Wimbledon: 10 greatest matches in history

#7 Novotna brought to tears by Graf: Steffi Graf def Jana Novotna 7-6, 1-6, 6-4 in 1993 ladies final

Steffi Graf won the 1978 crown after falling behind a set to people’s surpsise

The best player in the world, and darling of the crowd, Steffi Graf came into this match, confident of reeling off another easy victory against a much less fancied Jana Novotna.Contrary to belief and form though, the match went in a completely opposite direction. Novotna won the first set in a tie-break 7-6 and stunned the crowd. In the second, Graf hit back in a way she knew best, steamrolling her opponent 6-1.

In the decisive third, Novotna had the match all but won. Graf unexpectedly floundered and was trailing 1-4. Novotna was just a point away from taking an almost unassailable lead of 5-1. It was there for the taking but Graf had other ideas.

The pressure seemed to be too much for Novotna to take who made too many unforced errors and allowed Graf, with her relentless forehand, to fight back to win the set 7-5 and thus the match.

Novotna could not hold back her emotions and openly wept, thinking of what might have been.