Sampras is the Champion
July 9, 2000
Pete Sampras took his place in tennis history on Wimbledon's Centre Court tonight when his seventh win took him to a total of 13 Grand Slam titles, one more than the previous record held by Roy Emerson of Australia. Sampras beat Pat Rafter of Australia 6-7 (10-12) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-2 in a final lasting 172 minutes and twice interrupted by rain.
Set 1 : Review
The final began almost
an hour behind schedule because of light rain and Rafter held his opening
serve to love followed by Sampras doing exactly the same for 1-1.
Rafter held for 2-1 and produced a fine backhand crosscourt volley on the third point. Sampras served a love game, including his second ace, for 2-2.
Rafter, from 0-30 after two errors, held for 3-2. Sampras foot faulted on the first serve of the third point and then double faulted but held to 3-3.
The seventh game was the first to go to deuce and Rafter had eight game points before winning with a serve and raising his arms in triumph, Rafter was 4-3 ahead when rain stopped play after 26 minutes.
The delay was of 27 minutes and Sampras resumed the match with an ace and held for 4-4. The first break points of the set came in the next game. Rafter saved two to pull up to deuce, double faulted to concede a third and then missed two game points. The match was then suspended at deuce.
Play resumed after a break of two and half hours and Rafter saved another break point before holding serve for 5-4.
Sampras served his fifth ace on the first point of the tenth game, double faulted at 30-0, but did not lose another point to level 5-all.
Rafter served his first love game of the match to lead 6-5 and Sampras did the same to produce a tie break after 44 minutes.
A lob from Sampras followed by a short ball saw Rafter chase in vain to the net. But he won the point back on Sampras' first serve with a winning return. A missed volley put Rafter 3-2 behind and Sampras held serve for 4-2 but was passed by a service return for 4-3.
Rafter put a volley out for 5-3 but won the next point for 5-4. Sampras missed a backhand off the service return for 5-all but went to set point at 6-5. Rafter saved that with a high volley for 6-all. Rafter aced for set point 7-6. Sampras aced him for 7-all. Sampras served at 130 mph for set point two. Rafter saved with a service winner for 8-all. Rafter service winner to set point two at 9-8.
Sampras hit a winner off a second serve for 9-9. Sampras double faulted for set point three to Rafter but Rafter hit out on the next rally for 10-all. Rafter served for set point four at 11-10 and Sampras double faulted --first set Rafter at 12-10 in the tie break.
Set 2 : Review
As the hour reached 7 p.m. with only one hour's play having taken place Sampras started the second set by holding serve for 1-0. Rafter saved a break point at 30-40 with a service winner before holding at 1-1.
Sampras double faulted to go break point down in the third game but saved that with a stop volley and went on to hold for 2-1. Rafter held to 2-all with his fifth ace.
Sampras held for 3-2 after he had broken a string and changed his racket for the last point. Rafter held to 3-all ending the game with a good volley.
Sampras served his eighth double fault and an ace in consecutive points to lead 4-3. Rafter held in a love game for 4-all.
Sampras took a 5-4 lead with a love game. Rafter held to 5-all.
Sampras served his 14th ace as he led 6-5. Rafter forced the tie break with a love game.
Sampras lost the first point on his ninth double fault. Rafter forced an error from Sampras at a net rally and served a winner for 3-0.
Sampras served an ace and then missed a forehand for 4-1 Rafter. Sampras forced a volley error for 4-2 and Rafter double faulted for 4-3. Sampras served two points for 5-4.Sampras passed Rafter at the net for 6-4 set point. Rafter saved one set point with a high volley but Sampras captured the set with a forehand to take the tie break by 7-5 and level the final after one hour and 46 minutes.
Set 3 : Review
The third set began with the light still holding at 7.45 p.m. and Rafter won a deuce game to lead 1-0. Sampras held a love game with a backhand crosscourt dink at the net for 1-all.
Rafter fought off a break point with a service winner and won a two deuce game to lead 2-1. Despite double fault ten Sampras held for 2-all.
Sampras broke for 3-2 in a lengthy fifth game where Rafter had three game points and then Sampras held to love to lead 4-2 .
Rafter held the seventh game as he moved confidently into a 5-3 lead. Rafter held to 5-4 serving his 11th ace to go to game point.
Sampras served for the set by starting with two aces, one off of a second serve, and then produced a service winner for set point. Another ace gave Sampras the set at 6-4, two sets to one, after two hours and 25 minutes. It meant for Rafter that he would have to beat Sampras over five sets for the title, a feat no one has achieved at any stage at Wimbledon .
Set 4 : Review
Rafter started the fourth by holding serve as did Sampras. In the third game Rafter double-faulted at 30-15 but played a half volley pick up to win the net point and then hold serve for 2-1. Sampras held with an ace for 2-all.
Next Rafter went 0-40 down on serve with two volley errors giving Sampras three break points. Rafter saved two but on the third Sampras mis-hit a backhand which landed in the corner to take him 3-2 up.
Rafter had a point to break back in the next game when Sampras double faulted at 30-all but the champion saved that with a service winner. A net exchange gave Sampras game point with a backhand across the tape but he had to go to his fourth game point with an ace and follow up with a service winner for 4-2.
Sampras broke again to lead 5-2 and was left to serve for the title and all the rainbows of the game which went with it. Three serves took him to match point in a hurry and another winning serve took the giant of the grass court game beyond reach.
Sampras showed real emotion as he celebrated the first moments of victory and was in tears as it sank in. He found his parents in the crowd and then returned to the court for the trophy.