| 2001 U.S. Open Final Results and Analysis | |
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Sampras credited Hewitt's speed and consistency, and one could attempt an argument that Sampras missed so many shots because he felt he had to hit too good a shot, one that Hewitt would not run down. It's more accurate, though, to say that Sampras just played exceptionally poorly. He missed dozens of volleys that he should have put away, even against the world's fastest player, which Hewitt may well be.
This match is being widely compared to last year's final, in which Marat Safin, who was 20, the same age as Hewitt this year, defeated Sampras, now 30, quite easily. The difference is that Sampras did not play badly against Safin. Safin overpowered him. Hewitt did not overpower Sampras, nor did he hit many clean winners, including passing shots. Hewitt did a great job of making Sampras hit volleys on low balls without a lot of pace, but we've all see Sampras handle these comfortably on better days.
One explanation for Sampras's poor performance might be fatigue. In the three previous rounds, he had defeated three former U.S. Open champions, Patrick Rafter, Andre Agassi, and Marat Safin. The Agassi and Rafter matches, in which Sampras looked brilliant, both went four sets, then the Safin match went a fairly long three, just one day before the final.
Another explanation might be the windy conditions during the final. This could account for Sampras's inability to hit his big forehand more than a few times, but not his problems at the net. Wind normally favors the serve-and-volleyer, because it's harder for the opponent to make the precise passing shot.
Regardless of how easy Sampras made it for him, Lleyton Hewitt clearly earned his title, playing exactly the right game to draw continuing errors from Sampras. Hewitt has a long way to go, however, to atone for the unmistakably racist comments he made earlier in the tournament while playing against James Blake. The TV commentators have largely glossed over this incident, failing to challenge Hewitt's ridiculous explanation. Only Mary Carillo, to her credit, has pointed out that Hewitt's explanation isn't getting much credence among the other players. One good consequence of the incident has been a notable reduction in the pugnacity of Hewitt's on-court manner, but he will only redeem himself to many of us by undertaking an extraordinary effort to do real good in the off-court world.
In mixed doubles on Thursday, Todd Woodbridge and Rennae Stubbs defeated Leander Paes and Lisa Raymond 6-4, 5-7, 11-9. That 11-9 score is not games, but points. For the first time at a U.S. Open, a "super tie-break" (first to 10) was used instead of a third set.
The super tie-break is part of an effort to entice more top singles players into playing doubles by making the doubles matches shorter. The men's and women's doubles are now reduced to best-of-three instead of best-of-five sets, but without a super tie-break. So far, few of the desired singles players have been persuaded.
Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett won the men's doubles title on Friday over Donald Johnson and Jared Palmer 7-6 (11-9), 2-6, 6-3.
Rennae Stubbs and Lisa Raymond beat Kimberly Po-Messerli and Nathalie Tauziat on Sunday 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.
Further reading:
Our forum discussion on the U.S. Open results.
