From: clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.tennis
Subject: US Open - Men's finals (spoilers)
Date: 14 Sep 92 00:36:35 GMT
Organization: College of Engineering, Maryversity von Uniland, College Park
Originator: clin@state.eng.umd.edu


   I'm sure everyone who had the chance saw the match or knows
the outcome.   Edberg beat Sampras in four sets.  3-6, 6-4, 7-6,
6-2.

   The first set had Sampras hitting the ball well, and Edberg
a bit nervous, especially when he was trying to trade rallies
with Sampras.  Edberg wasn't hitting his groundstrokes with
confidence, nor was he approaching off it successfully.   Still,
the first set was pretty close, and only a single break determined
the set.  However, it looked like Sampras was playing better.

   In the second, both players held serve, even though I think
both of them had chances to break.  Finally, at 4-5, Sampras
serving, Sampras did not play good points, and Edberg was
finally able to convert on a break point, something he had had
trouble throughtout the second set (I think he had 0-40 on
Sampras's serve, but Pete served it out).

   The third set also was close, and Sampras was able to take
a break and lead it either 5-4 or 6-5.  All he had to do was
serve for the set and take the lead, but some poor serves, and
Edberg's upbeat play gave him a break, and eventually the
match went to a tiebreak.  The tiebreaker was pretty close,
with Edberg taking an early lead, then Sampras getting
back mini-breaks.  At one poijt, Edberg was serving 5-3 hoping
to get up 6-3 so he could try to serve out the set.  He double
faulted to 5-4, but Sampras then returned the favor and
also double faulted to 6-4.  I think Edberg won the next point.

   By the fourth set, Sampras had to be frustrated.  Not only did
he give up a break, but it appeared that his ankle was beginning
to bother him.  He was also starting to miss shots, and Edberg
kept up the pressure, and started by breaking Sampras, then
breaking him again.  Edberg was up 4-0 and it looked like
Samrpas was going to fade fast.   The hard accurate shots he
made in the first set were starting to miss, and Edberg began
returning better, and hitting his groundstrokes better.
Sampras hels for 4-1, Edberg held for 5-1, Sampras held in
an easy game where Edberg seemed to tank the game, then
Edberg held and took his second consecutive US Open.

   So, what happened?  First, ironic as it may be, Sampras
double faulted quite a lot of times (11) and Edberg did not.
Edberg also was able to save a 0-40 game in the opening of
the third set, and this proved crucial.  Edberg also came
to the net, not only on his serve but on Sampras's second
serve, pressuring Pete to hit good passing shots.  For a
while, Pete did the job, but he began to lose accuracy and
Edberg began picking up more shots.  Also, it seemed a lot
of the closer calls went Edberg's way, especially toward the
end.  And, of course, once he was two sets down, the injury
to his ankle must have weighed heavily on whether Sampras
should try to come back, and risk injury, or just lose the
final.  It seemed he opted for the second.  

   So, I think it was Edberg's mental toughness, combined
with Sampras's declined play that helped Edberg win.

--
Charles Lin
clin@eng.umd.edu