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.
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.
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 don't understand why Sampras continued to use serve and volley against Hewitt. He saw that it doesn't work for first 2 sets and tried baseline play in beginning of 3rd set and it worked better as baseline power play was in advantage of Sampras and Hewitt wasn't able to use his passing shots, yet still then he decided to go again with serve and volley and eventually lost the match.
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.
@@homegrowngnome on fast courts he would often redirect the pace of his opponents groundstrokes and hit the ball quite flat to make up for his lack of natural power and depth. He really only got pushed around on clay, slow hardcourts or when playing against guys with super big weapons like Safin, Federer etc.
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.
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.
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 don't understand why Sampras continued to use serve and volley against Hewitt. He saw that it doesn't work for first 2 sets and tried baseline play in beginning of 3rd set and it worked better as baseline power play was in advantage of Sampras and Hewitt wasn't able to use his passing shots, yet still then he decided to go again with serve and volley and eventually lost the match.
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.
this match killed serve and volley tennis.
I mean…Sampras won it a year later…
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
Sampras backhand looked so awkward.
no idea how hewitt was so successful being weak from both wings and having a weak serve
He wasn't weak from both wings. He can serve in the 120s and people forget that he was known as the fastest player at that time
@@Slicknine always getting pushed around the court, simply a fact
@@homegrowngnome on fast courts he would often redirect the pace of his opponents groundstrokes and hit the ball quite flat to make up for his lack of natural power and depth.
He really only got pushed around on clay, slow hardcourts or when playing against guys with super big weapons like Safin, Federer etc.
Goes to show how much heavier Federers groundies were than Sampras’. He would bully Hewitt around with ease