December 20, 2009
Blast from the Past: Sampras-Agassi in the Match of their Lifetime
By Rajat Jain
This decade has given the tennis fans numerous matches that will be remembered for ages to come, most of them played between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Choosing only one favorite is an arduous task. The Wimbledon finals in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Australian Open semis and finals this year, US Open 2005 finals between Federer and Andre Agassic the list is endless.
However, there is an almost decade old match which is still fresh in my memory. The U.S. Open 2001 quarter finals between Pete Sampras and Agassi still remains my personal favorite.
Sampras and Agassi were not at their peak any more, but their rivalry was already the fantasy of legends. At 31 years, they were the oldest players remaining in the draw, and playing under their favorite stadium in the home atmosphere with 20000 noisy, crazy tennis fans cheering for them.
Their playing styles were as different as chalk and cheese. Sampras the aggressor, approaching the net at lightening speed, always on the look out to end the point quickly while Agassi the baseliner having lightening quick reflexes, relying on tiring down the opponent by making him run from side to side.
Sampras the nonchalant laid back person looking like he would fall to ground the next instant, slowly wiping out the sweat from his forehead, while Agassi flowing with energy, dripping with sweat and quickly pacing around the court.
Sampras with arguably the best serve of all times looking calm in white; Agassi with arguably the best returns of serve imposing himself in black.
The lights of New York complemented the buzzing atmosphere, the theatrical stage and acoustics of the Arthur Ashe Stadium added to the grandeur, the surface in question was the fair to both champions --- Sampras a little more than Agassi --- and the players themselves provided a spectacle for the ages.
Both players brought out the best in the other. Sampras serve was thumping down the 'T' creating a deafening echo as the ball hit the advertising boards while Agassi's returns were hit right from the baseline directed at Sampras' feet bringing out the most breath taking volleys from Pete.
Such was the pressure that Agassi was forcing Pete to hit the most unbelievable running forehands, while he himself was being compelled to foray the net.
Agassi was rarely committing any unforced errors during the sets, while Sampras' was breezing through his service games. And when that happens, routine games fail to separate the two Americans despite being competitive.
Each of the four sets went the distance, and only tie-breaks could separate the two players. Agassi, surprisingly, committed more errors during the four tie-breaks than he did during the entire 48 games combined. Before the fourth set, the crowd gave a standing ovation to the two players appreciating the quality of the play.
One the match finished, John McEnroe remained standing in the commentary box for more than 10 minutes unable to digest what he just witnessed. The fans were a tad disappointed, and a little greedy, that the match did not end in five.
Years later, I saw the repeat of the match on my home theatre, I could feel the same butterflies in my stomach as I did ten years ago.