Sampras ties record, wins fifth Wimbledon

Sampras, converting a few key returns to break the Croatian's big serve, won the tournament for the fifth time in six years with a 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (11-9), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 triumph.

When Ivanisevic sailed a backhand long on the first match point, Sampras responded in subdued fashion, raising his arms and flashing a big smile.

The victory tied Sampras with Bjorn Borg for the most Wimbledon singles titles of the open era. Borg won five straight from 1976-80.

"I can't believe I've won five," Sampras said. "This is what it's all about."

AP PHOTO Pete Sampras hoists the Wimbledon trophy above his head after yesterday's five-set victory over Goran Ivanisevic. The title, Sampras' fifth, ties him with Bjorn Borg for most Wimbledon singles titles in the open era.

Sampras also moved into a second-place tie with Borg and Rod Laver on the all-time list of Grand Slam victories, just one behind the record of 12 held by Roy Emerson.

By reasserting his grass-court superiority and extending his Wimbledon record to 44-2 since 1992, Sampras ended a yearlong slump in which he failed to get past the quarterfinals of the last three Grand Slam events.

For Ivanisevic, it marked his third defeat in a Wimbledon final. He lost to Andre Agassi in 1992 and Sampras in 1994.

"It hurts a lot," Ivanisevic said.

The match was dominated by big serves and featured few extended rallies, another example of the power tennis which has typified Wimbledon finals in the 1990s.

"It was a very tough match," Sampras said. "It could have gone either way."

Ivanisevic had 32 aces and Sampras had 12. But the key statistic was Ivanisevic's 20 double faults.

"I didn't feel confident in the fifth set," Ivanisevic said. "I was very tired. I had to do it earlier."

The match turned in the sixth game of the fifth set when Sampras broke for 4-2, ripping a backhand return at Ivanisevic's feet. The Croatian couldn't dig the ball out, dumping a forehand volley into the net.

After Sampras held for 5-2, a distraught Ivanisevic buried his head in his towel and muttered to himself in Croatian during the changeover. Sampras then broke him at love in the next game to end the 2-hour, 52-minute match.

"Goran played a great game to break me in the fourth set, and the fifth set is anybody's ball game," Sampras said. "It was just a couple of points here and there. I was very nervous in the fifth set. I was able to raise my level just a little bit. The next thing I knew I won the match. It was kind of a weird feeling."

Ivanisevic won the first set with a rollercoaster serving show that included 13 aces and nine double faults.

Ivanisevic saved six break points, including four double faults in one game, while Sampras saved three.

The tiebreaker went Ivanisevic's way when he hit a backhand passing shot for a mini-break and 2-0 lead and increased the lead to 5-2 with a forehand winner. He then followed with an ace and a service winner.

The first service break of the match came in the second game of the second set when Sampras, head to head with Ivanisevic across the net, stabbed a reflex backhand volley to go up 2-0.

But Ivanisevic broke right back in the next game. It took four break points before he converted by driving a forehand pass down the line.

Sampras didn't serve his first ace until the fifth game of the second set, when he hit three in a row.

Only five points went against serve over the next nine games as the two headed into another tiebreaker.

After double faulting on the third point to go down a mini-break, Ivanisevic evened it up with a winning backhand return two points later.

Sampras saved two set points, while serving at 5-6 and 7-8, both times Ivanisevic failing to take advantage of second serves and hitting high backhand returns into the net.

Sampras had two set points with Ivanisevic serving at 6-7 and 8-9, but the Croatian saved both with service winners.

The turning came on the 19th point when an Ivanisevic shot was ruled in but was then immediately changed to out by the lineswoman. Sampras, initially thinking he had lost the point, shouted, "Oh, my God," and held his head in his hands in disbelief.

But the point was replayed, and Ivanisevic sailed a sloppy forehand volley way long to give Sampras a third set point, this time on his own serve. He promptly hit a service winner to take the set and even the match.

07-06-98