The Classic Match

The best matches reviewed so far

2008-04-21T18:43:00.000-07:00

At present, the highest ranked matches reviewed in these pages are (with score in parenthesis):

1. 1980 Wimbledon Final: Borg def. McEnroe (100)
2005 Australian Open SF: Safin def. Federer (100)

2. 1996 ATP tour Championships: Sampras def. Becker (97)

3. 1995 Australian Open QF: Sampras def. Courier (96)
2000 Wimbledon SF: Rafter def. Agassi (96)

4. 1985 Australian Open SF: Edberg def. Lendl (95)
2006 Rome Masters final: Nadal def. Federer (95)
2007 Wimbledon Final: Federer def. Nadal (95)

5. 1988 Australian Open Final: Wilander def. Cash (93)
1989 French Open final: Chang def. Edberg (93)
2001 Wimbledon 4th Round: Federer def. Sampras (93).

This list will of course change as more matches are reviewed.

1988 Australian Open: Wilander def. Cash

2008-04-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

Wilander def. Cash: 6-3, 6-7 (3), 3-6, 6-1, 8-6.
Classic: Yes.
Rating: 93

The Plot: The first Australian Open to be played at the new complex at Flinder's Park (later renamed Melbourne Park) featured a most memorable men's singles final. Pat Cash was the hometown hero against Sweden's Mats Wilander. It would be Cash spectacular athleticism and shot-making against the Wilander's strategic genius, and it would not disappoint.

The match: Wilander dominates proceedings early in the 1st set, as a nervous Cash neither serves well, nor seems to be able to keep the ball in the court. Wilander takes it 6-3 with two breaks of serve. The 2nd set promises to go the same way when Wilander has 3-0. But a rain-delay saves Cash, who regroups and manages to get back on serve at 4-4. The quality of tennis is now far higher, and the set goes to a tie-break, which Cash wins with some stunning play. Cash being in the ascendancy takes a 3-0 lead in the 3rd set, and maintains the advantage to take the set 6-3 as Wilander is now playing with far less conviction than in the 1st set.

The 4th set proves to be a disaster for Cash, who has a serious lapse of concentration. Wilander runs away with it 6-1. Cash's woes continues in the 5th set as he loses serve in the 1st game. But he then finds his form again to even things at 2-2. Wilander serves great in this set, and Cash's only real chance is an extended deuce game at 4-5. The players stay on serve until 6-6 when Cash finally wilts under the pressure. Wilander serves out the match to love in the next game and wins the match 8-6 in the 5th.

The bottom line: The match really catches fire after the rain delay in the 2nd set. From then on it is a nail-bitingly exciting affair. Cash is the ultimate entertainer and athlete, and he pulls out one amazing shot after another at net. It is somewhat disappointing that it is Wilander's steady but less spectacular play that wins the day, but the contrast in styles contributes to the greatness of this match. I would rate it higher, but both players have some let-downs, and the first set and a half is not too interesting. All the same, it is highly recommended viewing.

Bonus info: Mats Wilander went on to win two more majors that year: The French Open and the US Open. It was his best year on tour.

1995 US Open Final: Sampras def. Agassi

2008-04-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

Sampras def. Agassi: 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Classic: No (!)
Rating: 86

The Plot: It was the match to not only determine the 1995 US Open champion, but the no. 1 ranking for the year. Agassi had won the Australian Open and Sampras had won Wimbledon that year. Once again, Sampras proved he was the better player on the big occasions.

The match: On a blistery, windy day in New York, the players are struggling to figure out the wind. There are some sporadic good rallies in the 1st set, but Sampras eventually breaks to take it, and is clearly relieved. Set point is one of the finest rallies of the match. In the 2nd set Sampras plays very well indeed, and Agassi offers little resistance. The 3rd set looks to go the same way as Sampras has a 2-0 lead before Agassi comes back. Sampras clearly is having a let-down and eventually loses the 3rd set. The 4th set is not high quality, but Sampras overcomes sloppy play early, firms up his game and eventually breaks to take a 5-4 lead and serves out the match.

The bottom line: This match inexplicably has ended up on Steve Flink's list of the greatest matches of the 20th century as no. 21, incredibly beating a true classic like Edberg v. Lendl at the 1985 Aussie open (no. 28.) I can't second that opinion. Agassi simply never manages to make the match competitive. It is Sampras all the way, and it would have been Sampras in straight sets if he hadn't had a mental let-down in the 3rd set. Granted, Sampras plays well in the first two sets, but he is allowed to do so by his opponents somewhat lackluster performance. Unless you're a die-hard Agassi v. Sampras fan I don't see any reason for revisiting this match.

Bonus info: It has been alleged that this match was the start of the tail-spin that sent Agassi's ranking to no. 141 in the world. True or not, it has been widely publicized that Agassi took this loss very badly.

1984 French Open final: Lendl def. McEnroe

2008-04-12T22:51:00.000-07:00

Lendl def. McEnroe: 3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5
Classic: Yes
Rating: 90

The Plot: McEnroe had not lost a match all year and was the prohibitive favourite in this French Open final against Lendl, who was still seeking his first Grand Slam title at the age of 24. On this day in Paris, Lendl staged a remarkable comeback to hand McEnroe a bitter defeat, and proved that he had the caliber of a Grand Slam champion.

The Match: McEnroe is irate from the onset, but his tennis is on fire in the 1st two sets and Lendl seems a little tentative or even nervous. McEnroe breaks for 4-2 in the first set and holds on to take it. The 2nd set is even more one sided, as McEnroe displays great form and imposes his game to take the set 6-2 with two breaks of serve. Everything is going McEnroe's way until the beginning of the 3rd set, when at 1-1, 0-30 against Lendl, McEnroe gets upset with noise coming from the headset of a camera man, and he walks over to scream something into the headset. Excitement builds at 2-2. when Lendl breaks McEnroe, only to be broken back a few games later. Eventually this see-saw, but well-played set goes to Lendl 6-4.

In the beginning of the 4th set McEnroe has a great opportunity after he breaks and takes a 4-2 lead. However, his 1st serve is letting him down badly and Lendl gets back to 4-4. After an extended game at 6-5, Lendl secures the 4th set. The 5th set is an exciting affair, as McEnroe holds breakpoints against Lendl in the 6th game, but can't convert. Lendl seems to grow in strength after this, and McEnroe is looking ever more tired at this point in the match. Eventually McEnroe goes down 15-40 when serving 5-6. He saves one match point, but then pushes a very makable volley just wide on the 2nd to hand Lendl the match.

