I’m backkk for the annual countdown of my favourite matches of the year. I am still keen to keep some of my season ending posts going! This is by no means a complete list and any omissions are not intentional. I don’t include matches that I haven’t watched. It’s more difficult to watch back matches these days due to the lack of catch-up options. I am still mourning the loss of Amazon Prime’s tennis coverage in the UK 😭. All previous countdowns of my favourite matches since 2011 can be found on MTB here.

10. Iga Swiatek d. Elena Rybakina, 7-6(8) 6-2 (Doha, Final)

Considering it was blowing an absolute gale in Doha, this was a great final. Swiatek and Rybakina were both crunching the ball. I adore the sound of the ball off Rybakina’s racquet – her groundstrokes are so pure 😍. This final was all about the first set as Swiatek managed to recover a double break against a peaking Rybakina and then edge it on the tiebreak. Swiatek would go onto win the final in straights and claim a third consecutive title in Doha.

9. Elina Svitolina d. Emma Raducanu, 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 6-1 (Auckland, R2)

I love the first few weeks of the tennis season when everything feels new and exciting. Svitolina said in her press conference that this was one of the best matches she has a been a part of. The second set was fantastic and so many of the points were ended on winners. Despite running out of steam in the third set, it was an encouraging display from Raducanu who showed promise in pockets during the 2024 season.

8. Anna Blinkova d. Elena Rybakina, 6-4 4-6 7-6(20) (Australian Open, R2)

I debated whether to include this match in my countdown because for two and a half sets it was a pretty average match. The deciding set tiebreak alone, a record-breaking longest in Slam singles history, elevated this match to one of the most memorable of the entire season. It was captivating, edge-of-your-seat stuff as the pair traded match points and both played fearlessly when their back was against the wall.

Rybakina had six match points. Blinkova had two serving for the match at *6-5 and another seven (!) in the deciding set tiebreak before finally converting on her 10th match point. All the way along, I thought Blinkova would, well, blink. But she proved me wrong and showed remarkable resilience to keep plugging away and going after her shots when it felt like the opportunity may have passed her by.

7. Danielle Collins d. Elena Rybakina, 7-5 6-3 (Miami, Final)

One of my favourite tennis stories of the year was when Danielle Collins went on an absolute tear in the Spring. The American player won 15 consecutive matches including back-to-back titles in Miami and Charleston. The Miami final was one of those rare hard-hitting clashes where the balls were mostly landing in and both were playing really well at the same time. Buoyed by the home crowd, Collins managed to drag herself across the finish line in a nailbiting final game. It was such a clutch display against one of the in-form players on tour.

I’m thrilled to see that Collins, who announced in January that she would retire at the end of the season, has decided to continue playing in 2025. Collins has become one of my favourite players – I admire how she is unapologetically herself and doesn’t give two hoots what anyone thinks about her. She was a great watch throughout the entirety of 2024. I’m hoping I might get to watch her live in 2025 having narrowly missed the opportunity on multiple occasions this year.

6. Aryna Sabalenka d. Jessica Pegula, 7-5 7-5 (US Open, Final)

An indicator of a good match is one that I will stay up for. I’m old and sleep beats tennis 95% of the time. The US Open final was one of those rare late night matches that I couldn’t switch off. This was my favourite Slam final of 2024 although in truth there wasn’t much competition!

Considering it was Pegula’s first Slam final she really came out swinging. Pegula rallied from deficits in both sets to give herself a fighting chance to win them both. On both occasions, Sabalenka reset. I think one of Sabalenka’s greatest attributes is her ability to overcome setbacks. There have been countless moments where Sabalenka must have developed scar tissue, such as the 2023 US Open, but she just keeps on coming back and I really admire that. It was a superbly contested final and I would have been happy with any outcome.

5. Aryna Sabalenka d. Elena Rybakina, 1-6 7-5 7-6(5) (Madrid, SF)

Rybakina was a few points away from a 100% record against Sabalenka in 2024. Rybakina had crushed Sabalenka in the Brisbane final at the start of the year and was dominating again in Madrid before Sabalenka mounted a stirring comeback. Rybakina had her chances to close this match out in straight sets but showed some uncharacteristic nerves with a bad miss late in the second set when she was close to victory. Like the US Open final, I just had to stay up and see the end!

