Top Ten Sports Rivalries

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1. Ali-Frazier
Muhammad Ali's suspension in 1968, robbed boxing of its best ever heavyweight for over three years, but one benefit was that it set up this rivalry in that Joe Frazier had established him as the 'undisputed' world champion. There has never been as much anticaption for a bout as when these two met in the Fight of the Century in 1971, both undefeated champions. Frazier won an unanimous decision, putting Ali on his backside twice in the process. They would fight twice more with Ali winning both, the second of which, the 'Thrilla in Manilla' proved to be one of the most punishing bouts of all time.

2. Coe-Ovett
This dual was enhanced due to the fact that it came before their was lucrative money offered on the European circuit, meaning these two had hardly raced before the 1980 Olympics. The debates over who was the better ran and ran as they continued to surpass each other in breaking the 1500 metre and mile world records. In Moscow, Ovett shocked everyone by beating Coe at 'his event', the 800 metres, only for the future Conservative MP to win the 1500m the week later. Coe would go on to win the 1500m again at the next Olympics, a race in which Ovett did not finish due to illness.

3. McEnroe-Borg
Although this tennis rivalry lasted just three years, it will forever be referenced as the classic tennis rivalry between to opposites on and off the court. Bjorn Borg was the classy baseliner who had won four Wimbledons in succession, when he met the brash New York serve-volleyer in the 1980 final, which Borg won in the fifth set despite losing the classic fourth set tie break 18-16. The next year McEnroe beat Borg in the Wimbledon final and the Swede retired just a few months later.

4. Federer-Nadal
Perhaps only tennis can construct a rivalry like this. One player is near unbeatable for nine months of the year and is feted as the best player of all time while the other is unbeatable on clay and incredibly to date has never lost a match at Roland Garros. This rivalry will go on captivating sports fans until Federer, who recently beat Nadal on clay for the first time in six matches, wins the French Open title.

5. Prost-Senna
For a decade these two drivers shared an intense rivalry that certainly became personal. Prost won four world title to Senna's three, but the most memorable clash came in 1989 when their McLarens clashed forcing both drivers off the track in a race at Suzuka where Senna had to win to pip Prost to the title. Senna rejoined the race but and finished first but was disqualified.

6. Nicklaus-Palmer
Arnold Palmer was the most popular golfer and for a short time the best also, before Nicklaus came along. He won five majors in three years up to 1962 - Nicklaus's breakthrough year, but thereafter won just one, his fourth Masters title in 1964. On three occasions he finished runner-up to Nicklaus who won seven more titles in the next five years. The crowd's resentment at the Golden Bear for denying their hero a number of major titles made for some tense occasions and was the biggest contributing factor to golf becoming a major television sport.

7. Johnson-Bird
The NBA exploded in the 1980s to become a genuine competitor to American Football and baseball as the most popular US Sports and this was largely because of the battles between the L.A. Lakers and Boston Celtics and the stars of either team Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. There was no year in the 1980s when one of the teams did not contest the finals, with the Lakers winning five to the Celtics's three. They met in three of the four finals from 1984 with Boston winning the first meeting in a seven-game thriller, before the Lakers gained revenge with wins in 1985 and 1987.

8. Navratilova-Evert
Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert were doubles partners early in their career, but for over a decade their rivalry dominated women's tennis. To put this in perspective only one other player won a grand slam between 1982 and 1986. Navratilova was the queen of grass courts winning nine Wimbledon titles while Evert dominated clay winning seven titles. In the thirteen times they met in the final of majors, Navratilova won on nine occasions.

9. Louis-Schmeling
Never has sport and politics crossed the lines quite like they did with this fight. Having been embarrassed by Jesse Owens four gold haul at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, the Nazis were happy to cling to the coat tails of former world champion Max Schmeling who had inflicted the only defeat of Joe Louis in 1936. When he would challenge Louis for the world title two years later the world looked on as Louis avenged his defeat with a second round knockout. Although the fight provoked emnity in the supporters of either side, the two men later became friends with Schmeling helping Louis out when he fell into financial trouble in later life.

10. Keane-Vieira
From Arsene Wenger's arrival in North London and Jose Mourinho's moving to Stamford Bridge seven years later, the Premiership was virtually a two-horse race resulting in United winning five titles and Arsenal three. On the pitch the side's midfield leaders led each team, each having their moments of glory and also memorable blow-ups like Keane's tunnel tirade at Vieira at Highbury in 2005.

Source - sky sports news