Ranking the US Open's 5 Best Men's Singles Finals Since 1978

Marin Cilic's victory at the 2014 U.S. Open—the first tournament since 2005 that saw none of the Big Four compete in a Grand Slam final—served as a timely reminder that tennis comes in cycles. 

Cilic's victory over Kei Nishikori was fairly simple in the end; his win over Novak Djokovic was a much better match. The simplicity of his victory, however, only served as a contrast to the host of phenomenal finals that the U.S. Open has showcased since the move to hard courts in 1978.

Here we take a look at the best U.S. Open's finals since that move to the hard stuff in 1978. 

This will be done under the following criteria:

1. The match must have been competitive. If you're looking for a list of walkovers and mismatches, then this list isn't for you.
2. At least one of the players must have been in the top eight in the world.
3. The match must have been athletic and exciting. The big-serving Andy Roddick, for example, while effective, rarely plays edge-of-your-seat tennis—unlike players like Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, or Borg and McEnroe, who can be thrilling to watch.

Honourable Mentions

Adam Stoltman/Associated Press

There are a couple of very good finals that do not quite make the final cut. This is not because of their lack of quality but rather a reflection on the finals they are competing against. 

1989: Becker vs. Lendl

A great match in itself, this had all the excitement you could want. Having burst onto the scene at Wimbledon in 1985, Boris Becker had struggled to establish himself on any surface other than grass. Here he broke that duck. 1989 was his year, and he overcame a defiant Ivan Lendl with his trademark brand of athletic tennis and net play.

2010: Nadal vs. Djokovic

Until 2010, people questioned Rafael Nadal's ability on a hard court, with only one of his previous eight Slam wins coming on the hard courts and none at Flushing Meadows. In this match, Nadal showed his class and determination to overcome Novak Djokovic in four sets, proving once again his all-round game.

As wonderful as these matches were, however, they do not quite live up to our top five, which begins just before Y2K was proved to be no big deal.

1999: Agassi vs. Martin

MARK LENNIHAN/Associated Press

1999 was the year Andre Agassi made it back to the top. Since 1997 he had struggled with a wrist injury, but in 1999, he was almost back to his free-flowing best.

The match was also significant as it saw him reclaim the No. 1 spot from longtime rival Pete Sampras, who did not compete that year due to a back injury.

Agassi defeated Todd Martin in five sets, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(2–7), 6–3, 6–2, in a match that showed Agassi's classic service-return dominance to its fullest. The sets he did win were reasonably comfortable, but Martin's successive tiebreak wins did just enough to put this in our top five for excitement and significance.

1988: Wilander vs. Lendl

Richard Drew/Associated Press

On paper this match looked like a fantastic game, and it did not disappoint. Three-time defending champion Ivan Lendl came up against an in-form Mats Wilander, who had already won two Grand Slam titles that year. Their clash of the titans of tennis remains the longest final ever played (along with one of the others on our list) at four hours, 54 minutes.

In a repeat of the previous year's final, Wilander finally managed to topple Lendl in a thrilling match. It was a back-and-forth affair, with the men winning sets in turn. Wilander finally came through a grueling contest as champion, cementing his place at the top of the rankings.

2009: Del Potro vs. Federer

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

The first of our list to feature one of the modern greats, Roger Federer, this match saw Federer's five-year stranglehold on the U.S. Open finally broken. 

Juan Martin del Potro was a young player who had promised a lot but had up until now failed to deliver on his potential. This match changed that. He showed significant staying power to match Federer stride for stride despite the Swiss taking a 2-1 lead going into the fourth set.

Ultimately, he showed his composure and power to brush Federer aside in the fifth and prove the Swiss was beatable at Flushing Meadows after all.

2012: Murray vs. Djokovic

Mike Groll/Associated Press

The second of our great modern finals saw Andy Murray take on Novak Djokovic in another five-set thriller, which equaled Wilander and Lendl for the longest final played at the U.S. Open. Somehow, though, they managed to make it even more exciting, which is why it comes in at No. 2 on our list.

This was Murray's first Grand Slam victory, and it paved the way for his 2013 victory at Wimbledon, a hugely significant moment in the young Scot's career.

The pace, power and technique showed by these two men match that of any great final at any of the Grand Slams, and they are only kept away from the No. 1 spot by one of the great tennis matches of all time.

Speaking of which...

1980: McEnroe vs. Borg

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What else could it be? This is the final that people still talk about today; it still reruns during rain delays at major tournaments.

The fiery John McEnroe took on the ice-cool Swede Bjorn Borg in a match for the ages. Borg, a player so good he retired because he got bored of winning, never won the U.S. Open, and this was the closest he ever got.

McEnroe raced to a 2-0 lead before Borg fought back to make it 2-2. The stage looked set for the Swede to take his first-ever title in New York, but McEnroe dug deep to win the fifth set 6-4 in what will remain one of the greatest tennis matches ever recorded.

Two great champions fought for hours to prove their dominance, with McEnroe eventually, and by the skin of his teeth, proving his superiority on a hard court.