[UDiTY]

Henin-Capriati added to greatest match list

September 12, 2003
LONDON (AP) -- Justine Henin-Hardenne's dramatic three-set victory over Jennifer Capriati in the semifinals of the U.S. Open has been added to the WTA contest for the greatest women's match played during the Open Era.

The match, won by Henin-Hardenne 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4), was added to 15 others previously announced. Three of the matches involve Martina Navratilova, including her 1981 U.S. Open final which Tracy Austin won 1-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1), the first major championship to be decided by a tiebreak.

Other nominations include the 1970 Wimbledon final in which Margaret Court defeated Billie Jean King 14-12, 11-9, in 2 hours, 27 minutes, the longest-ever women's Wimbledon final; and the 2002 Australian Open final in which Capriati defeated Martina Hingis 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2, saving four match points in the second set, a Grand Slam final record.

The results will be announced at the season-ending championships at Los Angeles in November.

Wow, I had never heard of this before. I was wondering if anyone knows all the matches that are in contention for this "Greatest Match of The Open Era?" I hope there's a Williams match in there somewhere.

I feel sorry for whoever or whomever has to decide who wins this acheivement, it seems kinda weird to compare matches from today to ones from 1970.

Sorry if this has been posted b4...

 

[Kart]

There is more than one match involving a Williams sister in there - if this is the same poll:

http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=86576

 

[UDiTY]

There is more than one match involving a Williams sister in there - if this is the same poll:

http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=86576

Ok, so now there are 16 matches:

16 GREATEST MATCHES IN WOMEN’S TENNIS

1970 WIMBLEDON FINAL
Court d. King 14-12, 11-9

1976 WIMBLEDON FINAL
Evert d. Goolagong 63, 46, 86

1981 US OPEN FINAL
Austin d. Navratilova 16, 76(4), 76(1)

1985 FRENCH OPEN FINAL
Evert d. Navratilova 63, 67(4), 75

1986 US OPEN SF
Navratilova d. Graf 61, 67(3), 76(8)

1990 VS CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL
Seles d. Sabatini 64, 57, 36, 64, 62

1991 WIMBLEDON FINAL
Graf d. Sabatini 64, 36, 86

1991 US OPEN SF
Seles d. Capriati 63, 36, 76(3)

1992 FRENCH OPEN FINAL
Seles d. Graf 62, 36, 10-8

1995 US OPEN FINAL
Graf d. Seles 76(6), 06, 63

1996 FRENCH OPEN FINAL
Graf d. Sanchez-Vicario 63, 67(4), 10-8

1999 FRENCH OPEN FINAL
Graf d. Hingis 46, 75, 62

2000 US OPEN SF
V. Williams d. Hingis 46, 63, 75

2001 AUSTRALIAN OPEN QF
Hingis d. S. Williams 62, 36, 86

2002 AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL
Capriati d. Hingis 46, 76(7), 62

2003 US OPEN SF
Henin-Hardenne d. Capriati 46, 75, 76(4)

 

[Ted of Teds Tennis]

How could the 89 FO Final not make the short-list?

 

[Steffica Greles]

Where is the 1993 Graf-Seles Australian Open final?

Glaring omission!! Unbelievable! That's the highest quality match I've ever seen, and many said so at the time and since.

Idiots.

 

[Randy H]

sorry but I think the US Open semifinal with Justine and Jennifer was hardly worthy of the best 16 *ever* I can think of plenty more that were better quality matches quite honestly.

surprised to see the 95 Wimbledon final not included, it was such a great match, and the last set was a real thriller.

 

[Maggie&MomoFan]

i canmt beleive fo 2001 didnt nake it, are they nuts!!!!

 

[Zvonerevian]

Hingis def. Serena 8-6 in the third was the best match I've ever seen.

 

[wtn_amanda]

1990 VS CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL
Seles d. Sabatini 64, 57, 36, 64, 62

5 sets

 

[spencercarlos]

1990 VS CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL
Seles d. Sabatini 64, 57, 36, 64, 62

5 sets

Yes it was a 5 setter. The Championships, Masters (Chase) used to play best of 5 sets final until 1999 when they decided to change to best of 3 sets.

Also I don`t think Jennifer-Henin Usopen 2003 match should be there. It was interesting because it was tight but surely 69 unforced errors from Henin and 43 from Capriati can not qualify among better quality matches.

Other great battles missing
1993 Mary Joe Fernandez vs Gabriela Sabatini 1-6 7-6 10-8. . Yeah Gaby was 6-1 5-1 and lost the match, but more than a choking job, this one was a beauty, Fernandez Painted the lines and both had great rallies in the 3 hour.36 minute match.

1995 Usopen Graf def Seles 7-6 0-6 6-3. Yeah the first set was such a high quality match, the second set went in a blink and the third was very close, when Steffi appeared to be in trouble on serve she broke Seles in the fourth game, only that break decided the third.

1998 Chase Chmps Graf def Seles 1-6 6-4 6-4. Another Graf-Seles classic. Seles played on her best sets ever in that first set. Steffi slowly came back and had the upper hand in the third. Many players rated it among the best ever.

1994 Canadian Open Arantxa def Graf. 7-5 1-6 7-6 Amazing match, i can`t remember a better match than that one that year.

1996 Australian Open Chanda Rubin def Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 6-4 2-6 16-14. I have this one taped, the first two sets were anticlimatic, but the third set was espectacular, the third set alone lasted 2 hours. I would put this ahead Graf-Sanchez VIcario in the Rg final that year. Can`t believe this was not mentioned

 

[irma]

yeah it was so enjoyable, when the trainer was doing some sm on steffi in canada 94

 

[spencercarlos]

yeah it was so enjoyable, when the trainer was doing some sm on steffi in canada 94

I know Steffi was injured, same as Usopen 94 final, but the tennis quality was huge in that match.

 

[irma]

sorry it was the most awful moment for steffi on court, worse then australia 97. sure she played on and should have won anyway, but it was far from enjoyable imho

 

[irma]

that said asv really put up her level at matchpoints for steffi.

 

[spencercarlos]

that said asv really put up her level at matchpoints for steffi.

well i have not seen worse/awful performances for Graf than the 3 loses she had vs Amanda in 97, was like looking a shadow of the 22 grand slam champion, 21 GS champ then .

 

[irma]

I didn't vote anyway since I didn't see the matches from before the eighties. I could vote wimbledon 91 but when I whine about canada 94 then I can not vote for another match were steffi was injured even when she won this time and had no trainer on court

 

[irma]

well i have not seen worse/awful performances for Graf than the 3 loses she had vs Amanda in 97, was like looking a shadow of the 22 grand slam champion, 21 GS champ then .

steffi/sandra nacuk berlin 99 beat it all and steffi was not injured that day as far as I know so that's why it the worst match steffi ever played and even she was saved by the rain. really never saw steffi play that bad

 

[irma]

it was like she had never played tennis in her life.

 

[spencercarlos]

it was like she had never played tennis in her life.

hard to believe few weeks later she was winning the FrenchOpen ....

Do you think Wimbledon 91 Final was a bad performance?

 

[irma]

well it was not very good quality wise but it was a very brave performance. sure steffi had again mental problems after a set and a break up but she didn't give up and started to play better again at 4:5. that was good even both were shaky then.

after the match steffi said it was bad quality and sabatini said it was good quality. somebody wrote that never happened before that a loser is more satisfied about the level then the winner