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You are in: Special Events: 2001: Wimbledon 2001 |
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Monday, 2 July, 2001, 18:40 GMT 19:40 UK
Federer ends Sampras reign
Sampras will not be claiming an eighth Wimbledon title
Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras 7-6 5-7 6-4 6-7 7-5
Swiss prodigy Roger Federer ended the reign of Pete Sampras at Wimbledon beating the seven-time champion in the fourth round. Sampras, gunning for his fifth straight title, which would have equalled Bjorn Borg's record, was silenced in a five-set thriller by a composed teenager with a tantalising array of shots. The American, who had not lost at Wimbledon in a 31-match streak stretching back to July 1996, vowed he would be back. "Let's not get carried away. I plan on being back for many years. The reason I play tennis is to play in these big tournaments.
"And the reason I stop playing will not be because of my ability but because I do not want to do it anymore. There is no reason to panic and think I cannot comeback and win here again."
It was Sampras' earliest exit in ten years of Wimbledon Championships. And he paid tribute to his young conqueror, who was 11 years old when he won his first title.
Federer, a former Wimbledon junior champion, showed remarkable composure on his Centre Court debut. He claimed the first set but Sampras twice drew level before he clinched the five-setter, sinking to his knees in awe at his achievement. It was the first time Sampras had lost a five-set match at Wimbledon. For once someone other than Sampras had the right combination of nerve, skill and fortune.
Federer took the first set on a tie-break in which the number one seed was undone by a combination of bad umpiring and bad luck.
Firstly, a serve by Federer appeared out but was allowed to stand, then a backhand by the Swiss teenager struck the net-cord and looped over. But afterwards Sampras appeared happy to accept his lot. "I have won a lot of close matches here - last year's final for one - and fortunately over the years I have managed to come up with the big shot but this time I came up short. Big scalp "Against Roger I had my chances but did not convert them whereas he played really well at the right time which is the key on grass." Sampras believed he had weathered the storm when he overcame six break points to draw level at a set apiece. But the 29-year-old twice allowed himself to be broken - and when he put a simple overhead long, Federer was once again ahead.
But from a set behind, the pendulum swung towards Sampras again.
He rattled through a tie-break 7-2 to send the match into a deciding fifth set. Federer's big chance came in the 12th game as the teenager took Sampras to two match points. Federer only needed one of them, a forehand winner to claim Wimbledon's biggest scalp. "It feels unbelieveable, of course," said Federer. "I knew it was not going to be easy. I'm very happy about my performance today, from the first to the last point. And he admitted he was not the only person who thought that Sampras could be fallable. "A lot of friends and players told me, "This year I think you can really beat him." I've played a great year so far - better than him."
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