Top 5 matches with most unexpected upsets in tennis history

Tennis is a sport of precision, confidence and mental strength — and this is exactly why unexpected upsets become unforgettable. When a lower-ranked player defeats a legendary champion, the whole tennis world stops. These shocking matches redefine careers, create new stars, and remind fans that rankings and predictions don’t matter once the racket meets the ball.
Some upsets have been so dramatic that they changed the course of tennis history, becoming permanent memories for fans across generations. 

Here are the top 5 most unexpected upsets in tennis history, where underdogs shocked champions on the biggest stages.

1. Rafael Nadal vs Robin Söderling – 2009 French Open (Round 4)

This match is considered the most shocking upset in modern tennis. Rafael Nadal had never lost a match at Roland-Garros and was the four-time defending champion on clay, a surface where he was nearly unbeatable. Robin Söderling, ranked outside the top 20, played aggressive and fearless tennis, hitting powerfully from both wings.
Nadal seemed unusually off-rhythm, while Söderling delivered the match of his life, defeating him in four sets. The tennis world was stunned because Nadal was almost seen as invincible on clay. This upset opened the door for Roger Federer to win his first and only French Open.

2. Serena Williams vs Roberta Vinci – 2015 US Open (Semi-Final)

Serena Williams was chasing the Calendar Grand Slam and was expected by everyone to win easily. Roberta Vinci, an unseeded Italian player, was considered no threat and had never reached such a big stage before.
Serena won the first set, but Vinci stunned the world with her variety, slices and net play, completely unsettling Serena’s rhythm. Vinci’s emotional victory ended Serena’s dream of achieving a historic record and shocked millions of fans worldwide. It became one of the greatest upsets in women’s tennis history.

3. Novak Djokovic vs Denis Istomin – 2017 Australian Open (Round 2)

Novak Djokovic had dominated the Australian Open for years and was the six-time champion. Denis Istomin, ranked outside the top 100 and playing as a wildcard, was not expected to win even a single set. Instead, he played extraordinary tennis, matching Djokovic shot for shot in long rallies.
The five-set thriller ended with Istomin triumphing in one of the most surprising results ever seen in Melbourne. The upset was shocking because Djokovic was nearly unbeatable at the Australian Open and lost to a player who had never before beaten a top-10 opponent in a Grand Slam.

4. Pete Sampras vs George Bastl – 2002 Wimbledon (Round 2)

Pete Sampras, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, was known as the “King of Grass.” George Bastl, ranked outside the top 100, entered the tournament as a lucky loser and was considered an easy early-round opponent.
In a stunning match, Bastl played fearless tennis while Sampras struggled to find his usual rhythm. Bastl defeated him in five sets, causing one of the biggest shocks in Wimbledon’s long history. For fans, it was emotional because it symbolized the nearing end of Sampras’ legendary career at the All-England Club.

5. Steffi Graf vs Lori McNeil – 1994 Wimbledon (1st Round)

Steffi Graf entered Wimbledon as the defending champion and world number one, with a powerful reputation on grass. Lori McNeil, although a talented player, was not expected to trouble Graf in the opening round.
But McNeil played aggressively, rushing the net and not allowing Graf to dictate play. Graf looked uncomfortable from the beginning, and McNeil completed the upset in straight sets. This was historic because it was the first time in the Open Era that a defending women’s Wimbledon champion lost in the first round.

Cover Credits - Sky Sports