1 Response to cincinnati99sampras_rafter

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 19, 2025 at 12:29 am

   Points won by each set: [ 38-35, 32-21 ]
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   47 % Sampras – 32 of 67
   42 % Rafter – 25 of 59

   Rafter [4], who had beaten Sampras [1] in three straight matches, advanced to the final facing just one break point, but the American broke him twice (at 1:0 and 4:3 in the 2nd set). In that quick all-serve final, about the final outcome actually decided Rafter’s casual FH-volley error on Sampras’ second set point in the tie-break. The Australian had his own SP leading 7:6* (Sampras fought it off with a service winner)… For the 28-year-old American [1] it was the last period in his career when he was able to get impressive streak of winning matches – in Cincinnati he collected his fourth straight title, then in the Indianapolis quarterfinal he retired against Vince Spadea which ended his 24-match winning streak. He was sidelined for more than two months due to lower back injury, and he was never the same after his comeback in Paris-Bercy ’99, nevertheless he got four more big titles in the following last three years of his exceptional career.

   Sampras’ route to his 60th title:
   2 Jan Siemerink 7-6(9), 6-4 ☆
   3 Rainer Schuettler 7-5, 7-6(2)
   Q Richard Krajicek 6-4, 6-2
   S Andre Agassi 7-6(7), 6-4
   W Patrick Rafter 7-6(7), 6-3

   ☆ In those three prolonged tie-breaks, Sampras saved: 3 set points vs Siemerink, none vs Agassi and 1 vs Rafter

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