When Federer ended Sampras’ supremacy at Wimbledon

It was a day when the two Wimbledon champions walked together for the first time on the Centre Court. Sampras was a seven time Wimbledon champion and Federer was a junior Wimbledon champion three years earlier. The stage was set for an epic encounter. Many had presaged the rise of Federer looking at the quality of his game; his big thumping serves, quality forehand, one-handed backhand and above all, an over-all demeanor on the court. Not bad for a 19-year-old, isn’t it?

Federer had the best chance of his life to stamp his authority on the tennis world by beating the champion on the surface where Sampras had acquired so much success. Sampras, for starters, was not in sublime touch leading up to the fourth round. In his second round match, Barry Cowan gave Sampras a tough time. Cowan came back from two-sets down to take the game into the deciding set. But Sampras’ experience and Cowan’s lack of it, saved the day for the seven-time Wimbledon champion.

Prior to the 2001 edition of the championships, Federer had never won a single match at the Wimbledon. Federer had won three matches beating Oliver Rochus, Xavier Malisse and Jonas Bjorkmann. Federer had the game to beat anybody in the world.

So lights, camera and action as we take a look at this memorable match.

Set one: The set of big serves and near misses

The Centre Court witnessed big booming serves from both the players. Federer began the game with a couple of aces and Sampras couldn’t return a single ball back. Sampras did that to Federer in the very next game. Federer had three break points in Sampras’ next service game but the wily-old fox saved all the three and won the game comfortably. Sampras had one break point in the next game but Federer was playing an astute tactical match. He was mixing his serves and confusing the American superstar.

After 36 minutes of big-serve fiesta, the first set went into a tie-break. Federer clinched it 9-7.

Federer wins the first set 7-6.

Set two: A poor game costs Federer a set

Sampras had to use all his dexterity to outwit the teenage sensation. The second set too began with big booming serves from Sampras. The champion was throwing all he had at Federer. But Federer was up to the task. He was returning the serves with precision and often scored winners on the Sampras second serves.

Federer had 12 break points up to that point, yet, failed to convert any of them. Sampras was pushed to the brink. He had to find answers since Federer was showing the strength of his mind coupled with immense talent.

Federer was serving at 5-6. He recorded two double faults and that gave Sampras an opening in the game. Sampras broke Federer and heaved a sigh of relief.

Sampras wins the second set 7-5.

Set three: Federer squanders the early advantage before breaking Sampras again

Federer broke Sampras in the third game of the set but immediately squandered the advantage. At 4-4 Sampras was serving at 40-15. Federer returned a couple of serves and Sampras scored unforced errors. Federer had his 14^th break point of the match. Sampras served on Federer’s body and Federer managed to somehow loop the ball inside. Sampras smashed the ball out and held his head in disbelief.

That miss from Sampras gave Federer an opening in the third set. There were chinks in the champion’s armory. Federer served an ace on his first set point and clinched the set. Sampras was staring down the barrel.

Federer wins the third set 6-4.

Set four: Another tie-breaker, Sampras triumphs

There were no break of serves in the set and the impasse had to be broken by a tie-breaker. Sampras brought his big serves to good effect in the tie-break and Federer, who seemed to have a measure of Sampras’ serves, was confounded. Was the moment getting to Federer? He played a couple of sloppy shots and Sampras, on the other hand, was getting his sublime touch back.

Sampras won the tie breaker 7-2 and the match headed towards the deciding set.

Sampras wins the fourth set 7-6.

Set five: A star was born

Federer was battling history. Sampras had never lost a five-set match at Wimbledon. Federer was unflustered by this. He kept playing the way he was. Sampras was finding it difficult to return Federer’s serves. The variations in the serves confounded the 29-year-old, Sampras.

Federer’s timing was getting better and better. Some of the shots down the line were simply brilliant. But sharp Sampras served well and did not let Federer break his serves that easily.

At 5-6, Sampras was serving to stay in the match. Sampras had to get his first serves right because Federer had been peppering Sampras with low and hard returns of serves. And that’s what exactly happened off the first point. Federer returned Sampras’ second serve wide off him and it was 0-15. Sampras served and volleyed off the second point but hit the ball long. It was 0-30. A big booming serve followed and Federer failed to return the serve. It was 15-30. Sampras missed a volley off Federer’s return and the Swiss sensation had two match points.

Sampras served wide and Federer returned the ball that landed inside the baseline. Federer was ecstatic. He had tears of joy. The entire court cheered for Federer. What a moment for Federer!

Federer wins the fifth set 7-5.Game, set and match Federer.

In the years to come, Centre Court saw Federer’s development as the world’s best player. Sampras, on the other hand, lost in the next year to a George Bastl and never came back again.

Federer won everyone’s hearts with his hard-fought win over 13-time champion Sampras. The whole world knew who would carry Sampras’ legacy forward. It was that man who had conquered him in the fourth round of the Wimbledon 2001. And boy weren’t people right?

A star was just born.