Top 5 Grand Slam finals from the 2010s decade

#1 2019 Wimbledon: Djokovic beat Federer 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12(4)

Djokovic lifts his 5th Wimbledon title in 2019

Four hours and 10 minutes into the 2019 Wimbledon men's singles final, Roger Federer had broken Novak Djokovic at 7-7 in the fifth, served up consecutive aces, and arrived at 40-15 with two championship points. Two championship points on serve, to be more specific.

One swing of the racquet separated Federer from a record-extending ninth Wimbledon title and a 21st Grand Slam. A 15,000-strong partisan Centre Court Crowd waited with bated anticipation for this very moment. Television and mobile phone cameras primed up to capture the slice of history. The much loved Federer was on the cusp of another Wimbledon title, 16 long years after he had captured his first.

A wide forehand from Federer drew collective groans. First championship point squandered.

The Swiss seemingly made the right play on the second, attacking the Djokovic forehand and venturing into forecourt, hoping to seal the point, the match and the title with a volley into an open court.

Djokovic though had other ideas. A rasping crosscourt pass tantalizingly eluded Federer's racquet and skimmed the sideline.

Deuce. Two championship points had come and gone. Two points later, it was eight games all.

The moment had come and gone in a flash for Federer. Centre Court descended into stunned silence.

You may also like: 8 tournaments where Federer has had the most missed opportunities

To his credit though, the Swiss stayed strong on serve, and laid siege on the Djokovic serve again in the 23rd game of the set. At 11 games all, Djokovic led 40-0, only to be reeled back by Federer, who forced two break points.

The partisan crowd roared in approval again. Another opportunity loomed for Federer to break Djokovic and serve for the championship for a second time. But yet again, Djokovic slammed the door shut.

Federer held serve to hold for 12 games all.

The Wimbledon final now ventured into uncharted territory. For the first time in the history of the tournament, there wouldn't be a timeless fifth set. And for the third time in the match, Federer lost a tiebreak; Djokovic broke many a Centre Court heart to become the first player since the Swiss himself to lift five titles at the grasscourt Major.

On the day, Federer could not have played a better match. He edged the Serb in most of the stats like first serve points won, second serve points won, aces, break points converted, but it mattered not in the eventual scheme of things as Djokovic dug deep to hang around with the Swiss before winning all three tiebreaks.

A match which could have ended at the four-hour mark instead became the longest Wimbledon final at 4 hours and 57 minutes, as Federer suffered his fourth final defeat at his 'home' Slam.