On July 2, 2001, the future Wimbledon king Roger Federer took down the seven-time champion Pete Sampras 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 in three hours and 41 minutes in the fourth round! It was the first and only match between two of the greatest players of all time.
They made sure to deliver a remarkable one, with the full attacking grass-court tennis we would often miss on the sacred Wimbledon courts in the following years. Federer was the upcoming star at 19 years and ten months, heading to the All England Club after reaching the first Major quarter-final in Paris and winning the first ATP crown earlier that year in Milan.
On the other hand, Sampras was not in great form that year, although he was always dangerous at those courts. The American chased the fifth consecutive title and the eighth overall, hoping to add his name to the record books again.
It was not to be for him that day, though, losing before the quarter-final for the first time since 1991 and playing only one more match at Wimbledon a year later. Pete had 31 straight wins at Wimbledon and 56 in the last 57 encounters before Roger ended that streak.
The Swiss kicked off his third Wimbledon campaign with no wins and became the first player with a five-setter triumph over Pete in the cathedral of tennis. Federer won ten points more than Sampras, fended off nine out of 11 break chances and delivered four breaks from 14 opportunities to cross the finish line and dethrone the legend.
They hit 174 service winners in 370 points (89 for Roger and 85 for Pete), with 47% of the points not seeing a rally! Also, 325 exchanges ended in the shortest range up to four strokes, and the Swiss forged a 170-155 advantage.
He did more damage with the initial forehand or volley and generated the crucial difference. Pete had a 24-19 lead in the mid-range rallies with five to eight shots, insufficient to carry him over the finish line. Only two points reached over eight shots, an excellent indicator of how fast the encounter was.
Roger Federer defeated Pete Sampras in five sets at Wimbledon 2001.
Roger needed a good start in his first match on Centre Court, and he blasted four service winners in the opening game. Sampras responded with four booming serves in game two.
After three mistakes, the American faced three break points in the fourth game and erased them in no time with five winners. Federer faced the first break chance at 3-3, staying calm to resist it and remain in touch until the tie break.
He saved a set point at 5-6 with a service winner and took it 9-7 after Sampras’ unforced error for a massive boost. Pete fended off all six break points in set number two and stole Roger’s serve in the closing stages to take it 7-5 and restore the order.
Serving at 5-6, the young gun sprayed five mistakes to hand the set to his rival. Federer grabbed a double break in the third set to wrap it up and move in front. Roger placed a return winner in game three to create the lead.
He stayed in front only for a couple of minutes, as Sampras broke back with three winners. The American survived a break chance at 3-3 with a service winner before wasting a 40-15 advantage in the ninth game and spraying four errors to send the Swiss 5-4 up.
In one of the encounter’s essential games, Federer clocked four good serves to take the set 6-4 and move closer to the finish line and brilliant triumph. With no room for errors, Sampras raised his game in set number four.
He faced no break points and created two at 4-3 that Roger dismissed with winners. The Swiss reached a tie break that the more experienced player won 7-2 to level the score at 2-2 and send the clash into a decider. Federer left the drama and excitement behind him and dropped only six points behind the initial shot, four of those at 4-4 when he fended off two break points to avoid an inevitable defeat.
Pete lost six points in the first five service games, but that all changed when the pressure reached its peak. The American suffered a break at 15 in the 12th game after Roger’s two return winners that carried him over the finish line and into the first Wimbledon quarter-final.
