For Pete’s Sake
It’s been 30 years since Sampras burst into the scene with a comprehensive win at the US Open, in only his third attempt. In the 12 years that followed the American cemented his place as one of the all-time greats, winning 13 other Grand Slam titles — four more New York, the place where it all began
Ahead of the 1990 US Open Thomas Muster was the man with the better run of results. The Austrian had won three of his five finals in the year, and that included a maiden Masters 1000 (then ATP Championship Series, Single Week) title in Rome.
It was no surprise therefore that the sixth seed, despite letting go a two-set advantage, held firm in what was eventually a tight encounter against Jaime Yzaga in the third round, winning the decisive set on a tie-break. In doing so albeit Muster lent his would be pre-quarterfinal opponent an unintentional helping hand.
For Pete Sampras the Peruvian was always a tricky opponent — and that remained the case during the course of the American’s illustrious career. In 1988 it was Yzaga who had ensured Sampras’ Grand Slam debut ended on a sour note. The American had been given a wildcard at the year’s final major tournament, and looked set to make the opportunity count when he raced into a two-set lead in the opening round, winning both on the tie-break. Yet it was Yzaga who came back to win the match.
The duo faced each other again in the following year, on this occasion in the third round. Sampras had upset the defending champion and fifth seed Mats Wilander of Sweden in the previous round, but it was the Peruvian who got off the blocks quicker, winning the opening set. However, this time Sampras won the match in four sets.
Had Muster not intervened it would have been the third match-up in three years at the same stage for Sampras and Yzaga. It was very much possible that the Lima-born would have posed problems for the young American — as was the case four years later (in 1994) when it was Yzaga who upset Sampras, then the defending champion in New York, in the fourth round.
As things stood, Sampras got past Muster in the fourth round encounter to set up a quarter-final against third seed and three-time champion Ivan Lendl. The Czech-American had won their only previous encounter — in Milan that year — and was attempting to reach the US Open final for a ninth straight time.
However, it was Sampras who got off to a good start, the twelfth seed winning the first two sets. Lendl though wasn’t prepared to give up on his challenge so easily. He won the next two sets quite comfortably to force a fifth. In the final analysis it was Sampras’ youth and energy that got the better of the ageing legs of Lendl, even though the latter won more points (178–173).
Sampras’ semi-final opponent was a US Open veteran as well. John McEnroe was a four-time champion in New York, and had won four of his five matches that year in straight sets. However, Sampras had beaten his compatriot in the Canadian Masters, a couple of weeks before the US Open. The younger of the two Americans would emerge victorious yet again, on this occasion in four sets. So impressed was McEnroe with his young compatriot’s display that he described Sampras as being “as cool as cucumber”.
Standing between Sampras and a maiden Grand Slam title was another countryman. Andre Agassi had already made his mark on the ATP Tour, and had been the beaten finalist at the French Open that year. The flamboyant Las Vegan had won tournaments in San Francisco and Miami at the start of the year, and at Washington DC in the run up to the US Open.
Agassi’s form and overall experience in major tournaments — he had also made it to the semi-finals in New York in both 1988 and 1989, losing to Lendl on both the occasions — made him the favorite going into the final.
Sampras, in contrast had won only two career titles till that point — both in the same year — and it was the first time that he had managed to get it past the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament. However, it was Sampras who dominated throughout and won the final with ease, beating Agassi in straight sets (6–4, 6–3, 6–2), and in the process becoming the youngest ever, at 19 years and 28 days, champion at the US Open.
The lopsided triumph also provided a testimony of Sampras’ impeccable focus, an aptitude that would become one of the hallmarks of his illustrious career. Besides maintaining consistency in his own game the American was quick to know that his compatriot was feeling the pressure of expectations. The world was waiting for the flamboyant Agassi to make his Grand Slam breakthrough and Sampras, in his own words “really had nothing to lose all tournament”. Agassi was gracious in defeat.
“Definitely the better man won today. When you can hit a serve 120 mph on the lines, there’s not a lot you can do about it,” the American was quoted by the media. Coming into the 1990 US Open Sampras had won only USD 380,932 in his two and a half years as a professional. The win in New York earned him almost an equivalent paycheck, of USD 350,000.
It’s been 30 years to that triumph. It’s been 18 years since Sampras retired from professional tennis. In the intervening 12 years though Sampras cemented his place as one of the all-time greats, winning 13 more Grand Slam titles. Four of those came in at the US Open, a tournament where he was also a beaten finalist on a three occasions.
The last of those five triumphs, in 2002, happened to be his final tournament. Sampras beat Agassi in the final again that year — the third time he had beaten his compatriot in the final (also in 1995) in New York. It was not long before Sampras would decide there is no better way to end his career.
