Men's Tennis: Top 5 Most Entertaining Straight-Set Matches of 2011

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Tennis is always meant to be competitive on the tour, although viewers also get to experience fun and entertainment.

This year has already proven to be a tough season with many lengthy and multiple-set wins and losses.

However, some matches go overlooked—these matches—in which the scoreline reveals a straight-set outcome although the quality was rather amusing or held much interest—are the foundation for why tennis fans love the sport and come out to watch and support it.

Here are the top five most entertaining matches from 2011 that ended in straight-set fashion (note: the top three men's players in the world take up all of the attention).

Honorable Mention: Gasquet Shows Djokovic That He Can Compete

The scoreline involved Novak Djokovic winning 6-2, 6-4.

However, Richard Gasquet was up an early break in each set and hung in the baseline rallies with his tough opponent.

5. Federer Puts on a Clinic

Winner winner chicken dinner—this was indicative of the way Federer came out guns-blazing against Juan Monaco, who is usually a formidable opponent.

That night was not Monaco's night. It was all Federer's who did not even face a break point the whole match.

This highlights reel isn't even partisan towards Federer; I just don't recall Monaco even hitting a winner the entire night.

4. Golubev Gives Nadal a Stern Test

Andrey Golubev, who most viewers hadn't heard of at the time, had the opportunity to win two sets against Rafael Nadal but could not maintain his level as the fierce competitor came marching back time and time again.

3. Aussie Aussie Aussie

Way before Novak Djokovic and Bernard Tomic further blew up on the tennis scene, there was the beginning of the 2011 Australian Open.

Djokovic and Tomic would go on to prove their improvement at Wimbledon, but when the Australian made it to the third round at this Slam, the home crowd got ecstatic.

His unique style matched up against Nadal's nicely, and he even had a double break 4-0 lead in the second set before succumbing to his straight-set loss.

2. The All-Spanish Affair

Although Rafael Nadal had a small nagging injury that day during the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, it is still hard to imagine him knocking David Ferrer out of the draw.

Ferrer and his scrappy play proved too tough that day, and this video further emphasizes the aggression he took to the court.

1. Dolgopolov Makes a Statement

What do you get when you cross raw talent, unique shot selection to accompany shots and strokes, and the most entertaining "loss" of the year?

Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Had he won that first set against Djokovic, who knows what could have happened? Well, for starters, he wouldn't have been included in this slideshow and that is definitely more important to the Ukrainian.