The bottom line: This match has a special status in tennis legend. McEnroe's apparent melt-down at 1-1 in the 3rd set is an oft-told story at many a tennis gathering. However, reliving this moment I don't find it all that dramatic, nor that it has such a great impact on the match. It is the missed opportunity at 4-2 in the 4th set that is of real interest in my opinion. At this point, the match becomes very much alike the later Chang-Edberg final of 1989, since McEnroe, like Edberg, simply runs out of gas and is unable to hold on to any lead from then on. That being said, and while the match has a very exciting storyline, it is tennis-wise not of the highest level, and in particular, there are only few moments where both players play well at the same time. There are many fine points and strokes, but it is the drama that pulls this match into the 90+ category, and makes this a classic match. For that it is recommended, but for the quality of tennis other matches are better.

1996 ATP tour championships: Sampras def. Becker

2008-02-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

Sampras def. Becker: 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
Classic: Yes
Rating: 97

The Plot: The thrilling finale to the 1996 ATP Tour, contested between Sampras at the height of his powers, and his most formidable opponent not named Agassi.

The match: Becker opens the match by serving four straight aces, an indication of Becker's form. Sampras has chances to break in the 3rd game, but otherwise Becker is holding serve with great ease, and making Sampras work to hold his serve. Eventually Becker breaks Sampras and wins the set. Becker continues to dominate on serve in the 2nd set, but Sampras is gradually getting better, and it goes to a tie-break. Sampras wins it 7-5, and is clearly relieved to have leveled the match. Sampras continues to improve in the 3rd set, but it is again decided in a tie-break, where Becker gets (what he thinks is) a bad call on the baseline against him, and loses the tiebreak 4-7. The 4th set is highly dramatic, but no where more so than the inevitable tie-breaker, which is a nervy affair where neither man seems to be able to dominate with his serve. Sampras has 2 match points in the tie-break, but it is Becker who eventually takes is 13-11. The 5th set is tense from the start, but features superb tennis. It is Becker who cracks first at 4-4 when Sampras breaks with a backhand down the line and then serves out the match in the next game.

The bottom line: The level of play is outstanding throughout, and the match is as close as can be. The 4th set tie-break is a minor epic in itself. There is an abundance of good serve and volley points, but the players also stay back on many 2nd serves, so there is far more variety in this match than what people who remember 1990's tennis may think. This is an almost perfect tennis match, but I share the sentiment of match commentator Frew McMillan that neither player is able to come up with the occasional spectacular shot when they are in a defensive position. This is a very minor shortcoming that may be attributed to the lightening-fast indoor court. The match gets my highest recommendation.

Stat of the match: Becker had 31 aces in the match, and won 178 points to Sampras' 166.

1990 Wimbledon Final: Edberg def. Becker

2008-01-30T17:40:00.000-08:00

Edberg def. Becker: 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4.
Classic: no.
Rating: 86

The plot: For the third straight year Edberg and Becker met in the Wimbledon final. Becker was the defending champion, having won in straight sets the previous year, but Edberg was the only man to have beaten Becker on centre court, two years previously in the 1988 final.

The match: Becker is struggling from the onset of the match, allowing Edberg, who seems to be playing at the top of his game, to dominate and take the 1st set 6-2. In the 2nd set Becker is trying to rouse himself and get into the match, but Edberg continues to play superb tennis. Only at the end of the set does Becker seem to start returning Edberg's serve better, a telling sign. Returning better, Becker breaks Edberg early in the 3rd set and takes it 6-3. The level of tennis picks up in the 4th set, but once again the backhand returns of Becker breaks Edberg's serve to give him a 3-2 lead. He breaks again to win the set. Edberg has Becker down 15-40 in the 1st game of the 5th set, but fails to capitalize. Eventually Becker breaks to take a 3-1 lead, but is broken back immediately by Edberg. At 4-4, Edberg puts together several great returns to break Becker, and then serves out the match in the next game.

The bottom line: Becker is not playing very well at all in the first two sets, and Edberg takes advantage. There are some deligthful volleys from Edberg, but things only get interesting in the 3rd set as Becker seems to "wake up". The 4th and 5th set clearly feature the best tennis of the match, as both men play well at the same time. Edberg's volleys, backhands and topspin lobs provide much joy for the viewer, but Becker is only sporadically inspired to do great things. The match never becomes the battle the scoreline suggests, and while the 4th and 5th set are worthwhile, this match is only recommended for the die-hard Edberg fan.

Bonus info: Becker has later claimed that he had taken a large dose of sleeping medication the night before the final, and was "sleepwalking" when the match started. It certainly is consistent with his performance in the first two sets, but it seems unfair to not give Edberg credit for his high level of play in the first two sets.

Australian Open 2008

2008-01-24T15:48:00.000-08:00

I have been watching the Australian Open 2008. I will review any potentially classic matches in the future. At this stage I feel that the best matches this year have been (with preliminary rating in parenthesis)

Kohlschreiber def. Roddick (91?)
Federer def. Tipsarevic (90)
Tsonga def. Nadal (91)

I missed Hewitt v. Baghdatis, but will watch it at a later stage.

Let's all hope for a terrific match tonight between Federer and Djokovic.

2005 Australian Open SF: Safin def. Federer

2008-01-13T19:55:00.000-08:00

Safin def. Federer: 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 9-7.
Classic: Yes!
Rating: 100.

The Plot: An argument can be made that this is the best tennis match played since the 1980 Wimbledon final. Safin defeated the seemingly invincible Federer in a 4 1/2 hour match, ending temporarily Federer's strangle hold on tennis' major titles.