4. Jasmine Paolini d. Madison Keys, 6-3 6-7(6) 5-5 ret. (Wimbledon, R4)

This was another match that I debated about its inclusion. It ended in heartbreaking fashion with Keys having to retire due to a hamstring injury. However, it was a fantastic match up until that point and I enjoyed it immensely if you remove the last 10 minutes from memory.

The pocket rocket Paolini captured the imagination of the crowds this year at Wimbledon with her powerful game. It was fascinating to see Paolini go toe-to-toe with Keys, one of the biggest ball strikers on tour, and actually outhit her in the first set. And this was a decent version of Keys. The roof was on and the sound of the balls being struck was beautiful. Chuck in some rain and thunder and it was absolute theatre!

It was a well contested match between two players who I would generally root for. The end of the second set was absolute PEAK. The ending still scars me though and I tortured myself by watching it back again – why did I go and do that?! Keys was just two points away from the win and a first ever Wimbledon quarter-final. I really hope Keys can break that Wimby barricade one day. Who knows, when she does it, the flood gates might open and she’ll go and win the whole caboodle.

3. Iga Swiatek d. Naomi Osaka, 7-6(1) 1-6 7-5 (French Open, R2)

The highest profile match of the 2024 Slam year was undoubtedly Swiatek-Osaka from a miserably wet Rolly G. Some matches I remember more than the others for the setting. I was on holiday with the family. I remember racing back to the hotel in the evening with my brother and niece to watch the final set on a glitchy screen with commentary that we could not comprehend. Good times.

Swiatek hadn’t lost at the French Open since 2021 and Osaka had only shown glimpses of her Slam-winning brilliance during the first half of 2024. Osaka brought her best level to this match and had Swiatek well and truly on the ropes. There is such a pureness to Osaka’s ballstriking when she is in the zone. The second set was one of best individual set performances of the entire season. Osaka landed 85% of first serves in play and hit 10 winners to 2 unforced errors as she dished out a breadstick to Swiatek.

Osaka really should have won all three sets, having had a set point in the first set and then a match point in the third set. It was only a sprinkling of errors when the finish line came into sight that was ultimately her undoing. It was a really gritty display from Swiatek to hang in the third set. If Swiatek had lost the game down 1-4 in the third set then I think it was curtains for her. The resilience in a tight match is not something I always associate with Swiatek who, unsurprisingly, didn’t drop another set en route to her third consecutive French Open title.

An outstanding match. Everything crossed that, not only do we see this match-up again, but Osaka can find this level on a more consistent basis.

2. Jasmine Paolini d. Donna Vekic, 2-6 6-4 7-6(8) (Wimbledon, SF)

A monologue incoming. I don’t blog anymore so bear with… I always like to include a match in the countdown that I have watched live. It’s been slim pickings from my recent tennis trips. That is until 2024 as this is the highest ranked live match in my countdown since 2013 (Hantuchova-Schiavone from Birmingham 😍).

My Mum managed to get semi-final tickets for Wimbledon this year. I don’t know how Mum did it but they were probably the best seats we’ve ever had on Centre Court in decades of trying. I was too self conscious to eat crisps because we were so close to the court. We spent the months running up to the day shouting our seat numbers (G11 and G12!) at each other. We were excited and spent the two weeks prior predicting who we might see and wanted to see. Coco Gauff? Ons Jabeur? Aryna Sabalenka? Emma Raducanu? Danielle Collins? Of course all of our predictions and hopes went flying out the window.

It was an unexpected semi-final line-up and to be honest, not one that captured my imagination on paper (yes, i’m an ungrateful dick). It’s often the case though that some of the best matches are the ones that you weren’t hyped for and go in with low expectations. The first semi-final between Paolini and Vekic was an absolute cracker. It was also a record breaker as it narrowly eclipsed Serena Williams vs. Elena Dementieva as the longest women’s Wimbledon semi-final in history at two hours and 51 minutes. I spent the last half an hour of the match shaking and annoying my mum by constantly telling her that we were witnessing history right in front of our eyes.

