I was at the tournament. Got to see Hewitt up close, and got Ferrero's autograph. Had no idea what was going to happen. I flew back home exactly one week before 9/11.
Sampras is the champion of 90, 93,95&96. In this tournament, he defeated 97&98 champion rafter in 4th round, defeated 94&99 champion Agassi in quarter, and then 2000 champion safin in semi. What a run to the final, defeated all the champions in 90s except Stefan edberg(already retired in 1996). I feel most likely Sampras ran out of the gas in the final because he looking so flat and sort of half step slower. On the other side, Hewitt looking fresh, hungry, focused, super quick and hit the ball very clean and accurate.
I watched this match from Germany, while packing to go to the field next morning...two days later at 3 pm we got news of 9/11 and we hauled as back to base...so unreal.
Hewitt is an underrated no.1 probably because he was not a giant, overpowering figure and his dominance as no.1 only lasted for a little less than 2 years. However, he was the youngest no.1 in ATP history before Alcaraz took that record, and already showed promises when he defeated Agassi in his prime years when the pair met for the first time in Adelaide, Australia as a 17 year old. He was not even classified as one of the best prospects in the late 90s, probably because he was from Australia, a remote nation from the rest of the world thus their players used to get less exposure on big markets. The big 4 of then young generation were Federer, Roddick, Safin and Ferrero, who all went on to become no.1 at some point, but Hewitt got to the top earlier than those guys.
Weird final as Sampras like in the 2000 USO just seemed so flat, I recall Pete had a really tough run in 01 though and was reaching the twlight of his career.
I was at the tournament. Got to see Hewitt up close, and got Ferrero's autograph. Had no idea what was going to happen. I flew back home exactly one week before 9/11.
Sampras is the champion of 90, 93,95&96. In this tournament, he defeated 97&98 champion rafter in 4th round, defeated 94&99 champion Agassi in quarter, and then 2000 champion safin in semi. What a run to the final, defeated all the champions in 90s except Stefan edberg(already retired in 1996). I feel most likely Sampras ran out of the gas in the final because he looking so flat and sort of half step slower. On the other side, Hewitt looking fresh, hungry, focused, super quick and hit the ball very clean and accurate.
I watched this match from Germany, while packing to go to the field next morning...two days later at 3 pm we got news of 9/11 and we hauled as back to base...so unreal.
this match killed serve and volley tennis.
Hewitt is an underrated no.1 probably because he was not a giant, overpowering figure and his dominance as no.1 only lasted for a little less than 2 years. However, he was the youngest no.1 in ATP history before Alcaraz took that record, and already showed promises when he defeated Agassi in his prime years when the pair met for the first time in Adelaide, Australia as a 17 year old. He was not even classified as one of the best prospects in the late 90s, probably because he was from Australia, a remote nation from the rest of the world thus their players used to get less exposure on big markets. The big 4 of then young generation were Federer, Roddick, Safin and Ferrero, who all went on to become no.1 at some point, but Hewitt got to the top earlier than those guys.
Weird final as Sampras like in the 2000 USO just seemed so flat, I recall Pete had a really tough run in 01 though and was reaching the twlight of his career.
Sampras probably just underestimated Hewitt. If it had been Agassi, Sampras would've been more ready, like he was in the 2002 final.
Proud day for Australia.
And then Federer came and defeated Hewitt in what was known as the most one sided victory at a final ever.
Connors / Rosewall '74 has to be the most one sided victory at a US Open final ever.
Nadal Federer 2008 RG was worse
@@WuzzaWombat no it wasn't
@@Alexx22570what would your prédiction be of a 2011 Roger rafa US Open final?
@@baptistelleshi80993 1 for Nadal