Rafter Returns (Rafter v Agassi)

Member Name: JRW

Product:	Rafter v Agassi
Date:	08/07/00 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent tennis, contrast in styles

Disadvantages: Agassi out

This match was billed the contest of contrasts with Rafter’s big serve and volley game against Agassi’s excellent returning and backcourt tactics. It is often stated that the semi-finals are better matches than the final and I bet this turns out to be no exception.

This epic five setter was arguably the best match of Wimbledon. With Agassi’s superb passing shots and returns coupled with the immaculate volleying of a Becker-esque Rafter this match lived up to all the hype.

Patrick Rafter had hardly played all year due to a shoulder injury sustained during the last US Open. Many feared that his career was over but he, alongside Andre Agassi, produced some superb, clever tennis which was sustained over all of the five sets.

Rafter is one of the few top players on the ATP tour that doesn’t use a full-time coach. Rafter is also one of the best strategists and thinkers and he fully exploited Agassi’s lack of a net game by playing slow shots, designed to wear him down. Agassi, however, often used the topspin lob to great effect if he was not able to see a gap to pass the tall Australian.

This match was extremely open and both players had many opportunities to break – Rafter spurned five break points in just one Agassi service game. However, Agassi’s service games were becoming increasingly erratic and he made double faults at certain key stages of the match. After Agassi took the fourth set to equal the match, it would all depend on the fifth set to decide who would progress to the final, probably to face Pete Sampras, the defending champion. Agassi seemed determined to ensure a repeat of last year’s final match but it was Rafter who broke Agassi to go 5-2 up. Rafter, with seemingly no nerves, served an excellent final game to ensure he is the first Australian in the Wimbledon final since Pat Cash.

The final will be an extremely difficult match for Rafter, but after the year that h
e’s had I don’t think he expected to be anywhere near the Wimbledon final. Rafter has returned. Unfortunately the showman Andre Agassi has paid the full price for this.

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