The match: The first set is scintillating tennis from the word play, but there are no breaks of serve until Safin serves 5-6. Federer breaks to take the set, and seems to be in the drivers' seat. But Federer then goes off the boil a fraction and Safin breaks in the 3rd game if the 2nd set. Holding onto this advantage, Safin levels the match at 2 sets a piece, before Federer picks up his game again and plays an immaculate 3rd set. The 4th set is thrilling tennis, but goes to a tie-break in which Federer has match point at 6-5, and Safin saves it with positively brilliant play. Eventually Safin prevails to take the match to a deciding 5th set. Federer is treated by the tour trainer early in the 5th set, and seems to be tiring. Federer barely hangs on to hold for 3-5, and faces match points when Safin serves for the match, but he saves them to get back on serve. He saves match points again at 4-5, and again at 6-7. Safin continues to hold serve with relative ease, and at 7-8, Federer goes down 15-40 in his serve to face another two match points. Federer saves the first with an ace, but loses the 2nd (7th total), when he falls while retrieving Safin's shot, and Safin then safely steers the last shot into the open court.

The bottom line: The level of tennis in this match is probably the highest I have seen since the legendary 1980 Wimbledon final (Borg def. McEnroe). It surpasses Sampras/Courier's 1995 AO quarter final and the Rafter/Agassi Wimbledon 2000 semi-final. In the category of spectacular points, winners and "gets", there is an abundance. One may object that Federer is ailing in the 5th set, but he plays so well when it really counts, and it adds to the drama of the match. So a perfect score of 100 points it is for what is undoubtedly one of the finest matches in tennis history.

2000 Australian Open SF: Agassi def. Sampras

2008-01-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

Agassi def. Sampras: 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5), 6-1.
Classic: no.
Rating: 89.

The plot: Agassi was trying to make his fourth straight major final, but first he had to beat long time rival Sampras in the semis.

The match: Sampras seems to have the upper hand early in the 1st set, but his level drops off, and Agassi takes advantage to take the set 6-4. Agassi continues to be dominant early in the 2nd set, but Sampras hangs tough, then elevates his game and breaks Agassi, and takes the 2nd set 6-3. Sampras continues to dominate in the 3rd set, but without any breaks, it is decided in a tie-break. Here, Sampras plays the most unbelievable tennis to win it 7-0. He continues to pressure Agassi early in the 4th set, but Agassi slowly gains the upper hand. The set is decided in a tie-break, where Sampras is up a mini-break twice, only to see Agassi eventually take it 7-5. Agassi breaks Sampras in the 2nd game of the 5th set, and Sampras is looking a little despondent now. Sampras loses serve again 6th game to go down 5-1, and Agassi serves out the match.

The bottom line: The level of tennis is very good in sets 1-4, and is even exhilarating at times in sets 3 and 4. But whereas Agassi plays a very clean match, with less than 20 unforced errors in 5 sets, Sampras misses a few too many shots. There aren't that many good rallies because Sampras almost invariably makes an error. Sampras plays some good volleys and serves great (30+ aces), but the match isn't really a feast for the eyes when it comes to winners and gets. The 5th set is a let-down, when Sampras seemingly is too tired to keep fighting. Sets 3 and 4 are very exciting stuff, and the match is worth seeing because of that. But heed my warning: this is not a classic, it is simply a very good and entertaining grand-slam semi-final.

2001 US Open QF: Sampras def. Agassi

2008-01-06T16:56:00.000-08:00

Sampras def. Agassi: 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6
Classic: Yes
Rating: 91

The Plot: In 2001, Sampras was in the twilight of his career but was seeking one last major. He had not had a great year, but was playing up to former standards at the 2001 US Open. On the other side of the net was his old rival Agassi, who had succesfully stayed competitive at the top of the game by adopting a strict physical training regiment. The match went four sets without a single break of serve, with Sampras eventually edging out Agassi.

The match: The quality of tennis is very high from the beginning. Both men have break chances early in the 1st set, but neither can convert. The set goes to a tie-break, which Sampras appears to be winning when he has a 6-3 lead. He makes consecutive errors to let Agassi back in, and Agassi wins it 9-7. Then 2nd set is entirely without break points, and goes to a tie-break. Agassi makes some unforced errors to hand Sampras the breaker. The 3rd set is a similar story. In the 4th set, both men have break points again for the 1st time since the 1st set, in particular Agassi who has 30-40 in Sampras serve at 3-4. But once again the set is decided in a tie-break, which Sampras wins 7-5 when Agassi dumps a forehand in the net.

The bottom line: The match features a very high level of tennis and there is a very festive atmosphere around the court, as the who's who of New York have come out to watch these two champions play. However, the match is something of an acquired taste due to its unique storyline and the dominance of each player one serve. It is very much worthwhile watching this match to study the strategies of the two players: Agassi serves 80% to Sampras' backhand, and generally attacks that wing during rallies. Sampras serves about 50% to each wing of Agassi, but almost exclusively serves to Agassi's forehand (the weaker return) when he needs to win the point. Among Sampras v. Agassi matches this is no doubt one of the best, but it is a little short on spectacular points, winners and gets, and while both men execute their strategies to perfection, neither man finds a way to counter the other man's strategy on serve. That said, there is much joy to be found in this match.

2007 Wimbledon final: Federer def. Nadal

2008-01-02T19:23:00.000-08:00

Federer def. Nadal: 7-6 (9-7), 4-6,7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2
Classic: Yes.
Rating: 95.

The Plot: Roger Federer was going for his 5th consecutive Wimbledon title and a chance to tie Bjorn Borg's open-era record. In his way stood Raphael Nadal, who incredibly had made it to the final after having looked like he was out of it in both the quarter and semi-finals.

The match: Federer gets a quick start as he breaks Nadal in the 2nd game and then takes a 3-0 lead. But Nadal works his way into the match, breaks back, and the set goes to a tie-break. At 6-3, it appears that Federer has won the breaker when Nadal's shot is called out, but Nadal gets the call overturned using the electronic line-calling system. Federer squanders his next two set points, but eventually wins the breaker 9-7. The 2nd set is a tight affair and goes with serve until Federer serves at 4-5, when Nadal breaks, playing inspired tennis. The 3rd set is similarly tight, and the tennis is superb. Both men have chances, but it is decided in a tie-break which Federer wins.

Just as one might think Federer is in the ascendancy, he plays a rather poor opening service game when Nadal again gets a line-call overturned using the electronic line-calling system. It has to be said that the ball looks like it is about an inch out on the TV replay, and one has to keep in mind here that Hawkeye isn't perfect, either. Federer is clearly rattled and asks in vain for the system to be turned off. He eventually loses serve again to go down 0-3. Leading 4-1, Nadal calls the trainer for a knee problem. Afterwards Federer seems content to try to extend rallies, while Nadal is trying to end points quickly. Federer's tactic turns out to be a mistake, since Nadal seems to move perfectly well, and strikes winner after winner.

