Your Call, August 23rd

Good morning. This is your daily space for discussing tennis. We're also continuing with some more pictures from the US Open archives, as the first day of the 2008 tournament draws closer. Today's pictures recall the epic, drama-full 1996 quarterfinal match between Pete Sampras and Alex Corretja, eventually won by Sampras 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(9-7). It was the longest match of the tournament, at 4 hours, 9 minutes. Recently I re-watched this match, and it was just as compelling the second time around.

The match took place on Louis Armstrong stadium, in its last year as the main stadium at the tournament, before that role was taken over by Arthur Ashe stadium. It began in bright sunlight, and ended under the lights. Weather conditions were difficult - hot and humid.

The first set gave no hint of what was to follow - Sampras, the heavy favourite, was broken in the first game, but levelled the set at 5-5, then took it in a tiebreaker. Somehow, Corretja found the resources and consistency to take the next two sets, each by an identical score of 7-5, and each time breaking Sampras in the 12th game. While Sampras was able to land plenty of aces and service winners, Corretja kept on getting the ball back deep from his position behind the baseline, making Sampras run and stretch for every point.

Sampras, down two sets to one, managed to level the match by taking the fourth set. Corretja lost his serve at 1-all, at the same time as Sampras began showing signs of physical problems, looking so lacking in energy that he was barely able to pump his fist to emphasise his break of serve. Later during that set, a trainer gave Sampras some medication , because he said that he was feeling sick.

The fifth set of the match proved to be memorably dramatic. It went with serve throughout - Sampras, even with his legs giving way, was able to use his serve to save energy, though making little impact in Corretja's service games. While Corretja's serves lacked pace compared to those of Sampras, they were accurate, and could carry a vicious kick.

By the time the fifth-set tiebreaker was reached, Corretja looked in good shape, still able to handle long rallies. Sampras, however, looked dizzy and exhausted, leaning on his racquet for support. He was suffering from dehydration and stomach cramps. More than once during the tiebreaker, he threw up at the back of the court - it wasn't clear that he would be able to continue. He even received a time violation warning, but found a way to win the next point.

Nonetheless, Sampras managed to reach for a critical volley to save a match point, then put in a second serve ace to go ahead 8-7. Corretja double-faulted to end the match. The Spaniard fell to his knees; Sampras was slumped over the net. There was a warm embrace between the combatants at the end. Corretja broke down and cried after the match. Sampras later received treatment via an intravenous drip.

It's interesting, albeit academic, to contemplate how the match could have turned out, had the US Open not had the fifth-set tiebreaker, unique among the Grand Slams.

Later that week, Pete Sampras went on to win his third US Open title, beating Goran Ivanisevic in the semifinal, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, and Michael Chang in the final, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).

-- Rosangel Valenti

Note: As always, "Your Call" is the daily thread specifically for the purpose of getting together on the cyber-sofa to discuss or call ongoing matches, or hot tennis topics of the day; it's the "Crisis Center" thread for those weeks when there are no Grand Slams, Masters, or Fed or Davis Cup in progress. You can go off-topic here if you like as well. This makes it easier for you to stay on-topic at "premium" posts. For going off-topic, you also have Monday Net Posts and Deuce Club on a regular basis.