Roger and Rafa's moonlit battle may have had the edge in quality. But for sheer sense-of-occasion sporting drama, there will never be another Wimbledon final quite like the Third Monday epic of 2001.

It was the year Goran Ivanisevic, tormented by countless near-misses and seemingly set on ending his career without that elusive All England Club crown, waded through the SW19 gates for one last wild-card shot.

Two weeks later, with the tournament having stretched into an extra day, allowing the Centre Court stands to be crammed with those who cared enough to have braved all-night queues, Ivanisevic eyeballed his destiny.

Across the net, in an extraordinary twist of fortune, stood arguably the global game's second most popular figure of the time, the engaging Australian Pat Rafter, also looking for his first Wimbledon crown.

After five sets of remarkable, up-and-down intensity, Ivanisevic finally had his chance. As only Goran could, he fluffed his first two match points with double faults. The third, Rafter saved with an inch-perfect lob.

When, take four, Ivanisevic flapped down an unreturnable serve, he slumped to the court in sheer jubilation. Small wonder that eight years on he still wakes up and has to pinch himself to make sure it wasn't all just a dream.

Ivanisevic will come face to face with Rafter again in London at the AEGON Masters, which begin on December 1 at the Royal Albert Hall. It will be their first capital meeting since the epic final.

Ivanisevic admits: "I still don't know how I won. I still don't know why I won. That day was so strange - Monday, 12 o'clock final.

"I was so happy that it was all going to be over and, after that last point, when I held the trophy, when I came back home, it was all like a dream.

"Even now, when I look back at the tape, I still think I am going to lose! But when I look back, it's the greatest sporting moment of my life."

The trials and tribulations of that encounter did not change the immense respect Ivanisevic and Rafter - always two of the most respected players on the circuit - continue to have for each other.

"Pat is a great guy, a good friend, and we had an unbelievable final on that Monday at Wimbledon," added Ivanisevic.

"I don't think anyone who likes tennis will ever forget that match. This is a new match but people are always going to remember that match."