In the 5th set both players hold serve to 1-1, but in the 3rd game Federer goes down 15-40 on serve. He saves it with some fantastic serves. In the 5th game, Federer once more goes down 15-40, but saves it with great play. At 2-3, Federer takes his game up a notch and breaks Nadal. Playing like a man renewed, he then holds for 5-2. Federer wins the match when he breaks Nadal again, putting away an overhead on match point.

The bottom line: The match is fantastically exciting from start to finish. The first three sets are tennis of the highest quality. The last two sets are not quite as fine as the tennis goes, but they hold much drama. It should be said that while the match has a good number of spectacular points, winners and "gets", the match is also at times very tense and grinding, which unfortunately doesn't seems to leave room for the kind of virtuosity we know both players otherwise posses. All the same, it is a truly outstanding Wimbledon final.

Availability: Released in the Wimbledon Classic Match series. The DVD unfortunately doesn't feature a proper introduction to the match, but it is otherwise well produced. Jimmy Connors provides great expert commentary.

2001 Wimbledon SF: Rafter def. Agassi

2007-12-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

Rafter def. Agassi: 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6.
Classic: No.
Rating: 91.

The Plot: A repeat of the previous years semi-final. Rafter had had a miserable year with injuries, but had come through the draw at Wimbledon in usual athletic form. Agassi too was playing well, and the match was highly anticipated because of the classic semi-final the two had played the previous year. Added to that, Pete Sampras had gone out in the 4th round to a certain Roger Federer, which would mean that there would be a new Wimbledon champion for the first time since 1996.

The Match: An in-form Agassi has the initiative in the 1st set where he breaks Rafter in 3rd game, playing some unbelievable tennis. He breaks again in the 5th game. Agassi is serving great and Rafter is not able to return effectively. Agassi takes the 1st set 6-2. In the 2nd game of the 2nd set Rafter breaks at 30-40 when the ball takes a terrible bounce on Agassi's side of the court. Rafter saves 2 break points in the 3rd game with some great serving, but it is clear that his volleys are not as sharp as usual.

In the 3rd set Rafter seems to find some of the form from the previous years semi-final and plays some great volleys, but it is Agassi who breaks in the 6th game and takes the set 6-3. In the 4th set it seems to be Agassi who is on top again, but in the 6th game Rafter breaks when Agassi gets two line calls that he thinks are bad - one of which certainly looks so on the TV replay. Later, a frustrated Agassi loses his serve and the set 6-2.

In the 5th set Rafter loses serve in the 1st game, and almost goes down a double break. Agassi plays incredibly well and holds serve until he serves for the match at 5-4, when suddenly Rafter plays the most inspired tennis to break and level the match 5-5. The players test each other on serve but hold until 7-6, when Rafter breaks Agassi, winning the match on his 3rd match point.

The bottom line: The match is very good, but the level of play is not consistently as high as it was in the previous years' semifinal. It is fair to say that Agassi plays better for most of the match, and Rafter is aided in the 4th set by a dicey line call. Rafter plays his best in the 3rd set and in the 5th set after almost losing his serve again at 0-2. At the best of times the match is as good as the 2000 semi-final, but that is not quite the case in sets 1 and 2. Agassi plays great throughout and his passes and lobs are a joy to watch, and in the highly dramatic 5th set Rafter plays some stunning volleys. The match is very entertaining and gets my recommendation, but I hesitate to call it a classic.

Bonus info: Agassi receives a code violation in the 5th set after yelling an obscenity at the lines-person on the line where he repeatedly feels that bad calls are made. Note though that it is not the same line-judge on that line in the 5th set as it was in the 4th.

1984 Wimbledon Final: McEnroe def. Connors

2007-12-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

McEnroe def. Connors: 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
Classic: No, but very entertaining.
Rating: 88

The Plot: This match may have been McEnroe's finest moment on a tennis court. The match was highly anticipated and it was expected to be close. It was anything but. McEnroe was brilliant from every part of the court and never gave Connors, who had unexpectedly defeated him in the 1982 Final, a chance to get into the match.

The match: McEnroe opens the match by holding serve to love and then goes on to break Connors in the next game. McEnroe is as sharp as you would ever see, and Connors has to play a very good game to hold serve to 1-3. But McEnroe continues to dominate, and breaks again and wins the set 6-1.

Connors loses his opening service game in the 2nd set, and is down 0-4 before he holds serve. McEnroe is untouchable and takes the 2nd set by playing an unbelievable return game to break Connors. Everything is going McEnroe's way, even the net-cords turn out in his favour.

Connors manages to hold serve until 2-2, but McEnroe breaks to take a 4-2 lead, and wins the match as he breaks Connors to love in the final game.

The bottom line: This has to be the most brutal beat-down in the history of Wimbledon. It surpasses the 1999 Wimbledon final and the 1991 US Open final. The only comparison may be the Federer's drubbing of Hewitt in the 2004 US Open final. McEnroe has 2 unforced errors in the whole match and is serving as well as I've ever seen. Connors is clearly trying to get into it, but anything he comes up with is answered by McEnroe. The match is not boring to watch because McEnroe is so brilliant and Connors keeps trying very hard. It is a must-have for the McEnroe and/or serve-volley enthusiast, even if the storyline in this match is very thin.

1992 US Open SF: Edberg def. Chang

2007-12-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

Edberg def. Chang: 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4
Classic: no.
Rating: 77.

The plot: Edberg came back to defend his US Open title in 1992. But unlike the previous year where he had dominated, this year he struggled. 20 year old Chang had struggled, too, through long matches, but it was his best showing at the Open ever. It would be Edberg's serve-volley versus Chang's returns and passes - on paper, a mouthwatering encounter.

The match: Edberg breaks serve in the opening game, but as he steps up to the line to serve he is called for a foot-fault immediately, then double faults repeatedly, loses his serve, and so our bumpy 5 1/2 hour ride starts. Chang then takes the lead, looks to be in control at 5-2, then Edberg comes storming back, but Chang wins the 1st set in a tiebreak. Edberg has 8 double faults in the first set alone.