Vekic was fearless in the beginning and dominated the early exchanges, either with her forehand or the crafty little drop shot. Paolini was second best for much of the match and by her own admissions, didn’t serve very well. Yet Paolini would would not budge as she fought to stay in contention with a performance of tenacity and guile that was adored by the crowd.

I think the turning point of the match was at 4-4 in the second set when Paolini somehow managed to salvage the ball from a Vekic drop shot-lob combo which the Croatian player then sent wide with her smash. Paolini, with a spring in her step, forced a deciding set.

The final set was a wild ride. Vekic, who had twice led by a break in the decider, saved match points (one at 4-5 and another one at 5-6) to force a deciding set tiebreak. Both players deserved to win. It was Paolini who won the final three points of the match to secure her place in a first Wimbledon final. I felt so bad for Vekic who played her heart out and produced some sensational tennis with her back against the wall while clearly bothered by a forearm injury and wrought with tension. I’ll never forget Vekic’s second match point and struggling to breathe. The tension was palpable and I was in awe of both players and how they handled the occasion.

We had such a wonderful time at Wimbledon and it was one of my favourite days of 2024. If you fancy watching back the entire match then you can do so here. I’ve watched back twice and loved listening to the commentary from Nick Mullins, Ash Barty (😍) and Tracy Austin.

1. Iga Swiatek d. Aryna Sabalenka, 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) (Madrid, Final)

So, I hate the Madrid tournament with a passion 😂. I’ve always loathed it with their blatant disrespect to the WTA and appalling scheduling. I have no interest in ever visiting to the tournament. Begrudgingly, I have to admit that the Madrid tournament this year was an absolute banger. I’ve featured four matches in this post but it could have been more.

I tend to deliberate endlessly on my match of the year. This year was as clear cut as it gets. I think this was the best match of the decade so far. I don’t have a great deal to add because it felt pretty close to a perfect match. Both were playing their best tennis at the same time for large chunks of the match. It also had a fitting crescendo as the pair went back-and-forth in the third set tiebreak. Swiatek eventually prevailed after saving three match points.

Last year’s Madrid final between Swiatek and Sabalenka was brilliant (#8 on my countdown) and this was even better. On my tennis wishlist for 2025 is a Swiatek-Sabalenka Slam final. We’re in for a treat if it’s half as good as this match.

Best of the rest:

Aryna Sabalenka d. Coco Gauff, 7-6(2) 6-4 (Australian Open, SF): The best quality match from a rather underwhelming Australian Open.

Daria Kasatkina d. Beatriz Haddad Maia, 6-3 4-6 7-6(2) (Abu Dhabi, SF): An excellent contest with an exciting finish. Both their matches went the distance in 2024.

Jessica Pegula d. Victoria Azarenka, 6-4 3-6 7-6(7) (Charleston, QF): Charleston is the best and had some great matches this year. This one could have gone either way with both players having match points.

Iga Swiatek d. Emma Raducanu, 7-6(2) 6-3 (Stuttgart, QF): A high quality match and so many exciting points. Underrated.

Aryna Sabalenka d. Robin Montgomery, 6-1 6-7(5) 6-4 (Madrid, R2): One of those matches that I didn’t have high expectations for that turned out to be really entertaining. Montgomery is one to watch.

Aryna Sabalenka d. Danielle Collins, 6-4 4-6 6-3 (Madrid, R3): This was a good time.

Bianca Andreescu d. Naomi Osaka, 6-4 3-6 7-6(3) (Rosmalen, QF): We’ve only seen this match-up twice but both times it’s been a cracker.

Karolina Pliskova d. Ons Jabeur, 7-6(8) 6-7(3) 7-5 (Nottingham, QF): A classic grass court match – high quality tennis and dominated by serve.

Katie Boulter d. Emma Raducanu, 6-7(13) 6-3 6-4 (Nottingham, SF): The first set was a great watch. Tempted to try out Nottingham next year.

Karolina Muchova d. Aryna Sabalenka, 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4 (Beijing, SF): One of my favourite match-ups on tour. Their last three meetings have all gone the distance and Muchova has come out on top!