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Top five men's Wimbledon matches

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Sports Mole looks back over five of the best matches from the men's game at Wimbledon.

Tomorrow morning arguably the most famous Grand Slam of them all will get underway in London.

The Wimbledon history books are replete with great matches from down the years, so on the eve of the tournament, Sports Mole has selected five encounters from the men's game that have stuck in our memory.

George Bastl 6–3 6–2 4–6 3–6 6–4 Pete Sampras, 2002

Court Two at Wimbledon has for a long time been known as the graveyard of champions, but nobody expected seven-time winner Sampras to be added to that list - especially after he had overturned a two-set deficit to level up proceedings. However, world number 145 from Switzerland Bastl broke in the ninth game of the fifth set and then held to book his place in round three of the competition.

It prompted this response from BBC Sport commentator John Lloyd: "That is the worse grasscourt match I have seen Pete Sampras play. It is a staggering result, one of the biggest shocks in Wimbledon history."

Goran Ivanisevic 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7 Patrick Rafter, 2001

Such had been the fall of Ivanisevic that he required a wildcard just to compete at SW19 in 2001. However, the world number 125 grabbed the opportunity with both hands, defeating Carlos Moya, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Tim Henman on his way to becoming the first wildcard to win Wimbledon (or any Grand Slam) in a five-setter against Australian Rafter.

Lukas Rosol 6-7 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 Rafael Nadal, 2012

Upon knocking out Nadal in the second round, Rosol said: "I don't know what to say. I'm not just surprised but it's like a miracle. I never expected something like this. There are so many emotions - I don't know what to say."

Granted, two-time champion Nadal was suffering with a knee problem, but nothing can be taken away from Rosol, who powered down ace after ace on his way to winning this epic five-set clash.

Bjorn Borg 1-6 7-5 6-3 6-7 8-6 John McEnroe, 1980

The greatest tie-breaker in Wimbledon history? Probably. Borg had five championship points, while McEnroe spurned six set points before the American eventually forced the match into a deciding fifth set in what was a 34-point breaker.

Things were equally as dramatic during the final set, but 19 straight points on serve from Borg saw him prevail, thus taking his fifth successive title. The greatest match ever? Not according to one man who was involved...

Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7 Roger Federer, 2008

That accolade, in McEnroe's opinion, goes to the 2008 final between Nadal and Federer. R-Fed had won the last two SW19 finals against Nadal, but now it was the Spaniard's time to shine.

In a final that had everything - rain delays, controversial calls and spurned championship points from Nadal - the two players could barely see as darkness descended over London when Federer found the net to hand his opponent the title at 9.15pm.

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