In the 2nd set Edberg incredibly gets 8 straight first serves in and takes a 4-0 lead. Then Chang comes storming back, but Edberg wins it 7-5. The players fumble their way through sets 3 and 4 in a similar way. For a while it seems that Edberg may win the 4th set and put this awful, error-laden match out of its misery, but no, we have to endure a 5th set where Edberg seems tired, almost goes down two breaks of serve before he gathers himself and then incredibly is let back into the match by Chang, who in my opinion displays a formidable lack of mental fortitude. Edberg wins the 5th set 6-4 when Chang's return of serve sails wide.

The bottom line: I've often heard people refer to this as a classic, but it is nothing like that. It is a somewhat entertaining topsy-turvy match full of unforced errors and double faults. At times the level of play is so atrocious that you just pray that the match will end. It is a great credit to Edberg that he was able to win when playing so badly, but it reflects poorly on Chang's ability that he is not able to take advantage of Edberg's poor play. I can't recommend this match at all.

Stat of the match: Edberg served 18 double faults in the match, 8 in the first set alone.

2000 Wimbledon SF: Rafter def. Agassi

2007-11-28T18:56:00.000-08:00

Rafter def. Agassi: 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
Classic: Yes.
Rating: 96.

The Plot: Patrick Rafter was bidding to reach the Wimbledon final for the first time in 2000. But first he had to defeat the best returner in the game, Andre Agassi, in the semifinal.

The Match: Both men take a few games before they settle in, but there are no breaks of serve until 5-6, when Agassi plays a poor service game to lose the set. Rafter gains the momentum and breaks in the 2nd set to go up 2-0, before Agassi comes roaring back. Both men are playing great tennis, but Agassi finds a higher gear and breaks Rafter with some phenomenal returns and passes to take the 2nd set.

The 3rd set is a strange affair. Agassi seems to be in the drivers seat, but he plays a horrible game to lose his serve and give Rafter a 5-3 advantage. Agassi breaks back, and holds serve until 5-6, when he again plays a horrible game to lose the set. Agassi then breaks Rafter in the opening game of the 4th set, and manages to maintain this advantage throughout the 4th set, even though Rafter is putting a lot of pressure on Agassi.

The 5th set is a tense affair. Rafter faces break points against him in the opening game, but gets out of it. At 3-2, Rafter breaks Agassi, playing some great tennis, and then holds onto the break advantage until he serves out the match at 5-4.

The bottom line: Rafter plays a tactically very smart match: On serve he sticks to his serve-volley game, but on the return games he uses a slow backhand slice that begs Agassi to attack the net. Agassi does not volley competently to do so, and so must hit winners off these slow shots, which creates a lot of unforced errors. Rafter plays many spectacular volleys at net; Agassi produces many good passing shots and lobs. The contrast in style makes for a great match. Rafter is playing his very best, but I feel Agassi is just slightly below his best, and he seems to get frustrated at times. All that said, this is an absolutely classic encounter, overflowing with spectacularly played points.

Available in the Wimbledon classic match series.

1985 Australian Open SF: Edberg def. Lendl

2007-11-26T00:06:00.000-08:00

Edberg def. Lendl: 6-7, 7-5, 6-1, 4-6, 9-7
Classic: Yes.
Rating: 95

The Plot: Stefan Edberg won his first Australian Open in 1985, at 19 years of age. In the semifinal he had overcome then-world no. 1 Ivan Lendl who was going for the 3rd Grand Slam title of his career.

The Match: Stefan Edberg is playing superb tennis in the first set and has numerous break-chances against Lendl, who seems slightly agitated. But Lendl is able to save all the break points he face, and the set is decided in a tie-break. In the tie-break, Edberg's level suddenly drops, and Lendl wins the set. The 2nd set is an exact reversal of the first, as it is Lendl who has all the break opportunities against Edberg's serve, without ever converting. Finally, it is Edberg who breaks in the 11th game to take the set.

The 3rd set proves a disaster for Lendl, who seems irritated and edgy. But he gets his game back on track in the 4th and breaks Edberg to take a 2-1 lead. Edberg breaks back to draw even at 4-4 when rain delays the match.

When the match resumes, Lendl has regained his composure and breaks Edberg with some stunning returns. He takes the set 6-4, and then breaks Edberg in the 1st game of the 5th set. But the lead is a brief one as Edberg breaks back in the next game. The players hold serve for the remainder of the match, but it is Edberg who is wearing down Lendl. He has break points when Lendl serves 3-4, three match points at 4-5, and match points again at 6-7. Lendl hangs on, but when serving at 7-8, he goes down 30-40, and Edberg finally wins the match with a passing shot down the line.

The bottom line: This is a highly dramatic, superbly played tennis match. Edberg plays excellent tennis throughout, and so does Lendl except for in the 3rd set. Both men serve and volley (Australian Open was played on grass at that time), and in addition to many fine net-points there are also many great passing shots and lobs. This is without doubt my favourite Edberg match of all time, and it is astonishing to see how brilliant he was even as a 19-year old. The match gets my warmest recommendation.

Bonus info: In the last game of the match, Lendl's smash goes under the net, but the umpire doesn't see it. Luckily, Edberg returns it for a winner, but is clearly surprised that there is no call from the umpire.

1999 Wimbledon Final: Sampras def. Agassi

2007-11-23T17:18:00.000-08:00

Sampras def. Agassi: 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
Classic: No, but a must-have for Sampras fans.
Rating: 86

The Plot: Sampras put in possibly his greatest performance ever at Wimbledon in this 1999 final. Agassi was playing amazing tennis prior to this final after having miraculously won the French Open the month before. But Sampras put his foot down and showed who was the master at Wimbledon with a performance reminiscent of Edberg's defeat of Courier in the 1991 US Open final.

The Match: Early in the 1st set things are tight, and Agassi has 4 break chances early on Sampras' serve. Sampras saves them all with great serves, and then seems to kick into a higher gear, as Agassi lets down his guard in the next game. From then on Sampras is completely dominant for the remainder of the match. He takes the first set 6-3. Agassi gets a bad start on the 2nd set and loses serve, and is in danger of going down a double break. He doesn't, but all attempts at getting back on level terms are thwarted by Sampras. In the 3rd set Agassi manages just barely to stay on serve until 5-5 when he drops serve, and Sampras serves out the match in the next game.

