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 Powerful Pete Sampras stops Henman, to face Ivanisevic in Wimbledon final
Posted: Friday July 03, 1998 06:51 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- World No. 1 Pete Sampras fought off a spirited challenge from Tim Henman on Friday to join Goran Ivanisevic in the Wimbledon men's singles final. The top seed beat Henman -- the first Briton to reach the men's semis in 25 years -- 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and now seeks his fifth title in six years here. Earlier, Ivanisevic survived an attack of nerves to win a thrilling five-set marathon 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 15-13 against 1996 champion Richard Krajicek. A patriotic Centre Court crowd roared Henman's every shot but, although he took a set off Sampras for the first time this tournament, he could not keep the defending champion at bay. After coasting through the first set, Sampras suddenly ran into trouble with Henman stroking winners almost at will. The 12th seed broke Sampras twice in the second set to win it 6-4. In a see-saw third set, Henman held break points in each of Sampras's service games but was unable to convert and a volley into the net at 5-6 handed Sampras the set.
A break in the fourth game of the fourth set proved enough for Sampras to clinch the match. 'By far that was the toughest [match] out there,' Sampras said. 'The crowd ... all the support he had -- it was really tough. 'I got off to a good start and when I won the third set, I know I had him. But one day he [Henman] is going to win this thing, I can tell you that.' Ivanisevic did his best to throw away a two-set lead before beating Krajicek in an epic duel lasting three hours, 22 minutes to set up his third tilt at the title. The relieved 14th seed sank to his knees and clenched his fists in triumph when he finally converted his third match point in the 77th minute of the deciding set. Both players were given a standing ovation by a packed Centre Court crowd. 'I was mentally very strong today, I've never been like that in my life,' said Ivanisevic.
Asked how he felt about being called one of the best players never to have won a grand slam, he added: 'It's time to change that on Sunday.' The 26-year-old Croatian lost to Andre Agassi in 1992 and to Sampras two years later. The often explosive Ivanisevic kept his cool after letting the match go to the wire. 'I knew if I lost my temper for a second I would lose the match and I didn't want that, I had come so far,' he said. 'I thought just keep control and keep your mind on what you have to do.' The erratic left-hander appeared to be coasting to a straight sets victory, but made three careless errors in the 12th game to give Krajicek his first break of serve in the match and the set 7-5. Ivanisevic appeared to slam the door shut on his opponent in the next set, breaking Krajicek's serve straight away to regain the initiative but then squandered two match points when serving for the fourth set. Krajicek, feeling the match was beyond his grasp, was on the brink of throwing in the towel after Ivanisevic appeared to hit an ace to seal victory, but the umpire ruled it had hit the net.
'I was walking to the net because I didn't hear the net call. I thought the match was over,' said Krajicek. 'But I got back in it, won the fourth and was a break up in the fifth ... it just slipped away from me.' At 40-15, Krajicek saved the first with a volley winner, Ivanisevic then double-faulted before the Dutchman fired stinging backhand and forehand passes to deny his rival. The ninth-seeded Dutchman held serve to love to level at 6-6 and then rode a wave of adrenalin to take the tiebreak and level at two sets all. In a tense final set, Krajicek grabbed the advantage for the first time in the match after breaking Ivanisevic's serve in the fifth game. But the Croat's fighting character showed through in the next game, breaking back to love to level at 3-3. Both players then held serve in a set featuring 38 aces, until the 28th game when an exhausted Krajicek mis-hit two volleys and was left flat-footed by stinging Ivanisevic backhand. With two more match points at his disposal, the Croat this time made the most of his chances, sealing the match on Krajicek's netted backhand volley.
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