Best French Open Matches of Last 30 Years

Ivan Lendl

 With the French Open taking place over the next two weeks, it is the perfect time to take a look at some of the greatest matches that have taken place in the last 30 years.  This is interesting as far as I am concerned; because over the years out of all of the Majors, the French Open has had the least quality archive footage available, not as easy to really find those gems from years gone by as it is for Wimbledon.

Lendl v McEnroe: 1984 final

John McEnroe went into this match looking to make history by being the first American to win the French Open since Tony Trabert in 1955.  More importantly, it was an opportunity to show that a full time serve and volleyer on grass and hardcourts could also win at the French.

In the final he faced Ivan Lendl who had previously lost the final in 1981 to Borg and also lost his first four major finals, so McEnroe fancied his chances.  McEnroe quickly went two sets up and was looking good for the win and history.  But Lendl found a new determination and willingness to dig deep and after losing the first two sets 6:3 and 6:2, was able to claim the third set 6:4 after breaking McEnroe for the first time in the match early in the third set.  The fourth set saw quite a few breaks of serve (five in total) and break point opportunities; McEnroe got close on a couple of occasions but never served for the match, with Lendl getting the decisive break late on to win the fourth set 7:5.

The fifth set by contrast was decided late on with one break, suggesting that both players were treating the fifth set as footballers treat extra time in a final, with caution not wanting to make the fatal mistake.  It is also said that McEnroe was also visibly tiring as the clay is the most demanding of surface for hardcourt players who are not used to sliding and grinding as often.  However, Lendl was able to get that break to take the title and ensure he would not lose five major finals in a row!  

Having seen extended highlights of this match, the interesting thing here is how remarkably modern Lendl’s game looks, particularly his backhand and movement.  When you watch so many players from the 1970s and 1980s, their game often looks outdated today, due to the technology they were using for that time.  Lendl hit the ball as hard as anyone you will see now and tactically his game his game is very similar to today.  The phrase “Father of Modern Tennis” is very apt for Ivan Lendl.

Equally, sadly McEnroe was never able to win the French Open and unfortunately the trend of attacking players not succeeding at the French would continue, a pity because many tennis fans really wanted to see that happen.

Chang v Edberg: 1989 final

1989 was a memorable tournament because at the time it threw up two winners who were both the youngest in history, both 17 years old in Michael Chang and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, both players beating much more illustrious opponents in the final (Seles would win at an even younger age in 1990).  It also featured two incredible matches involving Michael Chang, the first against Ivan Lendl who was number 1 in the world and three time champion. Plus Chang became the first American since 1955 to win the tournament.

In the final set, Michael Chang cramped so badly that he couldn’t move adequately and resorted to the infamous underhand serve deep into the match which Lendl couldn’t despatch much to his annoyance, the sheer surprise of the delivery putting off Lendl.

The final against Stefan Edberg represented another opportunity for an attacking player to prevail on the slow surface.  And like in 1984, Stefan Edberg must have fancied his chances to win the French.  In fact, Stefan got close (ish) taking a two sets to one lead and seemingly onto victory.  But Michael Chang was up to his tricks again, clawing back breaks in both the fourth and fifth sets to claim an amazing victory which he put to higher forces helping him through all of those difficult phases and dedicated the victory to the fallen in Tianamen square.

It was great to see a battle where Edberg the attacker tried to get to the net at every opportunity on Chang’s service games whilst hitting the kicker serve on his serve and trying to get to net on the 1st delivery.  Edberg and McEnroe were without doubt the two best attacking players of the 1980s because both guys had to use guile and tactical nous to make up for their lack of power on the serve.

Unfortunately for the second time in the decade of the 1980s, the great attacking player was to be denied by the out and out baseliner. 

  

Seles v Graf: 1992 final

The premier rivalry of the early 1990s and one of the best in tennis history.  Graf was top dog but completely supplanted by an upstart from Novi Sad in former Yugoslavia, this was the match all the fans and media were waiting for.

And it didn’t disappoint either. In 1990 Seles shocked the world by beating Graf in both the final of the German Open and French Open becoming the youngest ever to win the tournament.  This was the first major they contested against each other since the French Open final of 1990.  Seles took the first set 6:2 and Graf took the second set 6:3 but the real fun (not sure the players would call it fun) took place in the third set where both players fought and fought and fought.

Seles was the one to strike first, getting to a 5:3 lead but Graf managed to save four match points to keep the match going and forcing Seles to serve for it.  However, by this stage with the crowd going crazy, Graf broke Seles to get to 5:5, then 6:5, and 7:6 but each time Seles held serve fairly comfortably to keep the match going.  This lead to the inevitable cracking of Graf at 7:7 to leave Seles serving for the championship for a 9:7 win.  Graf prevented that by breaking back but Seles broke again to serve and win the third set 10:8. 