The bottom line: Sampras is overwhelmingly dominant, and Agassi is not at his best. Sampras is a joy to watch as he not only serves great, but also plays some great volleys, including two spectacular diving volleys. But unless you're a great Sampras fan (like me), you probably don't need to see this match.

1988 Wimbledon final: Edberg def. Becker

2007-11-12T15:40:00.000-08:00

Edberg def. Becker: 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Classic: Almost
Rating: 90

The Plot: This is the first installment in a series of 3 consecutive Wimbledon finals played between Becker and Edberg from 1988 to 1990. In 1988, Stefan Edberg won his first Wimbledon title by defeating 2-time champion Boris Becker in a match that took 2 days to complete due to rain. Edberg, who had come back from 2 sets down against Mecir in the semifinal, was decidedly the underdog, having lost most of his previous matches against Becker, and Becker was hungry to regain the title he first won at age 17, in 1985.

The Match: Edberg gets a quick start and takes a 3-0 lead, but Becker starts to return Edberg's high-bouncing serve better and gets back on serve. At 3-2, rain delays the match. When the match resumes (a day later), Becker runs off another 3 games to make it 5-3, and eventually wins the set 6-4. (I believe there is another rain delay?)

The 2nd set is a tight affair, and both men are playing excellent tennis amid cold, windy conditions. It goes to a tie-breaker which Edberg takes, playing great tennis. Having gained the momentum, Edberg starts to play with more confidence in the 3rd set and starts to return Becker's serve better and breaks early in the set. Becker is getting very frustrated with his inability to return Edberg's kick-serve and is screaming at himself and throwing his racquet. Edberg wins the set, and seems to only get better in the 4th set where he is blanketing the net in his trade-mark fashion. Boris loses his serve twice to go down 4-1. Edberg serves for the championship at 5-2, and wins on his first championship point as Becker drills a backhand into the net-cord.

The bottom line: The first two sets are classic, but then Becker's level seems to slip in the 3rd and 4th set. Edberg is playing great tennis throughout: Not as smooth as he would become later in his career, but he blankets the net beautifully and his backhand passing shots are amazing. While the story-line of the underdog winning after losing the 1st set is obviously compelling, I don't feel the match is a "classic" because Becker fades so badly in the 4th set. But it is a very enjoyable match, in particular for those who remember the Becker/Edberg rivalry.

Availability: Why Wimbledon has not released the Becker/Edberg finals as a box-set is beyond me. I have a version recorded from TV with Dick Enberg and Bud Collins doing the commentary for NBC, and they're just awful to listen to. Try to get a BBC version if you can, which can only be better.

1995 Australian Open QF: Sampras def. Courier

2007-11-09T20:08:00.001-08:00

Sampras def. Courier: 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Classic: Yes
Rating: 96

The Plot: This is the famous match where Sampras starts crying at the beginning of the 5th set. Sampras coach, Tim Gullikson, had flown back to the U.S. after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Courier knew all about this, being a close friend of Sampras and having had dinner with Sampras and his team the night before. Sampras had struggled in previous matches, and Courier must have liked his chances to turn around his losing streak against Sampras.

The Match: Courier makes an all-out attack on the shaky Sampras backhand from the start of the match, and Sampras, who seems a little despondent at times, is only hanging in there because of his serve. There are no breaks in the first two sets, which are rich on fierce backhand-to-backhand exchanges, and Courier wins sets 1 and 2 in tie-breakers. Then in the 3rd set, Sampras starts to play a lot better and breaks Courier twice to take the set.

In the 4th set, Courier breaks in the 5th game, and seems well on his way to victory as he consolidates the break to go up 4-2. But Sampras once again seems to raise the level of his game and breaks back. Eventually, he wins the set as Courier misses an easy overhead on set-point.

At the beginning of the 5th set, a fan yells out "Do it for your coach, Pete", which causes tears to well up into Sampras eyes. Serving at 1-1, he can barely keep his composure and Courier, famously, yells over the net "We can do this tomorrow, you know." Sampras, feeling that Courier is mocking him, then serves aces to get out of the game. Courier's level seems to drop from then on in the 5th set and he loses serve a few games later, and Sampras serves out the match.

The bottom line: This is one of the most dramatic tennis matches I have ever seen. The level of tennis is very high throughout, and the ball is being struck as hard as you would ever see. The baseline rallies are exciting stuff, and Sampras adds some variation by serving and volleying on the 1st serve most of the time. There are many great points, winners and "gets". I feel perhaps that Sampras performance is a fraction below his best in sets 1 and 2, and Courier is not playing his best in set 5. Other than that, this is an almost perfect match, both for its drama and its high quality tennis. It is highly recommended

1991 US Open final: Edberg def. Courier

2007-11-09T19:42:00.000-08:00

Edberg def. Courier: 6-2, 6-4, 6-0.
Classic: No, but a must-have if you're a big Edberg fan.
Rating: 87

The Plot: Edberg played possibly his best tournament ever at the 1991 US Open. In the final, Edberg played one of the very best matches of his career, beating Courier (the French Open champion) in the most emphatic fashion.

The Match: It is a hot day in New York, and the on-court temperature is in the 90's (F). Both players seem a little lethargic at first. In the 3rd game, Courier runs into trouble on his serve and the game goes to 6 deuces before Edberg breaks. A few games later Edberg hits top form and is near perfect for the rest of the match. He takes the set 6-2. In the 2nd set, Courier puts in a great effort to turn the tide of battle, but he is broken early in the set and can't recover against Edberg, who is playing out of his mind and holding serve with ease. After losing the 2nd set Courier is clearly deflated and is bageled as Edberg unleashes a storm of winners from every part of the court.

The bottom line: If Courier had been able to give Edberg more resistance, as he does in the 2nd set, the match could have been a classic. Instead, he seems to spend sets 1 and 3 being upset with the linesmen and the noisy New York crowd. Edberg's performance is flawless from midway through the 1st set. There are many brilliant volleys from Edberg (along with some fine winners off the ground) for the serve-volley enthusiast to marvel at, but I hessitate to recommend the match unless you're a big Edberg fan (like me.)

2001 Wimbledon 4th rd.: Federer def. Sampras

2007-11-06T18:29:00.000-08:00

Federer def. Sampras: 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5.
Classic: Yes
Rating: 93
Available from: Wimbledon Classic Matches (search Amazon.com).

