IN A supercharged atmosphere more reminiscent of a prize fight than a tennis match, Boris Becker assured his place in tomorrow's ATP World Championship semifinals in Hanover after a fluctuating, palpitating and hugely enjoyable straight sets, 7-6 7-6, victory over the world number one, Pete Sampras.
It was a glorious reminder that this tournament is about the excellence of tennis. It was red blooded stuff, far removed from the anaemic exit of Andre Agassi the day before.
Agassi was belatedly fined five per cent of his ATP Tour earnings this year, excluding Grand Slams, for failing to turn up at the live draw on Monday. It amounts to about $50,000, which even by his opulent standards is a reasonably, heavy chunk to lose.
Fortunately, the Becker Sampras match was the proper focus of the day's proceedings. The anticipation had been whetted by their gargantuan battle in Stuttgart last month, which Becker edged 6-4 in the fifth set, Sampras having won their previous four encounters.
Since Wimbledon, when Becker seriously injured his right hand, the German has played a strictly limited amount of tennis and arguably entered this tournament fresher than anyone. With the crowd of 15,000 literally shaking the Hanover Festhalle with their support, Sampras found himself seemingly up against a nation rather than a single player.
Both men have won this title twice since its inception in 1990 and there is very possibility they will meet again in Sunday's final. Everyone here will hope so, for Germany still believes Boris is the world's number one no matter what the ATP ranking shows.
So fast and furious was the action that there was barely time for breath. Sampras held his serve to love in the opening game and then immediately had two chances to break Becker. Becker responded with a meteoric shower of aces and the early chance for Sampras was gone.
Becker continued to struggle to hold his serve for much of the first set and in the 10th game the door seemed to open up and flap on its hinges for Sampras. Twice Becker double faulted to give the world's number one three break points. Both players had sweat running down their shoulder blades, so intense had been the early play.
Becker composed himself and once again hurtled down his serve to save the game. Sampras clearly thought one of the German's aces was on the wrong side of the line but he could do nothing about it. Both players were performing to the optimum of their ability and the first set tie break swung first one way and then another before Becker finally clinched it 12-10. Seventy minutes were on the clock; it had gone by in a flash.
Becker's double faults continued but so did his ability to save himself when the American looked like forcing a third set.
Indeed, it came as a surprise to just about everyone, probably even Sampras, when Becker finally did lose his serve to go 5-4 down. But it is an inherent characteristic of Becker's game that he never knows when he is beaten.
Becker reached into his bag and pulled out a new racket that was still shrouded in cellophane. He gave the strings a little tap on the heel of his right hand, breathed deeply and moved smoothly into a 4-0 lead. But Sampras is also a fighter. He managed to pull the tie break score back to 5-3, but Becker was in no mood to allow him back.
