18 July 1999
Pete's feat in 5th set was stuff of champions
By Bob Rayan
BROCKLINE-THE FIFTH set wasn't doubles. That was 17/8 ths. The fifth set was all about an all time champion doing what all time champions do. Pete Sampras simply took over. He was Orr going end-to-end; Bird telling people to give me the ball and get out of my way; and Pedro telling the fielders to sit down while he strikes out the side.
The fifth set was Sampras delivering aces, sending rockets back at Australians and leaping around in Baryshnikovian fashion. The fifth set was Sampras even lending some audio to the gorgeous video.
The fifth set was Sampras serving searing winners in the first game, delivering three aces in the 5th game, and serving for the match in such a frenzied state he hardly recognised himself. "Serving for the match I was jumping out of my skin", Sampras said.
He never before had been to Boston. He may never have reason to play here again. We have witnessed every team superstar who's ever lived, but we never before had had an up-close-and-personal glimpse of the consensus Best Tennis
Player On The Planet.
So for those of you not privileged to be among the 5,000-plus at the Longwood Cricket Club yesterday afternoon, let me summarize what we saw: Oh. My. God. ...what we saw today, well, then, was Hogan at Carnoustie. He might never play here again, but that would be OK. We in Boston always will have the fifth set.