Throughout the early 1990s and before Seles’ unfortunate stabbing, this was the best match of their rivalry.  Similar to the Edberg v Becker rivalry, Graf had a decisive lead but Seles often got her in the major finals; although Graf redressed some of the balance by winning the 1995 and 1996 US Open finals.  It is also interesting to document how much overwhelming crowd support Graf got in Paris in all of her finals.

Sampras v Courier: 1996 Quarterfinal

This match was one of their best of their rivalry, the head to head may have been lopsided in Sampras’ favour but they had incredible battles at all four majors and masters tournaments over a five year period.  Memorable matches include the 1991 ATP (World Tour) final, 1993 Wimbledon final and 1994 Miami semifinal.  The 1995 Australian Open quarterfinal is their most famous because Tim Gullickson was in a bad way and had to leave for tests which turned out to be a brain tumour and Sampras broke down on court after coming from two sets down.

However, Courier couldn’t have expected the same thing to happen on a clay court where he had won the tournament twice and played in three finals.  But Sampras did it again after losing the first two sets 7:6 6:4 to take the next three 6:4 6:4 6:4

Besides the intense rivalry of these two guys who in my opinion helped to take tennis to a higher level in the early to mid 1990s, there was also a very interesting tactical battle in this match.  First of all it was a hot day and both players hit 29 & 28 aces each which is a lot in a five set match even on a hardcourt never mind clay.  Perhaps it was egos’ but the usual cagey rallies you are used to seeing on a clay court with heavy topspin shots didn’t happen in this match, these guys played this match as if it were on a hardcourt.  There were some fantastic rallies where they hit the ball as hard as anyone and some great passing shots whenever either guy was at net.  In fact, the rallies in this match and their match at the 1995 Australian Open laid the blueprint for how tennis is played today, with no compromise from the baseline off both wings. 

Sampras was able to turn this match around with guts and determination, and the will of the French crowd wanting an attacking player to win the tournament; at one point in the fifth set Courier smashed his cap to the ground with his racquet and tossed it into the crowd.  However, after this marathon 4 hour match, and with five set victories against Brugera and Todd Martin, Sampras had nothing left for the semifinal and the French Open eluded an attacking player again.

Agassi v Medvedev: 1999 Final

Agassi had played in two previous finals in 1990 and 1991 but lost both to Andres Gomez and Jim Courier when he was favourite.  In fact, in 1991 Agassi lost the final after being two sets to one up with a rain delay helping to turn it around for Courier.

So Agassi might have thought his chance was gone after waiting for 8 years to get to another final, especially after going two sets down against Andrei Medvedev for was playing tennis like a pre Marat Safin and looking really good taking the first two sets 6:1 6:2

But as happens so often in clay court tennis, where it is often not really possible to blow someone away quickly, Agassi was slowly able to work his way into the match taking the ball early and trying to get to net when he could, and after a roller coaster 3rd set where Agassi broke for 4:2, got broken back and then was break point down leaving the possibility of Medvedev serving for the championships, Agassi was able to hold on and then break to take third set 6:3.  Agassi then rushed to a 3:0 lead in the fourth set which he eventually won 6:3 and with Medvedev’s confidence draining, claimed a most unlikely victory by taking the fifth set 6:4 and becoming the fifth man in history to win all four Grand Slam championships.

It was a very emotional moment for both players, which clearly came through in the presentation and both players’ speeches.  But to me the most fascinating backdrop of this match and shows how dramatically tennis has changed in the last 15 years. In that final Agassi was a former world number 1 and Medvedev a former number 4.  And yet Medvedev was ranked 100 and Agassi was ranked 141 less than 18 months previously.  Due to the change in ranking points and other factors, it is highly unlikely to see top players ranking peak and dip so dramatically as their career progresses in today’s conditions.

 

Graf v Hingis: 1999 final

Hingis was looking to add the French Open crown to her collection to join the legends of winning all four grand slam championships. 

And against Graf everything went well and was looking good early in the 2nd set.  Hingis took the first set 6:1 and was 2:0 in the 2nd set until the “dodgiest” of line calls changed not only the match but tennis history.  Hingis hit a seemingly winning return which looked to clearly have hit the line but was called out, Umpire Anne Lassere-Ulrich came to have a look but ruled the ball to be out, which led Hingis to walk across to the other side to show the mark that should have been spotted.

This petulance by Hingis led her to receive a point penalty after having a brisk discussion with the tournament Referee.  Hingis’ game fell apart and Graf was able to claim the 2nd set and the third set 6:2.  What didn’t help Hingis for the rest of the match was the whole crowd who were entirely in Graf’s favour.