The Plot: This is the only match that Federer and Sampras, arguably the two greatest players of the last 20 years, ever played on the ATP tour. At the time, Federer was a 19 year old player making his Centre Court debut, and Sampras, 29 years of age, was a 13-time Grand Slam champion (7 times at Wimbledon) in the twilight of his career. That day, Federer ended Sampras reign at Wimbledon and announced his arrival at the top echelon of the pro game.

The Match: There are no breaks of serve in the 1st set, and both men are playing superb tennis, serving and volleying most points. The set is decided in a tie-break. In the 2nd set, Federer has numerous chances to break Sampras serve, but can't convert. Eventually, it is Sampras who breaks to take the set 7-5.

Federer finally breaks Sampras in the 3rd set, but Sampras breaks back immediately. However, when Sampras is serving at 4-4, he misses a slam-dunk overhead at break point, and Federer serves out the set in the next game.

Sampras plays his best tennis in the 4th set tie-break, hitting at one time a 136mph 1st serve, and taking the tie-break 7-2. The 5th set is a thrilling affair, as both men face multiple break points against their serve, but save them with great play. But when Sampras serves at 5-6, Federer hits several great returns to earn two match points at 15-40. He takes the first with a return winner down the line - and sinks to his knees in triumph.

The bottom line: Federer plays an outstanding match: He is never nervous, he sticks to his game plan, he serves almost as well as Sampras, and plays all the big points well. Sampras is playing very well, too, but he seems to believe for too long that Federer will let himself down, and when he raises his level in the 4th set it seems too late. Federer winning the 1st set gets the plot going, and the crowd senses what may happen (they are very loud at the end.) My only real misgiving is that the match is a little bit short on exciting points and winners, at least from Sampras end of the court. All the same, it is a great match and no tennis enthusiast should miss it.

Bonus info: Tears of joy well up in Federer's eyes as he sits down after the match. It wouldn't be until 2003 we would see those tears of joy again, when he won his first Wimbledon Championship.

Wimbledon DVD release: I don't find the official Wimbledon release is very well produced. There is no real introduction, and throughout the match you can faintly hear the commentators communicating with the technical staff in the background. It seems that the DVD has been rushed to the market.

1980 Wimbledon Final: Borg def. McEnroe

2007-11-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

Borg def. McEnroe: 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 8-6.
Classic: Yes!
Rating: 100

The Plot: Possibly the most famous tennis match in memory. Bjorn Borg was gunning for a 5th straight Wimbledon title, but a young John McEnroe, whose game was seemingly tailor made for grass, was standing in his way. The two were already engaged in a tense rivalry after meeting in the US Open final the previous year (which McEnroe won.)

The Match: McEnroe gets an unbelievably quick start against Borg, who is out of sorts attempting to return McEnroe's heavily sliced serve. But McEnroe, owing possibly to fatigue from his previous matches, can't keep up the level, and Borg works his way into the match in the 2nd set. Fully in control, Borg breaks to take the 2nd set, cruises through the 3rd and is seemingly on his way to victory when he breaks McEnroe late in the 4th set. But when Borg is serving for the match at 5-4, McEnroe suddenly produces the most thrilling tennis, and breaks Borg.

The 4th set goes to a tie-breaker. This is the most famous tie-break in tennis history, in which Borg has 5 match points (in addition to two held during the 4th set), and McEnroe has 7 set points. Eventually McEnroe prevails to take the match to a deciding 5th.

In the 5th set, Borg raises the level of his game, winning 28 of 31 points on serve in the set. McEnroe is tiring, and is on several occasions down 0-40, but gets out of trouble every time. But when serving at 6-7, McEnroe goes down 15-40 and Borg finally wins the match with a cross-court passing shot.

The Bottom Line: I have often felt while watching this match that modern-day tennis is being invented right before our eyes. The tennis of 1980 is of course very different from today's tennis because of the use of wooden racquets. Baseline winners are virtually non-existent, and attacking tennis means rushing the net. Both men serve and volley mostly, which was the style of the day on grass. Yet a contrast of style is apparent: Borg often stays back on 2nd serves, and he is overall so much more adept on his ground strokes and passing shots. McEnroe is a virtuoso at net, of course, but his returns and ground-strokes are rather lacking. But during the best parts of this match, Borg and McEnroe produce such thrilling and fast-paced tennis with incredible winners, passes and volleys, that you're left wondering how they could do that without modern day graphite racquets.

Even though Borg has a slow start and McEnroe seems a little tired at times, it is overall hard to imagine a more superbly played tennis match. So I am giving this highly dramatic and thrilling match a perfect score of 100.

Availability: This match is available on DVD in Wimbledon's Classic Match series. Check out Amazon.com or similar places online.

2006 Rome Masters Final: Nadal def. Federer

2007-10-30T22:09:00.001-07:00

Nadal def. Federer: 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 2-6,7-6
Classic: Yes
Rating: 95

The Plot: Nadal had established himself as the King of Clay by winning his first French Open the year prior to this match, where he beat Federer in the semis. Two weeks before this Rome final Federer had lost to Nadal at the Masters series in Monaco in a somewhat lack-luster final. All the pressure was on Federer to show that he could beat Nadal on clay before the French Open.

The Match: Federer gets an early break in the 1st set but is unable to hold on to it. Nonetheless, it is clearly Federer who is in control of most rallies and he wins the 1st set in a flawlessly played tie-break.

However, Nadal raises the level of his game in the 2nd set and Federer's level drops slightly. With no breaks, the 2nd set goes to a tie-break, but Nadal is in the ascendancy now and takes it. In the 3rd set Nadal is dominating Federer in the rallies and Federer is missing some crucial forehands.

But just as one might expect that Federer is out the match, he returns to his better play from the 1st set. He breaks Nadal twice and takes the 4th set 6-2. He then goes on to get an early break in the 5th set, but just like the 1st set, he can't hold on to it. As things tighten up towards the end of the 5th set, both men have chances, but none greater than Federer, who holds two match points on Nadals serve at 6-5. Nadal survives to send the set to a deciding tiebreak. Federer again is up in the breaker on two occasions but can't hold on - and Nadal wins it 7-5 on his first match point.

