Sampras Ousted by Guy Forget in thriftway
August 12, 1991
MASON, Ohio (UPI) -- Guy Forget of France broke service in the final game to edge U.S. Open champion Pete Sampras Sunday and win the $1.3 million Thriftway ATP Championhship.
Forget, the No. 4 seed, earned $170,200 for his 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 victory that ended Sampras' nine-match winning streak. Sampras took home $89,600.
The break in the 10th game was the first by either man since the opening set.
"When I came into this tournament, I (hadn't played) for quite a while," Forget said. "Every match I won, it was a bonus."
"I was more content in returning his serve, and not doing anything with it," Sampras said. "I can't really get down on myself."
Forget and Sampras are two of the tour's hardest hitters. Sampras averages 125 mph a serve, and Forget 123 mph. On Sunday they both served well, each notching 14 aces. Forget had a 61 percent first serve percentage to Sampras' 60 percent.
Forget had four aces in his first two service games, and Sampras gave up just one point on his first three serves.
Sampras broke service first, taking a 4-2 lead when Forget missed three forehands. Forget lost the first set on a double fault.
There were no service breaks in the second set. Forget won many of " his points by playing to Sampras' forehand, the weaker of his shots. " Forget won the tie-breaker with some acrobatic shots at the net. With " the score 4-4 and Sampras serving, Forget barely reached Sampras' first " serve. Sampras hit a backhand that Forget returned crosscourt for the " point. Forget duplicated that shot two points later to take the tie- " breaker.
Sampras said the first game of the final set was the turning point. " He won the first two points against Forget's serve, but the Frenchman " held serve.
"I felt the match slip away there," Sampras said.
Forget said he lost the first two points because he was still " celebrating the win in the tie-breaker. "I wasn't ready enough," he " said. "I pushed myself."
Both Forget and Sampras held serve through the first nine games of " the final set. But in the 10th game, the heat finally got to Sampras and " he was broken.
"I didn't feel I could win until match point," Forget said.
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