From: ratte@sfb256.iam.uni-bonn.de (  Cordula Reineke  )
Subject: Sampras - Edberg  6:3, 3:6, 7:5
Organization: Applied Math, University of Bonn, Germany
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 11:28:38 GMT

What a thriller !!

PS caught a good start again.
(1:0) PS attacked SE's 2nd service by some great backhand passing-shots.
(1:1) PS serving very well.
(2:1) Sharp backhand-returns, PS has 2 breakpoints, SE gets trouble with
his 1st service, then double-faults, has some unsurances => break.
(3:1) PS mixing aces and service-winners. SE has problems with his shoes
like JC in his first match and slips away (but PS's ball went out anyway).
(4:1) SE under pressure a bit at first (30:30), but with a better service
then and ends up with his first ace.
(4:2) The most dramatic point I *ever* saw in my life: Both running for
their lives, reaching the most impossible balls, the spectators can't stop
screaming, finally PS lobs very precisely and gets his 5:2. They sit down
exhausted but both smiling.
(5:2) SE foot-faults, PS takes revenge for him by returning right onto the
judge who had announced foot-fault, SE says thanks. :-)
(5:3) PS plays dream-tennis.
Nothing more to say about the 1st set.

Both started very concentrated in the 2nd set.
(0:1) SE tries every possible kind of return to come into the game, but is 
helpless.
(1:1) SE more dominant in his own service-games, if(!) his 1st service is
valid, but you can't win against PS if you double-fault! They reach deuce,
but SE finally wns the game.
(1:2) PS mixes aces, service-winners and accurate volleys, wins "to love".
(2:2) SE shows some world-class volleys!
(3:3) SE double-faults once again, PS gets a breakpoint, but SE hits two
service-winners.
(3:4) PS with a lack of concentration, SE gets 2 breakpoint and breaks.
(3:5) SE plays very well, closes the 2nd set with an ace. 6:3.
The statistics of 1st service: SE 58%, PS 72%.

PS starts a bit irritated in the 3rd set and doesn't serve too well. He has
forgotten about his 1st service and has to take deuce before he wins his game.
(1:0) SE at his best!
(1:1) PS recovering, playing serve&volley again as if nothing had happened.
(2:1) SE under pressure (0:30) after a df. PS attacks his 2nd service and
breaks.
(3:1) SE fights for every single point, but PS hits his 12th and 13th ace.
(4:1) SE curses because of a volley-fault after having lost a forehand-duell.
Hits an angry ace and wins the game.
(4:2) SE attacking but with 2 volley-faults(!). Still fighting against a
(seemingly) cool, almost emotionless PS. SE exercises his forehand between
the points and forces PS to deuce. Then SE attacks PS's 2nd service, but
PS plays a very precise lob. Well, later on SE wins the 2nd breakpoint in
this game and rebreaks to 4:3.
(4:3) SE without 1st service again. PS jumps into the VIP-place after an
under-pressure backhand-stroke. A while later PS has a breakpoint and is
visibly nervous - if you know what that means!
SE fights very well and wins his service-game.
(4:4) PS serves 2 aces, then loses his 1st service somewhere, but wins his
points with the 2nd ones, so what's the difference?
(5:4) I wonder how a player with such an unreliable service can be top-five
since 1985 ?? PS has his 1st matchpoint, but returns up up into the clouds.
(Does it happen very often that TV-watchers die from a heart-attack, or
would I become famous for that? Just wondering...)
Advantage SE, PS kneels down on the floor for a few seconds and concentrates.
Must have kind of voodoo, 'cause SE double-faults the next point.
We have another matchpoint, SE still without a single valid 1st service,
but a while later wins the game.
(5:5) The 3rd or 4th lob by PS that comes down right onto the line. SE with
less luck: his balls go sharply out twice.
Between the games PS finds the time to redraw the W on his raquet with an
Edding.
(6:5) SE double-faults to 0:30. He might feel better if just one of his
1st services was valid... PS gets two matchpoints, but one is enough:
PS hits a hard return, SE a volley-fault, and that's it.