Australian Open 2012: 4 Greatest Rivalries in Tennis History

Tennis is one of the most enthralling sports to watch when you have two top-class players who continually battle it out for the most coveted prizes on offer.

When their personalities are on display and the public are split on who they are rooting for, you have the ingredients for a classic rivalry.

Together, both players captivate not only hardcore tennis fans but those with just a passing interest too.

Here are four of the greatest rivalries to grace the court in tennis history.

4. Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe

Simply unforgettable were the encounters between these two great players.

John McEnroe brought the fiery, passionate personality, while Bjorn Borg was an ice-cold magician who provided some mesmeric shots.

The pair faced off 14 times between 1978-1981 and shared the spoils with seven victories apiece.

A sign of how equally matched the pair of them were: Borg would take an enthralling five-set thriller. McEnroe would not lie down and came back to avenge his demons with a four-set win at Wimbledon in 1981.

Between them they claimed 18 Grand Slams, with Borg triumphing 11 times and McEnroe a mere seven.

3. Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi

Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi dominated a decade of tennis in the 1990s.

Sampras was known for his mechanical game and big-serving approach, while Agassi brought a degree of artistry and a more infectious personality.

The pair met 34 times, and Sampras triumphed with 20 victories.

Furthermore, Sampras won four of their five Grand Slam final meetings to emphatically lay claim to the winner of this rivalry on the tennis court.

Especially when you consider Sampras ended his career with 14 Grand Slams and Agassi managed just eight. On the other hand, Agassi was able to claim all four throughout his career, whereas Sampras missed out on the French Open.

Agassi, though, was almost certainly the winner off the court with millions of adoring fans.

2. Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer

One of the most captivating rivalries in sport this century.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have brought tennis to the wider public after becoming major celebrities.

Nadal is the more athletic, flamboyant player against Federer's subtle touch and wizardry.

The pair have met 26 times, and Rafa has triumphed with 17 victories.

In those encounters, 19 have been finals, 13 of them claimed by Rafa.

Federer, though, has 16 Grand Slams in total, whereas Nadal has just 10.

1. Stefan Edberg vs. Boris Becker

This is a matchup that has been replicated to a degree by the Federer-Nadal rivalry.

Boris Becker is aligned similarly to Rafael Nadal, whereas Stefan Edberg resembles Roger Federer.

They met 35 times, and Becker was able to get the better of his contemporary with 25 wins.

They will be most known for their classic matches at Wimbledon, meeting in the final there in three consecutive years.

Edberg was able to win this mini-series that captivated the tennis world with two victories to Becker's one.

It is perhaps fitting that these great rivals won six Grand Slams apiece, making it very tough to split the two over their careers.

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