Two thirtysomethings rolled back the years at Flushing Meadows
Richard Jago
Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in a tension-filled tie-break battle to advance to the semifinals of the United States Open on Wednesday.
In one of the tightest matches imaginable, with sensationally high-quality tennis from two players with 20 grand slam titles between them, Sampras came through 6-7 7-6 7-6 7-6 in a three-hour and 32-minute classic.
“One of the greatest ever” was the phrase on the lips of the New Yorkers, including John McEnroe, as they trooped away at 12.20am local time.
Neither man lost his serve, neither gave an inch as the drama unfolded. It came down to one error here, one ace there and Sampras crucially led that department by 25-18.
The prize for Sampras is a place in Saturday’s semifinals of the US Open against reigning champion Marat Safin and a chance in the last grand slam of the year to end a dreadful 12 months that have seen him go 17 tournaments without a title.
The prize for tennis was a sight of two thirtysomethings showing the young guns how their game should be played. “Yeah, it was as good as it gets,” said Sampras. “Playing the very best in a night match at the US Open and it being so close. We both played at a very high level, the best returner against a serve and volleyer going toe-to-toe. He didn’t lose serve and can’t feel bad about how he played. I just got the breaks.
“I felt it could be a classic and it was. It all lived up to the hype. I have never played in a match before when we both never lost a serve. But I knew it was going to be a dogfight and it turned into one of our greatest matches.”
Just to get to the final, Sampras will have to beat every player who has won the US Open since he last lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 1996 Patrick Rafter (1997, 1998), Agassi (1999) and Safin (2000).
“It was a pleasure playing tonight. The energylll was phenomenal. It always comes down to a couple of points against Andre,” said Sampras, looking to end a 17-tournament title drought going back to last year’s Wimbledon. “He’s an unbelievable player and the best player I’ve played over the years.”
Agassi had just 19 unforced errors, but most of them seemed to come in the crucial tie-breaks. Sampras also experienced his few nervous moments in the breakers.
In the fourth set an expectant Steffi Graf put in an appearance at a courtside doorway to try to urge Agassi to one last effort but he couldn’t break a man who kept blasting second serves down at around 200km/h mark.
Another tie-break and this time the crowd rose as one to give both men a standing ovation which Sampras later described as “awesome”. “That was a chilling moment to have the crowd stand and applaud.”
“It just boiled down to a few shots, that’s the difficulty and the beauty of it,” was Agassi’s verdict. “It’s disappointing for me but I’m glad to have been a part of it. It came down to the wire. How much closer can you get? When I won the first set tie-break I had the momentum but he came up with such great shots.
“I felt the pace of the match was up his alley, both of us taking care of the serve. It was a match more to his liking. He served big at big moments and dug out some great volleys. I certainly didn’t underestimate him. You just want to feel you’ve made someone earn it. A match like this makes you appreciate how special it is when you beat him.”
Sampras agreed. “Andre and I still have it,” he said. “When we play, the difference in our games and personalities means it is a good clash. It’s always intense and we’ll go toe-to-toe again. I don’t know where all the stories about my retirement came from. Andre and Pete have the sort of rivalry that will go down in history.”
No one who witnessed this night in Flushing Meadows would disagree.