WIMBLEDON 2000

REVIEWS BY MARK NEWMAN

SAMPRAS AND AGASSI HEAD TOWARDS A REPEAT OF THE 1999 FINAL

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(1) Pete Sampras def. Jan-Michael Gambill 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-4

(2) Andre Agassi def. (10) Mark Philippoussis 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-4

Last year in the Wimbledon final Pete Sampras produced a remarkable grasscourt tennis display to defeat Andre Agassi. Chances are they will meet again in the final this year. Sampras will meet Vladimir Valtchkov in his semi, and Agassi will face a repeat of last year’s semi against Patrick Rafter, which he won in straight sets. So three of the four semi-finalists are the same as last year!

On their quarterfinal form though it is hard not to favour Agassi over Sampras for the title, even though Pete has won it six of the last seven years!?! Agassi was in commanding control over Mark Philippoussis, taming the big Australian’s serve, though admittedly as the match progressed Mark became a little tired, after his two five set matches in the previous two rounds over Schalken and Henman. He lost his serve just twice in the match, but that, coupled with two crucial points dropped on serve in the first set tiebreak, conspired to give Agassi a straight sets win.

Sampras, on the other hand, looked a little confused by the power of Jan-Michael Gambill. Perhaps he expected an easy straight sets victory against an unseeded, young opponent. But Gambill was up for the challenge. He stayed with Sampras until a dodgy service game at 4-5 conceded the first set. In the second set he held his nerve and powered through an enthralling tiebreak to level at two sets all. However, struggling with an upper thigh injury, a bleeding chest, and a six-time Wimbledon champion across the net, he was unable to hold onto his serve throughout the next two sets, conceding one game in each set to hand Sampras a four set win. I don’t think Jan-Michael Gambill will go home too disappointed though.

Ladies SemiFinals

(2) Lindsay Davenport vs. Jelena Dokic

(5) Venus Williams vs. (8) Serena Williams

The battle of the Williams sisters is an epic prospect. Can’t wait myself! Expect Serena to win in straight sets. She is the more powerful player. Cynics though say that their father has already told them which one will win – so if that is true expect Venus to win against a strangely flat Serena, who already has a Grand Slam title! I am sure those are just vicious rumours though, if not it would be awfully sad to think that they take it in turns to win matches!?!

Jelena Dokic has gone one better than last year, but without defeating the likes of Hingis and Pierce like she did last year. Davenport is her first big challenge. Expect that match to be short and sweet. 6-1 6-2 to Davenport methinks!

Other News

She played five matches on her return to Wimbledon, but never got to play on her beloved Centre Court. Venus and Serena Williams ended the WTA Tour return of Martina Navratilova, with doubles partner Mariaan De Swardt 4-6 6-2 6-1 in the doubles quarterfinals. Or did they? Navratilova is playing in Billie Jean King’s World Team Tennis event for the rest of July, and has not ruled out an appearance at the US Open, or indeed a return to Wimbledon for the women’s and mixed doubles next year. I think everyone would be glad to see her back. Now a Navaratilova/McEnroe mixed doubles partnership would be good!!!