Arthur Ashe stadium is not your ordinary tennis venue. The size -- mammoth. The acoustics -- thumping. The wind -- treacherous. The fans -- vocal would be putting it lightly. Of the four majors, Ashe Stadium is by far the most difficult to play on because of the elements (and the worst for fans to watch on I might add). But despite the wind, the rain, the planes, the hot dog smells, and the heckling fans, over the years, this court has also played host to some of the sport's most riveting encounters.
Note: in choosing the Top 5 matches, we took the liberty of waving the American Flag around a lot. Hey, it is America's Slam after all.
Dan & Nick
# 1: ONE FOR THE AGES
If you were lucky enough to watch this match in person like my buddy Jon, you can probably still hear the chanting and the screaming as you recount the on court genius that occurred. Two years ago, Andre Agassi and James Blake, two of the summer’s hottest players, locked horns in an intense five-set battle that had Ted Robinson and John McEnroe giddy with joy after each miraculous point.
The story did not follow the expected script, with Blake quickly jumping out to a two sets to none lead. Blake was his “on fire” self, blasting winners from all corners of the court, slipping and sliding to retrieve unreturnable balls, and making the elder Agassi look…old. But as the crowd started to sense a wipe out, they quickly backed Agassi, urging him to fight to extend the match. They weren’t ready to go home yet. They wanted to see more tennis, and they wanted Agassi, in his final “competitive” U.S. Open, to hold up the silver trophy one last time.
So they yelled – all together, and with a common force that caused the court to rumble. The New York fans turned Arthur Ashe Stadium into a booming coliseum, fans standing for games, losing their voices in the process. It was pure entertainment.
The more the fans enjoyed themselves, the more Agassi started to dig in. Soon, the 35-year-old charged back to capture the next two sets and force a fifth and deciding set. As soon as Agassi claimed the last point of the fourth set, the decibel level reached new heights. Check out the last game of the fourth set and the crowd’s reaction.
The fifth set proved to be much of the same, both players producing their highest quality tennis throughout. Blake went up a break early and maintained that lead to reach 5-4. At this point, Blake was not only serving for the match and a place in the U.S. Open semis (the winner would play surprise semifinalist Robby Ginepri), but he was trying to do something he had never done (and still hasn’t done) – win a five set match.
Like champions do, Agassi raised the level of his game at this precise juncture, clocking returns, forcing errors, and breaking back to even the match. And you thought it couldn’t get any louder. (I doubt the concession stands in Arthur Ashe Stadium did very well this night. No one would dare leave their seat.)
Both players held serve to force a fifth set tiebreaker (yes, there had to be a winner) which would end up mirroring the entire match. Blake got off to a quick start up 3-0 only to see Agassi claw his way back in. Check out this clip of the final set tie breaker starting with Blake serving at 5-4 (match on his racquet).
After the match, both players expressed their gratitude to one another for being a part of such an incredible experience. They also thanked the fans for their unmatched support and enthusiasm.
Agassi put it best when he told John McEnroe after the match that “Tennis won.” After such an incredible event, it really didn’t matter who won the last point or what the final score in the tie breaker was. Just watching, or in Jon’s case, being there, was priceless.
Let’s hope this year’s U.S. Open can produce some of the same incredible moments we’ve witnessed over the last 10 years on Arthur Ashe Stadium (even without Agassi). New York fans, loosen up thos vocal chords. Tennis is about to roll into town.
Dan
# 2: FINAL VICTORY
Feeling completely mortal, Andre Agassi stepped onto Arthur Ashe stadium versus Marcos Baghdatis filled with uncertainty. Would this be his final tennis match? How would he hold up physically given his previous battle versus Andre Pavel and the resulting injection? More importantly, however, how would he hold up emotionally?
The tension had been building all summer, ever since Agassi’s announcement earlier in the summer that the U.S. Open would be his final tournament. The send-off was sure to be huge. The crowd, both in person and at home watching, would sit glued watching, mesmerized by his skill, happy to see him go out on his own terms, sad to see him go at all, thankful to have seen him play one last time, and proud to have been able to watch him over the years. The culmination of Agassi’s 20-year career was one night in New York on tennis’ biggest stage. From start to finish, there wasn’t a person left sitting down. It was the match of the year.
Agassi started the match strongly, capturing the first set and going up a break in the second. With Baghdatis serving down 3-5 in the second, an almost 90 second delay occurred as the crowd took over, engulfing Arthur Ashe stadium in a boisterous wave that left the players amazed. Take a look here.
As the match wore on, the tables started to turn. Baghdatis started going for broke more, making more winners, and running Agassi from side-to-side. Baghdatis clawed his way back, winning the next two sets 6-3, 7-5, to force a fifth and deciding set. The first 20 minutes of the fifth set were simply incredible. After a long deuce game in which Baghdatis finally breaks Agassi to go up 1-0 in the fifth, Agassi shows his age as he walks to the chair, not quite the spry man he was at the start of the match. But it’s Baghdatis who seems to be struggling physically, as he calls for the trainer to attend to his cramping legs.
Picking up where the previous video left off, Agassi continues to charge forward, sprinting to his chair on each change of ends.
With Baghdatis limping in excruciating pain in between points, Agassi drew toward match point. Here’s how one fan captured the moment on film.
