Top 10 Most Memorable Tennis Rivalries of the Decade

A rivalry is, by definition, “competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.” They can be one-sided or incredibly close but are always characterised with high levels of intensity. This article will countd own the Top 10 most memorable Tennis rivalries over the last 10 years. 

In order to be considered the rivalry must have met all the following criteria:

• Both players must have a decade-high ranking of No.3 or better
• At least one player must have reached No.1 this decade
• Both must have met multiple times in SF/F stages of Grand Slams this decade
• At least 12 career match-ups this decade

This criteria shortlisted the number of eligible rivalries to just 18, of which I have chosen the 10 that will be remembered the most. So without further a o, here are the Top 10 most memorable rivalries of this decade…

10. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland)

• Overall H2H this decade: 12 – 4 
  • Grand Slams: 4 – 4
  • ATP Finals: 2 – 0
  • Summer Olympics: 0 – 0
  • Other Tournaments: 6 – 0

9. Maria Sharapova (Russia) vs. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)

• Overall H2H this decade: 6 – 6 
  • Grand Slams: 1 – 2
  • WTA Finals: 1 – 0
  • Summer Olympics: 0 – 0
  • Other Tournaments: 4 – 4

8. Serena Williams (USA) vs. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)

• Overall H2H this decade: 15 – 3 
  • Grand Slams: 7 – 0
  • WTA Finals: 1 – 0
  • Summer Olympics: 1 – 0
  • Other Tournaments: 6 – 3

7. Serena Williams (USA) vs. Maria Sharapova (Russia)

• Overall H2H this decade: 15 – 0 
  • Grand Slams: 6 – 0
  • WTA Finals: 1 – 0
  • Summer Olympics: 1 – 0
  • Other Tournaments: 7 – 0

6. Roger Federer (Switzerland) vs. Andy Murray (Great Britain)

• Overall H2H this decade: 10 – 5 
  • Grand Slams: 4 – 1
  • ATP Finals: 3 – 0
  • Summer Olympics: 0 – 1
  • Other Tournaments: 3 – 3

5. Rafael Nadal (Spain) vs. Andy Murray (Great Britain)

• Overall H2H this decade: 10 – 5 
  • Grand Slams: 5 – 1
  • ATP Finals: 2 – 0
  • Summer Olympics: 0 – 0
  • Other Tournaments: 3 – 4

4. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Andy Murray (Great Britain)

• Overall H2H this decade: 21 – 8 
  • Grand Slams: 8 – 2
  • ATP Finals: 1 – 1
  • Summer Olympics: 0 – 1
  • Other Tournaments: 12 – 4

3. Rafael Nadal (Spain) vs. Roger Federer (Switzerland)

• Overall H2H this decade: 11 – 9 
  • Grand Slams: 4 – 2
  • ATP Finals: 1 – 2
  • Summer Olympics: 0 – 0
  • Other Tournaments: 6 – 5

2. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Roger Federer (Switzerland)

• Overall H2H this decade: 21 – 14 
  • Grand Slams: 9 – 2
  • ATP Finals: 3 – 3
  • Summer Olympics: 0 – 0
  • Other Tournaments: 9 – 7

1. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Rafael Nadal (Spain)

• Overall H2H this decade: 21 – 12 
  • Grand Slams: 6 – 5
  • ATP Finals: 2 – 1
  • Summer Olympics: 0 – 0
  • Other Tournaments: 13 – 6

To summarise, the most memorable rivalries of the 2010s are as follows:

1. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Roger Federer (Switzerland) 
3. Rafael Nadal (Spain) vs. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
4. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Andy Murray (Great Britain)
5. Rafael Nadal (Spain) vs. Andy Murray (Great Britain)
6. Roger Federer (Switzerland) vs. Andy Murray (Great Britain)
7. Serena Williams (USA) vs. Maria Sharapova (Russia)
8. Serena Williams (USA) vs. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
9. Maria Sharapova (Russia) vs. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
10. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland)

What are the rivalries you will remember most from this decade? Let me know in the comments below!