US Open: 51 years ago today - for the first time a final ends in a tie-break
The US Open was the first major tournament to introduce tie-break set decisions. In 1971, Stan Smith won the first final by winning a short decision.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Sep 15, 2022, 08:58 pm
Beware of fake news! When the inclined tennis fan reads the headline of this article, he or she naturally draws the following conclusion: The final of the US Open 1971 (between Stan Smith and Jan Kodes, by the way) went over five sets. And was decided in a tie-break at the very last moment. In fact, Smith and Kodes only played four sets, the American won 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 2 and 7: 6 (3).
Strictly speaking, this final actually ended with a tiebreak. But not over the full distance. Just like in 1989, when Boris Becker beat Ivan Lendl in four rounds. