Right so this post will combine the best matches of the Davis cup this year and the Olympics into one post so there will be five matches in total for the list rather than five each (as that could take a bit too long!).
So with that said let's get a move on and start the list....
5. Davis cup first round, Andy Murray d. Kei Nishikori, 7-5, 7-6, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3
Right, OK so to start off the list at No.5 is this classic between Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori as both men played against each other in this Davis cup first round epic encounter that would have potentially been the decider for team GB if they won.
As for the match itself it started with a very close first set but Andy made the key break to grab the set and take the early lead and he then went on to close out a very tense 2nd set in a tiebreak winning 8-6. However despite the two set lead, this was where Kei found extra reserves and started to fight back as he broke Andy in the 3rd set and took it along with the 4th set to level the match at two sets all.
And in the 5th set alarm balls started ringing as Andy went down a break early on to Kei but he soon managed to claw it back and got back on serve and play went on serve until Andy nabbed the crucial break and won the match and the tie with it as their battle came to an end in Andy's joint longest match in 4 hours and 54 minutes (along with his US Open 2012 final).
Well there is no doubt this a real nerve shredding classic of a match and it was also the toughest match by far that either player had played against each other as up until now all their matches had been decided in straight sets. And the match would also set the tone of their rivalry this year as they would continue to have some big clashes at the US Open and later the ATP World Tour Finals.
But here it was Andy that got over the line, having just become a dad only a few weeks earlier he looked tired and jaded at times in the match but his fighting spirit never waned here and ultimately got him over the line in what was a real classic that deserves its place at No.5.
4. Olympics semi final, Juan Martin del Potro d. Rafael Nadal, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6
At No.4 is this match which was between two of the biggest warriors in the men's game today, the former US Open champion, Juan Martin del Potro vs the 14 time major champ and former Olympic gold singles medalist, Rafa Nadal. And to say this match was dramatic is something of an understatment as both men played an absolute blinder infront of a very fired up and passionate crowd as the Argentine fans and the Brazilian fans created a real cauldron in the Olympic tennis stadium.
The match began with a very close battle between both men in the opening set and it was a late break of serve that separated both men in the match as Rafa grabbed the first set. In the 2nd set however, Delpo mounted his fightback and he got Rafa where he wanted him and broke serve to level the match. In the 3rd set though both men played some absolutely enthralling tennis for the near uncontrollable crowd who were nothing but vocal in their passion for the match. And both men traded breaks of serve later on as play eventually went to a deciding tiebreak that saw Delpo emerge the victor as he reached his first Olympic final after a stunning thee set win.
You simply can't deny this match was a tremendous contest from both players and neither player gave an inch in the final set as they went for broke to try and break each other and it really was nip and tuck as they were both backed and riled by a very vociferous crowd.
And in the end it was a match that really heralded the return of form for del Potro as a player to be truly reckoned with on the tour and he went into the final tired but with the knowledge he could on his day beat anyone infront of him
So there is no doubt for me this was one of the best matches of the Rio Olympics this year and it more than deserves a spot on here.
3. Davis cup semi final, Juan Martin del Potro d. Andy Murray, 6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
At No.3 is another huge epic marathon of a match that saw Argentina and Great Britain clash at the Davis cup semi finals in Glasgow and this produced an absolute classic in the form of this match between Andy Murray and once again big Delpo (who will appear in this list ALOT!).
This match was highly anticipated by everyone given the quality of their Olympic gold medal final the month before and it sure did not disappoint as both men produced tennis of the highest level for a thrilled crowd.
As for the first match itself, the 1st set saw Andy get off to a bad start as Delpo broke his serve and he went on to confidently serve out for the opener. In the 2nd set however Andy finally managed to penetrate big Delpo's serve and he went on to level the match at a set all and he then went one better and grabbed a very tense and close 3rd set on a tiebreak (7-5 to Andy).
However just as it appeared that Andy had the ascendancy in the match, Delpo clawed his way back in again as he nabbed yet another break of Andy's serve and he went to square the match at two sets apiece. And in the 5th set all it took was one careless drop of serve for Andy and he soon found himself on the losing end of a marathon match that was the longest of either player's careers that saw Argentina take an early 1-0 lead in the tie with Delpo winning the match in just over 5 hours.
Well this was undoubtedly one of the best matches of the year and it was also the longest match of either men's careers as I already said, which no doubt would have taken a hell of a lot out of them and when you think about it that was about the length of three and a half football matches alone!
But the match also even further cemented the return of form for Juan Martin del Potro as he beat Andy Murray, one of the best players in the world and the now current World No.1 and if you think about it, Delpo was the last man to actually beat Andy so that is saying quite alot!
So for team GB it was a bitter loss that ultimately cost them the tie and their title but as an individual match it was an absolute cracker and it more than deserves its place on here.
2. Rio Olympics gold medal final, Andy Murray d. Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
Right now some may argue this match may deserve to be ranked lower than the previous one but I guess I'm probably a bit biased given that I am an Andy Murray fan, I had to put this amazing match at the No.2 spot on this list. And the match itself was an incredible and memorable finish to the 2016 Rio Olympics tennis event that saw two of the world's very best battle it out for the gold medal.
The match itself did get off to a little bit of a slow start as Delpo did look somewhat jaded from his efforts against Rafa in the semi final and Andy got off to a quick start and grabbed the early break. However it wasn't long before the sleeping giant in Delpo woke up and he broke back Andy to keeps things going but it wasn't too long before Andy broke the big man again and took the opening set. In the 2nd set however, Andy got careless on serve once again and this time Delpo held onto the break and levelled the match to go one set all.
The 3rd set however saw Andy put his foot to the pedal and he took advantage of a seemingly exhausted Delpo who looked to be on his last legs and Andy took a double break to nab a two sets to one lead. However in the 4th set, Delpo looked like a man reborn as he reasserted himself and he broke Andy early on however both men would go on to trade breaks of serve and it wasn't until Andy pounced on Delpo at 5-5 to get the final key break and he went on to serve out an emotionally and physically draining rollercoaster of a match that secured Andy his 2nd Olympic gold medal.
Well there is giving everything of yourself and then some and this match was then some from both men as Andy went into this match the fresher of the two but Delpo despite his fatigue gave his absolute all of what he had left in him and together both men produced an incredible and unforgettable battle.
The match had also been played in another cauldron-esque atmosphere with the passionate Argentine fans backing Delpo and the Brazilians naturally backing Andy(!) so it made for another fiercely vocal evening of tennis from the packed crowd.
But there is no doubt that both guys here put on quite a display and Juan Martin del Potro further proved that despite the defeat he is one of the most talented, dynamic and watchable players the sport has ever seen and his comeback from injury this year has been remarkable and winning that silver medal was proof of that even further in this match.
As for Andy, well he put it all on the line too and he showed yet again why he is a great champion and like he did at the Wimbledon final this year, he showed his tears and raw emotion at the end before claiming that Olympic gold medal.
So there you go, this match had the whole lot going on and for me it was easily one of the best of the year and that's why it takes the runner-up spot.
But....as for the best Davis cup/Olympics tennis match of the year the No.1 spot belongs to....
1. Davis cup final, Juan Martin del Potro d. Marin Cilic, 6-7, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3
Yep, this vital Davis cup final match between big Delpo (God he's in four of the matches on this list!) and Marin Cilic takes the top spot as it was easily one of the very best matches of the year and undoubtedly THE best Davis cup match of the season. Period.
This match was a mammoth contest between two big serving giants currently in the game and both of these guys are man mountains standing at 6ft 6" each so there was very little in it in terms of their physical status and their movement, ability around the net or their serves. This was in many ways the perfect match-up for anyone tennis to watch and it sure did not disappoint in the slightest.
As for a summary of the match itself, it began with Cilic on fire as he quickly broke an undercooked Delpo to grab a 3-0 lead. However it wasn't too long before Delpo started to find his feet and clawed his way back into the set and things eventually went to a tiebreak but Cilic again dominated play and he won his first set in three years against the Argentine to give Croatia the lead. And in the 2nd set it was more of the same from Cilic, who was firing on all cylinders and he was ruthlessly efficient in his serving and breaking the del Potro serve twice to take the two sets to love lead.
However as things started to look pretty bleak for Argentina with only one set away from defeat and Croatia's 2nd Davis cup title, Delpo played an incredible hotdog lob at the start of the 3rd that seemed to get him going and he started to hold firm and get his serve working. And this soon created the spark big Delpo needed to break Cilic's serve at 6-5 and take the 3rd set to keep Argentina alive in the tie and trail two sets to one. And Delpo was not yet finished either as he then went on to break Cilic again to level the match at two sets all.
And in the 5th set, which made the first two sets seem like ages ago, Delpo for the first time in the match moved ahead at 4-3 with Cilic serving to level 4-4, Delpo pounced and took a break of the Cilic serve to go 5-3 up and serve for the match. And serve for the match, Delpo surely did and with that he completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in Davis cup history as the big Argentine secured his country's hopes to stay alive in the tie with an amazing five set win.
This for me was one of the best, if not THE single best match of the year and it could easily have been the last match of the season had del Potro not gone on to win it. And it was also the first time that del Potro was able to come back from two sets down to win a five set match in his career and after the match you could see how choked up he was with emotion when he won it. It was yet again another example of Delpo's natural ability to battle it out in any match and frankly without him they couldn't have won the title.
As for Cilic well this no doubt would have been a very tough loss for him to take just like his defeat to Roger Federer earlier this year at Wimbledon where he was in the same position with a two set lead he would then go on to lose. And from here unfortunately, Croatia realistically didn't have a way back once Federico Delbonis put in one last terrific performance to seal the tie that was it.
But as for the match itself it was an amazing contest from start to finish and even though Delpo got off to a slow start he soon battled his way back in and eventually got the job done after nearly five hours of the best quality tennis you will probably ever be likely to see. And both men played their parts for sure and they both deserve all the credit for putting together an absolute classic match.
So for me this match deserves the top spot as it was of the highest quality and it was shining example of why tennis is one of the best sports out there.
Right! Phew! That was a lot of typing today with three posts in one day!
Anyway so that's it for another year of tennis and I will be back on this blog again next year once the 2017 season get's under way and I will probably be back with my pick of the favourites for the Australian open in January.
So, till next year have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and see you in 2017!
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