    W 6-4	 3-6	 6-3	 4-6	 7-6(6) 

Rafael Nadal losses

Ivan Dodig (CRO) 	         Montreal 2011      L 6-1	 6-7(5)	 6-7(5) 
Novak Djokovic (SRB) 	         Miami 2011	    L 6-4	 3-6	 6-7(4) 
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 	         Indian Wells 2010  L 6-3	 4-6	 6-7(1) 
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 	 Miami 2009	    L 4-6	 6-3	 6-7(3) 
Gilles Simon (FRA) 	         Madrid 2008	    L 6-3	 5-7	 6-7(6) 
Tomas Berdych (CZE) 	         Cincinnati 2005    L 7-6(4)	 2-6	 6-7(3) 
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 	 Cincinnati 2004    L 4-6	 6-4	 6-7(3) 
Agustin Calleri (ARG) 	         Indian Wells 2004  L 4-6	 6-3	 6-7(10) 
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 	         Basel 2003	    L 6-3	 3-6	 6-7(4) 
Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 	         Bastad 2003	    L 6-3	 3-6	 6-7(6) 

Roger Federer wins

Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 	         Madrid 2011	    W 7-6(13)	 6-7(1)	 7-6(7) 
Tomas Berdych (CZE) 	         Toronto 2010	    W 6-3	 5-7	 7-6(5) 
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 	 Monte Carlo 2008   W 6-1	 3-6	 7-6(1) 
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 	         Cincinnati 2007    W 6-3	 6-7(7)	 7-6(1) 
Paradorn Srichaphan (THA) 	 Basel 2006	    W 6-4	 3-6	 7-6(5) 
Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 	 Basel 2006	    W 6-3	 6-2	 7-6(3) 
Olivier Rochus (BEL) 	         Halle 2006	    W 6-7(2)	 7-6(9)	 7-6(5) 
David Nalbandian (ARG) 	         Rome 2006	    W 6-3	 3-6	 7-6(5) 
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 	         Masters' Cup 2005  W 6-3	 2-6	 7-6(4) 
Ivo Minar (CZE) 	         Dubai 2005	    W 6-7(5)	 6-3	 7-6(5) 
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 	 Dubai 2005	    W 4-6	 6-3	 7-6(6) 
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 	         Rotterdam 2005	    W 5-7	 7-5	 7-6(5) 
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 	         Gstaad 2004	    W 6-7(5)	 6-3	 7-6(4) 
Andre Agassi (USA) 	         Masters' Cup 200   W 6-7(3)	 6-3	 7-6(7) 
Martin Verkerk (NED)             Paris 2003	    W 6-7(3)	 7-6(12) 7-6(6) 
Scott Draper (AUS) 	         Cincinnati 2003    W 4-6	 6-3	 7-6(10) 
Andy Roddick (USA) 	         Basel 2001	    W 3-6	 6-3	 7-6(5) 
Thomas Johansson (SWE) 	         Rome 2001	    W 7-6(3)	 4-6	 7-6(5) 
Marat Safin (RUS) 	         Rome 2001	    W 4-6	 6-4	 7-6(5) 
Thomas Johansson (SWE) 	         Miami 2001	    W 7-6(3)	 5-7	 7-6(7) 
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 	         Basel 2000	    W 6-4	 5-7	 7-6(6) 
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 	         Marseille 2000	    W 6-2	 3-6	 7-6(5) 
Guillaume Raoux (FRA) 	         Rotterdam 1999	    W 6-7(4)	 7-5	 7-6(3) 
Jerome Golmard (FRA) 	         Marseille 1999	    W 6-7(6)	 7-6(5)	 7-6(5) 

Roger Federer losses

Richard Gasquet (FRA)       	Rome 2011	    L 6-4	 6-7(2)	 6-7(4) 		
Gael Monfils (FRA) 	        Paris 2010	    L 6-7(7)	 7-6(1)	 6-7(4) 		
Tomas Berdych (CZE) 	        Miami 2010	    L 4-6	 7-6(3)	 6-7(6) 		
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 	        Indian Wells 2010   L 7-5	 5-7	 6-7(4) 		
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 	Montreal 2009	    L 6-7(5)	 6-1	 6-7(3) 		
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 	        Cincinnati 2008	    L 6-7(6)	 6-4	 6-7(5) 		
Novak Djokovic (SRB) 	        Montreal 2007	    L 6-7(2)	 6-2	 6-7(2) 		
Guillermo Canas (ARG) 	        Miami 2007	    L 6-7(2)	 6-2	 6-7(5) 		
Rafael Nadal (ESP) 	        Rome 2006	    L 7-6(0)	 6-7(5)	 4-6	 6-2	 6-7(5) 
David Nalbandian (ARG) 	        Masters' Cup 2005   L 7-6(4)	 7-6(11) 2-6	 1-6	 6-7(3) 
Richard Gasquet (FRA) 	        Monte Carlo 2005    L 7-6(1)	 2-6	 6-7(8) 		
Andy Roddick (USA) 	        Montreal 2003	    L 4-6	 6-3	 6-7(3) 		
Albert Costa (ESP) 	        Miami 2003	    L 6-7(4)	 6-4	 6-7(7) 		
Jiri Novak (CZE) 	        Paris 2001	    L 4-6	 7-6(4)	 6-7(2) 		
Nicolas Kiefer (GER) 	        Moscow 2001	    L 3-6	 6-1	 6-7(4) 		
Patrick Rafter (AUS) 	        Halle 2001	    L 6-4	 6-7(6)	 6-7(4) 		
Nicolas Escude (FRA) 	        Rotterdam 2001	    L 5-7	 6-3	 6-7(5) 		
Marc Rosset (SUI) 	        Marseille 2000	    L 6-2	 3-6	 6-7(5)

 

[Dr. Frankenfed]

I have to admit that long sets are too much for me.
At the Wimbledon final 09 I was thrilled till 10:10, but
later I became so exhausted that I didn't care any longer about
the outcome of the match. So I definitely prefer the High Noon atmosphere of
a deciding TB shootout.

 

[n8]

I dont know .I dont want matches to be decided on 1-2 points .You can have a perfect serving day barely losing points on serve but lose the point at 65 in the fifth set TB and lose the match as a result

True, but tiebreakers do reduce one (perhaps unfair) advantage. The player serving second faces more pressure when serving at 6*-7 7*-8 etc. But the disadvantage to serving second in a tiebreaker is negligible or non-existent.

 

[oranges]

No, not many things better in tennis than five set epics. I detest 5th set TB.

 

[misty1]

yes, they should

 

[Filo V.]

Nope. Anti-climatic.

 

[Henry Chinaski]

great work as usual.

I can tolerate fifth set breakers as long it's just in 1 slam

 

[jcempire]

I dont know .I dont want matches to be decided on 1-2 points .You can have a perfect serving day barely losing points on serve but lose the point at 65 in the fifth set TB and lose the match as a result

I agree the most of it.. but 7 or 8 hours is not that good for tennis

 

[Kworb]

No I love epic advantage sets.

Except when it's between two guys who can't do any shot except serve.

 

[Action Jackson]

great work as usual.

I can tolerate fifth set breakers as long it's just in 1 slam

People who think a 5th set tiebreaker should happen at all Slams, just have short attention spans, you play it and win it properly, not in a penalty shootout.