Indian Wells Flashback: Pete Sampras downs Stefan Edberg and reaches final

Pete Sampras and Stefan Edberg battled for a place in the title clash in Indian Wells 1994. It was Sampras’ first notable Indian Wells run, playing well and ousting Edberg 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in under two hours. It was their tenth meeting and Pete’s fifth victory, starting all over in the decider to remain on the title course. It was a high-quality clash with more winners than unforced errors, including 75 service winners and 15 out of 18 break points saved. Edberg pushed strong in five return games, seizing one out of eight opportunities and getting broken twice to propel Sampras into the next round. As was expected in the clash of two aggressive players with booming serves and exceptional volley abilities, the longer rallies barely existed. The winner had to come from the shortest exchanges up to four strokes and mid-range ones where Sampras had a slight advantage that carried him home.

Pete Sampras took down Stefan Edberg in the 1994 Indian Wells semi-final.

The Swede fended off a break chance in the encounter’s second game with a service winner. He had a massive opportunity to move in front in the next one after creating four break points. Staying focused, Pete erased them with unreturned serves and broke in the next game when Stefan hit a costly double fault. The American held at 15 and opened a 4-1 gap to settle into a fine rhythm. The sixth game saw eight deuces and three break points for Sampras. He could not convert any and forge a more significant lead before serving for the opener at 5-3. Stefan earned a break point, and Pete denied it with a powerful serve.

The American hit another to wrap up the set 6-3 and gain a boost. The Swede landed a backhand down the line winner in the second set’s fourth game for a break chance. Sampras erased it with a perfect volley and locked the result at 2-2. What he failed to do in that game, Stefan fixed the next time on the return to open a 4-2 gap. Edberg held at love in game seven to cement the advantage and clinched the set with a hold at 5-3 to introduce a decider. The servers stood strong in the opening six games to remain neck and neck. Pete faced a break point in game seven and saved it for one of the most pivotal holds of the encounter. The American held at 15 in game nine and grabbed a break at 15 a couple of minutes later with a return winner to seal the deal and advance into the title match.