On this day: Roger Federer wins battle of Wimbledon kings against Pete Sampras

On this day in 2001, the future Wimbledon king Roger Federer took down the seven-time champion Pete Sampras 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 in three hours and 41 minutes! It was the only encounter between two of the greatest players of all time, with both taking care to produce a memorable one, with full attacking grass-court tennis that was hardly seen on the sacred Wimbledon courts ever since. Federer was the upcoming star, heading to Wimbledon after reaching the first Grand Slam quarter-final in Paris and winning the first ATP crown earlier that year in Milan. On the other hand, Sampras was not in great form that year, although he was always dangerous at Wimbledon, chasing the fifth consecutive title and the eighth overall, looking to write new pages of tennis history. It wasn't to be for him on that July 2, losing before the quarter-final for the first time since 1991 and playing only one more match at beloved courts a year later.

Pete had 31 straight wins at Wimbledon and 56 in the last 57 encounters before Roger ended that streak, never winning a match at Wimbledon before that season and becoming the first player with a five-setter triumph over Pete in the cathedral of tennis. Federer won ten points more than Sampras, fending off nine out of 11 break chances and delivering four breaks from 14 opportunities to cross the finish line and dethrone one of the greatest players of all time. They hit 174 service winners in 370 points (89 for Roger, 85 for Pete), with 47% of the points failing to develop into a rally! Also, 325 points ended in the shortest range up to four strokes and the Swiss was 170-155 in front, doing more damage with the initial forehand or volley to forge the crucial difference. Pete had a 24-19 advantage in the mid-range exchanges with five to eight shots, which wasn't enough to carry him over the finish line, especially after only two exchanges with nine or more strokes, an excellent indicator of how fast the encounter was.

Roger needed a good start against a more experienced opponent, blasting four service winners in the opening game before Sampras leveled the score with four booming serves. After three mistakes, the American faced three break points in the fourth game, erasing them with five winners that pushed him towards 2-2. At 3-3, Federer experienced the first troubles behind the initial shot, staying calm to oppose a break point and remain on the positive side of the scoreboard. In the tie break, Roger dismissed a set point at 5-6 with a service winner, taking it 9-7 after an unforced error from Sampras for a massive boost.

In set number two, Pete fended off all six break points, stealing Roger's serve in the late stages to restore the order.

Two double faults could have cost Roger a lot in the fourth game, landing three service winners to get out of jail and creating two break chances in the next one.

Sampras remained composed, firing four winners to keep his serve unbroken and working hard at 3-3 to erase four break opportunities and gain a boost. Serving at 5-6, the young gun sprayed five mistakes that cost him dearly, handing the set to Pete and having to start all over if he wanted to cause an upset. He did that in set number three, finding the formula to crack Pete's serve and breaking him twice for a 6-4. Roger placed a return winner in game three to forge the lead, staying in front only for a couple of minutes as Sampras broke back with three winners. The American survived a break point at 3-3 with a service winner before wasting a 40-15 advantage in the ninth game, spraying four errors that sent Roger 5-4 up. In one of the most famous games of the encounter, Federer clocked four good serves to take the set 6-4 and move closer to the finish line and a brilliant triumph.

With no room for errors, Sampras raised his game in set number four, facing no break points and creating two chances on the return at 4-3. Roger dismissed those with winners to reach a tie break that the more experienced player won 7-2, leveling the overall score at 2-2 and sending the clash into a decider. There, Federer managed to leave the drama and excitement behind him, dropping only six points on serve, four of those at 4-4 when he fended off two break points to avoid an inevitable defeat. Pete lost six points behind the initial shot in the first five service game, looking determined to push the youngster until the end. That all changed when the pressure reached its peak in game 12, with the American suffering a break at 15 following two return winners from Federer that carried the young gun over the finish line and into the first Wimbledon quarter-final. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2ZtpfzG