The bottom line: This is no doubt the best ATP match played in 2006 and is in many ways the great French Open final between the two that we never had. The level of play is sky-high, Federer is attacking the net with great success and Nadal hits topspin forehands like no one but Nadal does. It makes for a nice contrast in playing style. My only criticism is perhaps that the match is a little monotonous with many of the points following similar patterns, and that the slow clay doesn't allow Federer to hit as many miraculous winners as you see on faster surfaces. Nonetheless, this match is likely to go down as the best match the two ever played, and it is highly recommended.

Stat of the match: Federer won 64 of 84 points when he came to the net (76%).

1989 French Open Final: Chang def. Edberg

2007-10-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

Chang def. Edberg: 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Classic: Yes
Rating: 93

The Plot: Michael Chang became the youngest ever man to win a grand slam singles title when he won the 1989 French Open. En route to the final, he beat heavy favourite Ivan Lendl in the 4th round in a match that tennis enthusiasts still talk about frequently. Stefan Edberg, the fluent Swedish serve-volleyer, had made a surprise run to the final, beating Boris Becker in a 5-set thriller in the semi-final.

The Match: Chang comes out firing and makes quick work of Edberg in the 1st set. But the Swede works his way into the match and takes control in the 2nd set. Once in control, Edberg is playing unbelievably well, serving and volleying with great authority, and even though Chang keeps getting the ball back, Edberg is on it every time. From breaking Chang late in the 2nd set, Edberg wins 7 consecutive games and is cruising in the 3rd set.

Edberg breaks Chang in the 1st game of the 4th set but is broken back immediately. Edberg has break chances in every Chang service game in the 4th set (9 total), but can't convert. Eventually Chang breaks Edberg at 5-4 to take the match into a deciding 5th set.

Edberg breaks Chang in the 1st game of the 5th set, only to be broken right back. Edberg looks tired and is broken again. Though he has several more break chances in the set, he can't convert. Serving at 2-5, Edberg goes down 15-40 and nets an easy forehand to hand Chang the match.

The bottom line: The level of tennis is high throughout, particularly so in sets 2, 3 and 4. Chang runs everything down from the baseline, and Edberg blankets the net, making one incredible volley after another. There are many spectacular points and winners, in particular off Edberg's backhand wing. The many momentum shifts, the contrast in playing style between Chang and Edberg, the importance of the occasion, along with the compelling background story, make this match qualify as a classic. It is highly recommended.

Stat of the match: Edberg had 25 break chances in the match, but converted only 6.

My points system

2007-10-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,

I have decided to institute a points system for my match reviews. The system is inspired by Robert Parker's famous (notorious?) wine rating system, and here is how it breaks down:

All matches are given 50 points for starters. From then on:

Up to 30 points are awarded for the quality of play, 15 points for each player (I only plan to review singles matches.) Generally, few unforced errors and double faults, high first service percentage, good use of strategy, etc. will help to earn a high score in this category.

Up to 10 points can be awarded for the quality of the general plot/storyline of the match. Such things as twists and turns of the plot, emotions of the players, drama (e.g. spectacular recovery, crowd involvement, etc.), the setting or circumstance of the match (e.g. finals of Wimbledon, historical importance, rivalry, etc.) all count towards this

Finally, up to 10 points are awarded for other qualities of the match, including: Contrast of styles (e.g. baseliner vs. serve-volleyer), the number of interesting rallies, spectacular/special points, and spectacular or special shots, winners or "gets".

Of course, my notes on the match provide more detailed information. Generally, a match rated from 80-89 is a good to very good match, but there is a big difference between a 89 point match and an 80 point match. Matches scoring 90 points or more are most likely classics, and are worth purchasing to see. Matches scoring 95 or above are instant classics, and should not be missed by any tennis enthusiast. A match scoring 100 points is theoretically the perfect tennis match.

1998 US Open SF: Rafter def. Sampras

2007-10-25T19:08:00.000-07:00

Rafter def. Sampras: 6-7, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
Classic: No.
Rating: 82

The plot: Rafter won the 1997 US Open and came back to successfully defend his title in 1998. En route, he met Pete Sampras who was closing in on Roy Emerson's all-time grand slam record of 12 career men's singles slams. The match was highly anticipated, and Pete was the heavy favourite, even though he had lost to Rafter a month earlier at Cincinnati.

The match doesn't live up to its promise, but it is fairly entertaining at times. The first two sets are well played, even though Sampras is struggling with his 1st serve, getting only around 35% in. Sampras wins the first set in an exciting tie-breaker, Rafter takes the 2nd set with a single break. In the 3rd set Sampras sustains an injury (his thigh cramps up), which hinders his movement for the rest of the match. Rafter seems to lose his concentration when this happens and dumps the 3rd set. But from the 4th set on, Sampras can't keep up, and Rafter goes on a stretch of winning 35 of 42 points on his serve at a time. Serving at 3-5 in the final set, Sampras falls behind 0-40, and Rafter wins on his first match point with a passing shot down the line.

The bottom line: Had Sampras been able to fight through his injury, it could have been a classic. Instead, he fades away badly after the injury. There are many lovely serve-volley points from Rafter for the serve-volley enthusiast, and the first two sets are well played and exciting.

Bonus Info: In a pre-match interview, Sampras was asked what the difference between him and Rafter was, to which he famously answered: "About 10 grand slams".

Welcome to The Classic Match

2007-10-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! This is a blog about classic tennis matches. When tennis goes into the off-season (i.e. post-US Open) I keep myself entertained by watching old tennis matches I've recorded from TV over the years. This also allows me the opportunity to watch serve and volley tennis which has gone out of style in todays game. To me, that is the most beautiful and exciting style of tennis, and the best tennis matches are those that feature the contrasting styles of a serve-volleyer against a baseliner: McEnroe vs. Borg or Rafter vs. Agassi are classic examples.

Old tennis matches are hard to come by, unless you've been recording them from TV yourself for many years. There are a few places on the internet that sell old matches on DVD - do a Google search for "tennis matches on DVD". Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam that regularly release some of their greatest matches on DVD. You can buy them from Amazon, say.

I will provide you with reviews and comments on the best tennis matches I've seen over the years featuring top players of all eras. Federer, Nadal, Sampras, Agassi, Rafter, Edberg, McEnroe and Borg are some of my favourite players. You're welcome to chime in if you have comments.

Cheers,

Usirnaym