By Bob Rayan, Boston Globe
BROCKLINE-THE FIFTH set was'nt doubles. That was 1 7/8 ths.
The fifth set was all about an all time champion doing what all
time champions do. Pete Sampras simply took over. He was Orr
going end-to-end; Bird telling people to give me the ball and get
out of my way; and Pedro telling the fielders to sit down while he
strikes out the side.
The fifth set was Sampras delivering aces, sending rockets back
at Australians and leaping around in Baryshnikovian fashion.
The fifth set was Sampras even lending some audio to the
gorgeous video.
The fifth set was Sampras serving searing winners in the first
game, delivering three aces in the 5th game, and serving for the
match in such a frenzied state he hardly recognised himself.
"Serving for the match I was jumping out of my skin", Sampras
said.
He never before had been to Boston. He may never have reason
to play here again. We have witnessed every team superstar
who's ever lived,but we never before had had an
up-close-and-personal glimpse of the consensus Best Tennis
Player On The Planet.
So for those of you not privileged to be among the 5,000-plus at
the Longwood Cricket Club yesterday afternoon, let me
summarize what we saw:
Oh.
My.
God.
...what we saw today, well, then, was Hogan at Carnoustie. He
might never play here again, but that would be OK. We in Boston
always will have the fifth set.