Amazingly, this match is not only famous for the line call in the 2nd set, but also Hingis’ underhand serve at match point down in the 3rd set, much like Michael Chang against Lendl 10 years earlier, with the same results surprising Graf, like Lendl she hit a forehand and came to the net but lost the point off a passing shot.  However, Graf did prevail which then led to Hingis disappearing and then brought back out sobbing in the arms of her mother who persuaded her to go to the podium for the presentations.  Graf insisted during the presentation that Hingis would one day win the French Open.  But sadly for Hingis that never happened.

One thing is for sure, it probably isn’t possible to have more drama than this in a tennis match!

  

2001 final: Capriati v Clijsters

This is without doubt the last great ladies French Open final.  Throughout the 1990s, the tournament was blessed with great women finals which went all the way but since 2001 every final incredibly has been a straight sets affair, often a quick drubbing by one player over another.

But in 2001 Capriati was going for her second Grand slam title after being on the scene for over 10 years even though at the time she was only 25 years old.  Clijsters who was playing in her first final at the age of 18 was a new kid on the block.  In a see saw battle, Clijsters took the first set 6:1 whilst Capriati seemed grumpy and dissatisfied, complaining about things which I’m not quite sure what they were about; which may have included a complaint about the noise from the Umpire’s microphone!

Clearly that all had to be put down to nerves, however, Capriati was able to turn the tide quickly in the second set and claimed it 6:4 to force a decider.  The great thing here was the deciding set was longer than the first two sets put together.

Both players played some incredible tennis throughout the final set and on more than one occasion showed fantastic poise and bravery in tight situations.  Sadly, there had to be a loser and with no tiebreak in the final set, someone had to be broken and in the end, after the final break at 11:10, Capriati was able to serve for the match and seal it with a forehand winner which at the time gave her two majors for the year and in pole position to complete the Grand Slam of all four majors in one year.  That didn’t materialise as she lost in the semifinals of Wimbledon to another Belgian upstart Justine Henin.

The incredible thing about this final is the statistics, despite it being a pulsating battle with so many quality moments, both players are charted as committing over 80 unforced errors each whilst Capriati hit 30 winners and Clijsters 35 winners.  Meanwhile Clijsters actually won more points overall than Capriati.  Statistics, damned statistics, as the saying goes.

2013 semifinal: Djokovic v Nadal

This was supposed to be the match where Djokovic (or any champion) would get the better of Nadal at the French Open.  The stage was set and Djokovic probably in his best condition having defended his Australian open title against Andy Murray.

But as usual, Nadal had other ideas to become the first man in history to win one major tournament on eight occasions.  Nadal was also coming back after a 7 month injury layoff where people questioned whether he would get back to the highest level.  Nadal took the first set 6:4, Djokovic came back 6:3, Nadal took the third then Djokovic won the fourth on a tiebreak after coming back from a break on more than one occasion including Nadal serving for the match at 6:5.  At that stage you would have thought the momentum was with Djokovic even if he was not as his physical best at this stage, his fortitude was still considerable.

The fifth set was a classic affair full of drama and tension, and mistakes, Djokovic was looking good at 4:2 but let it slip, and Djokovic’s bizarre messed up smash at a crucial moment (and Nadal’s almost comical way of pointing it out to the Umpire) probably cost him the match.  Djokovic was also complaining how slippery the surface was and wanted it watered but the Umpire and Referee refused that request. The fifth set went to 8:7 when Djokovic again served to stay in the match but it was one occasion too many and Nadal got to three match points and finished the job as Djokovic sent a forehand long. 

This match may go down as the best in their rivalry.  What is also interesting is that as happens so often in many tournaments, the best match takes place in the semifinal with final being a damp squib, that was the case in the 2013 French Open championships.

Other notable matches include:

1993 final Graf v MJ Fernandez 4:6 6:2 6:4

1996 final Graf v Sanchez Vicario 6:3 6:7 10:8 Graf wins yet another incredible final where she gets all the crowd support and leaves Sanchez Vicario in tears on the podium

2004 final Gaudio v Coria 0:6 3:6 6:4 6:1 8:6 This may be the most comical grand slam final I’ve ever seen but unfortunately Coria doesn’t find it funny and this result more or less ruined his career.

2009 4th rd Soderling v Nadal 6:2 6:7 6:4 7:6 No one predicted this but it let the door in for Roger Federer to realise his dream.

2009 semifinal Federer v Del Potro 3:6 7:6 2:6 6:1 6:4 Federer’s dream almost derailed by Del Potro but he dug deep and claimed the victory and then win the final against Soderling.