July 14, 2010
From Bjorn Borg to Pete Sampras: Pivotal U.S. Open Finals
By JA Allen
Part One
The U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York signifies the climax of the tennis season. At times careers are made or lost on the final Sunday of this popular sporting event.
Throughout the modern era in men's tennis, many have triumphed spurred on by the thunderous applause of biased New York crowds who remain loyal to the American boys --- most of the time.
The U.S. Open is also popular for the tiebreak, which made its debut in Grand Slam tennis on the opening day of the 1970 U.S. Open.
Let us take a look at some of the most significant matches of the modern era that shaped careers and made New York the most exciting destination for players and fans alike.
1976 Final: Bjorn Borg vs. Jimmy Connors
1980 Final: Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe
1981 Final: Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe
1988 Final: Mats Wilander vs. Ivan Lendl
1990 Final: Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi
In 1990 Pete Sampras became the youngest man ever to win the U.S. Open at age 19 years and 28 days. The man he defeated was compatriot Andre Agassi, whose serve came immediately under fire by the aggressive return game of the younger American.
Even though Agassi produced 77 percent first-serve efficiency, Sampras swatted his serves back like he was hitting ping pong balls. The serve was an area of his game that Agassi would seek to improve in the coming years.
It was a coming out party for Sampras and an absolute dismissal for Agassi in prime time, leaving the man from Las Vegas with no place to hide. Even Agassi's dismantling of defending champion Boris Becker in the semifinals could not make him feel better about the magnitude of his defeat by Sampras in the final.
Agassi was the star in the making, the one with all the flash in his lime-colored attire and his playboy lifestyle. But in New York on that Sunday, Sampras was the one who left with the crown and all the accolades.
Pistol Pete, as he came to be known, let his racket do all of his talking as it punished Agassi with rocket serves consistently in excess of 120 mph, allowing the young man from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, to win points on 92 percent of his first serves and supplying him with 13 aces.
Agassi never broke the Sampras serve. In fact, Agassi only held three break points against Sampras in the entire match.
The final score was 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 as Sampras played a dream match. This was the first Slam victory for Sampras and would mark the first of his five U.S. Open titles.
Both men would go on to reign on courts around the world for years to come but their competitive career began at this final in New York in 1990.
To see a piece of tennis history click here.
2002 Final: Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi
13 years after winning his first slam at the U.S. Open over Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras returned to Flushing Meadows for his final slam appearance, leaving it all where he began at the U.S. Open again fighting for the title against countryman Agassi.
With the press harassing him, questioning his ability to win and will to compete, and conjecturing about his retirement, Sampras answered all of his critics by winning the title over quality opposition.
Sampras defeated Agassi without the same definitive stamp he exerted in 1990, but winning was all that mattered to the 31-year-old Sampras.
He and Agassi had met on the field of combat 33 times in their storied rivalry, which made this final all the more memorable because most organizers and most media outlets rejoiced when these two American champions met in a final.
That they should meet in this final contest made it that much more special. It marked their third appearance contesting for the U.S. Open championship. Sampras won all three.
Often seeming to shuffle to the side of the court, Pistol Pete, seeded No. 17 for the event, revived his serve long enough to propel him through the match. He polished up his forehand to make it shine one more time at Louis Armstrong and volleyed with precision.
To watch the last moments of this remarkable tennis rivalry click here.
Roger Federer's U.S. Open Decade: Five Up and Five Down in NYC