Tennis between Wimbledon and US Open

[nuraman00]

Agassi didn't play the Australian Open until 1995.
If Agassi played it before that, maybe Sampras wouldn't have won the AO in 1994.
And while Agassi took a holiday (1997), Sampras won the AO.
Also the French Open they only met once.

Yeah, it's unfortunate.

It's just when they did play, I remember Agassi lost. I didn't get a chance to see his three wins at majors vs. Sampras.

I didn't start getting into the Australian until 2005, in terms of completely watching the tourney. The few years prior, I only had time for the SF or Finals.

Wish he could have beaten Sampras at the 2002 USO. I could have remembered at least that win.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Yeah, it's unfortunate.

It's just when they did play, I remember Agassi lost. I didn't get a chance to see his three wins at majors vs. Sampras.

I didn't start getting into the Australian until 2005, in terms of completely watching the tourney. The few years prior, I only had time for the SF or Finals.

Wish he could have beaten Sampras at the 2002 USO. I could have remembered at least that win.

Yeah poor Agassi really suffered at the US Open vs Sampras. But I was very impressed with Agassi's 1999 US Open final vs Todd Martin. That was a really tough match, and Agassi looked poised and confident throughout. Probably gained a lot of confidence from the 1999 French Open comeback (even if he got trounced at Wimbledon).

1999 Wimbledon was a demolition that felt inevitable throughout, and 1990 US Open was a demolition, whereas in the other US Open matches it looked like Agassi had a chance most of the time but was out-clutched on big points (in 1995 final, 2001 quarter-final, 2002 final). Sampras was a lot more confident on the big points, and the big serve when the going got tough. It was clear in 1995 and 2000 Australian Opens that the court speed gave Agassi a lot more time to return. I didn't see their French Open match, but no surprise Agassi won.

Yeah 2002 US Open seemed like a good opportunity for Agassi, but he gets worn-out in the US Open semis (same as 2005 US Open when he met Federer in the final). Playing Hewitt in 2002 US open semis did not help. And playing THREE 5-setters at 2005 US Open was torture.

 

[Liberal Icon]

Also marks the tour-level debut for Francis Tiafoe (16) and Jared Donaldson (17), two of the best junior prospects in US tennis. Tiafoe won the Orange Bowl last year at age 15 and was ranked as the #2 Junior in the world earlier this year. Donaldson's been really hot recently, beating several top college players on his way to three straight Futures titles.

But Tiafoe crushed really hard at the French. He needs more time.

 

[bksballer89]

BTW the Citi Open early rounds is on tennis channel for those who care

 

[bksballer89]

Donaldson was defeated in 3 sets by American Rajeev Ram

 

[nuraman00]

Yeah poor Agassi really suffered at the US Open vs Sampras. But I was very impressed with Agassi's 1999 US Open final vs Todd Martin. That was a really tough match, and Agassi looked poised and confident throughout. Probably gained a lot of confidence from the 1999 French Open comeback (even if he got trounced at Wimbledon).

1999 Wimbledon was a demolition that felt inevitable throughout, and 1990 US Open was a demolition, whereas in the other US Open matches it looked like Agassi had a chance most of the time but was out-clutched on big points (in 1995 final, 2001 quarter-final, 2002 final). Sampras was a lot more confident on the big points, and the big serve when the going got tough. It was clear in 1995 and 2000 Australian Opens that the court speed gave Agassi a lot more time to return. I didn't see their French Open match, but no surprise Agassi won.

Yeah 2002 US Open seemed like a good opportunity for Agassi, but he gets worn-out in the US Open semis (same as 2005 US Open when he met Federer in the final). Playing Hewitt in 2002 US open semis did not help. And playing THREE 5-setters at 2005 US Open was torture.

The 1995 USO is the other one I remember. Both for Agassi's shirt, and because as you said, Sampras was just more clutch.

They played some 16-17 min game and after Sampras won that, I felt disheartened.

As for the 1999 Wimbledon, I missed that one, but in Agassi's book, he said he felt he played really well for the first 6 games, then couldn't sustain it.

1995 US Open:

 

[nuraman00]

The 1992 Wimbledon is the only one of Agassi's GS wins I saw. I thought I was going to see the 2003 AO one, but something came up that night, and couldn't even plan to record it.

For the 2005 USO, Agassi looked to be in great shape. Plus, even though he played long matches, I think it wasn't as tiring as it could have been, because the wind lead to a lot of unforced errors, and the wind allowed them to have extra time in between points, so the servers could make a better ball toss.

 

[Hs0022]

Agassi did well to hang in with Pete. The string technology hadn't quite taken flight at that stage where he was getting thumped by Pete. Later on when the technology was rampant in full swing Agassi got too old but still managed to pull out a few more slams after Pete retired.

 

[cezero]

Sampras' serve was the dealbreaker. Andre could just never read it very well, and he made a living off of reading serves. Pete was one of the few exceptions.

Sampras always knew he could comfortably hold his serve 9 times out of 10 against Andre. He'd bide his time until the end of set to put forth some effort and run around to try to break Andre's serve, and if he couldn't, he knew he'd probably win a tiebreak.

Just a bad matchup.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

yeah from an Agassi fan perspective, i feared the tie-breakers.
but the exception was 2000 AO semi-final, 4th set tie-breaker.
that was a lot of fun, and the 5th set was like when Nadal cruised past Federer in the 5th set of 2009 AO.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

The 1995 USO is the other one I remember. Both for Agassi's shirt, and because as you said, Sampras was just more clutch.

They played some 16-17 min game and after Sampras won that, I felt disheartened.

As for the 1999 Wimbledon, I missed that one, but in Agassi's book, he said he felt he played really well for the first 6 games, then couldn't sustain it.

1995 US Open:

yep the 1995 US Open Final was awesome entertainment.
yeah i remember Agassi had Sampras in trouble early in the 1st set of 1999 Wimbledon final.
i think Agassi had breakpoints, and then Sampras served his way out of it and broke Agassi immediately after.
Agassi had a great range of outfits he chose......

 

[bksballer89]

Pospisil up 3-1 in the first on berd man

 

[bksballer89]

Nice win for Donald today beating Istomin. Also Stevie Johnson defeated Dr. Ivo

 

[bksballer89]

Bird man loses the first set 6-2

 

[cezero]

good for popsicle!

i like his game.

 

[bksballer89]

And he gets the early break in the 2nd.....Looking like a straight forward game for him if he's able to hold serve here and go up 3-0

 

[bksballer89]

double break for berdych

 

[Hank Kingsley]

good for popsicle!

i like his game.

Moi aussi.

Straight set win.

He displayed everything I like more about his game than Raonic's.

 

[bksballer89]

Donald down a set but it is 5-5 in the 2nd

 

[bksballer89]

the first big tourney of the us open series is next week and here is the draw

http://www.rogerscup.com/men/pdf/draws/2014/MDS3.pdf