Afterwards, John McEnroe caught up with both players. And even though Agassi was all the fans wanted to see and hear, Baghdatis sure did win a few fans over with his class and professionalism.
I hope you all have this saved on TIVO like I do.
Dan
# 3: A SHINING MOMENT
Todd Martin was feeling good at the 2000 US Open. Following a successful run to the finals in ’99, Martin came to Flushing Meadows off of a fairly decent summer hardcourt season and the good vibes from the previous year.
He scored respectable wins over fellow Americans Spadea and Chang in the opening two rounds before pulling off a third-round upset over 10th seeded Cedric Pioline. In the fourth round Martin was to meet Carlos Moya, a man he’d lost to just a few weeks prior in straight sets in Indianapolis.
Slated for the evening session, Martin and Moya took the court after the women’s match on day nine of the tournament. Moya would take an early two sets to love lead before Martin stormed back in the next two sets to take the match to a fifth set.
With the crowd waning in Arthur Ashe stadium, fans filled the lower bowl of the stadium seats, abandoning the upper levels to create an intimate setting. Martin used this to his advantage for much of the match, pumping his fists after each point and engaging those who remained to watch.
Moya and Martin would play well past midnight in the four hour, 16 minute match. Martin would take the fifth set 6-2 and after match point, he shook off the cramp in his leg he had been feeling to do a lap around the crowd for a few high-fives.
The energy is ecstatic from the fans here, and what is most surprising is how much noise so few people can make. Martin would go on to the semifinals of the Open that year, falling to eventual champ and newcomer Marat Safin.
It would be Martin’s last great hurrah at his home Slam, he’d win just four matches there over the next four years.
Nick
# 4: CRAMPS & CRIES
After a waterlogged middle week that plagued much of the 2003 U.S. Open, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Jennifer Capriati found themselves ready for a Friday night semifinal under the lights. The winner would move on to another Grand Slam final -- a regular position for the pair over the last 3 years. But as they walked out onto Arthur Ashe around 9 pm that evening, neither could imagine the length, drama, and intensity that would ensue.
Two players. One goal. Two very different outlooks.
For Henin-Hardenne, this was the continuation of a phenomenal 2003. But for Capriati, this was yet another opportunity, possibly her last, to reach the final and win her National Title (Capriati had twice before reached the semifinals, losing in 1991 to Monica Seles and in 2001 to Venus Williams). The crowd was with her. The pressure was on. The time was now.
The match started all Henin-Hardenne. Capriati looked unsettled and flat at the beginning, falling behind 4-1 quickly. But after a few "bad calls" went against the American, Capriati started to get pumped up and the partisan crowd got behind its warrior. Playing more aggressively and digging out ball after ball on defense, Capriati won five games in a row to take the first set 6-4. Check out these first / second set highlights. Enjoy the music while you're at it.
During this high quality match, each player broke serve seven times and there were a total of 64 winners (36 by Henin-Hardenne and 28 by Capriati). It also had its share of errors led by Henin-Hardenne’s 68.
However, no breaks and no winners were more crucial than during the two games in which Capriati served for the match (at 5-3 in both the second and third sets). Both times, Henin-Hardenne produced some incredible tennis (Capriati also gave away many points in the second set at this stage) to break and even the match.
As the third set drew longer, however, Henin-Hardenne started to wilt physically, cramping in her left leg. It appeared as if Capriati was poised to reach her first U.S. Open final. But just when you thought the door was pretty much shut, Henin-Hardenne somehow found a way to blast herself out of trouble (Capriati tightened up significantly as well) and claim the match in a third-set tiebreaker. Check out final set highlights below.
Despite needing IV fluids after the match because of her cramps, Henin-Hardenne returned fewer than 18 hours later to win the all Belgian final versus Kim Clijsters. Capriati, on the other hand, lost another gut wrenching U.S. Open semifinal, again in a third set breaker. This match, along with her 1991 and 2004 U.S. Open semifinal defeats (all in third set tiebreakers), remain the most heartbreaking and career-defining losses of her career.
Note: Although these three clips are in fact highlights, it’s incredible to note the pace of the ball, speed of the competitors, and overall shot-making ability in this three hour plus contest. The fans sure got their money’s worth that night.
Dan
# 5: FOUR BREAKERS
I remember watching tennis this night back in 2001 on USA. Jennifer Capriati had dismantled Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals and in her post-match interview she said something along the lines of "I tried to make it quick because I know everyone wants to see the next match." Jennifer of course was referring to the all-American battle of Pete vs. Andre.
In what was just a quarterfinal, Agassi and Sampras fought through four tie-break sets during their 22nd of 24 head to head matches (Sampras leads 20-14). And like he did in most of their grand slam matches, Sampras, anchored by his pistol serve, came through in the end.
Just listen to the constant noise throughout this five-minute clip (and watch the hair pulling by Sampras' wife Bridgette Wilson). That is the sound of unmatched greatness on the tennis court (and the sight of agony in the players' box).
(Be sure to check out Sampras' wrist snap on his serve at 1:05)
It's often said that tennis is all about match-ups. And oh how lucky we were to have these two Americans match-it-up time and again during our native Slam. It is matches like this that push our sport beyond the tennis aficionados and the country-club folk.
Heck, you might have even seen it on Sports Center.
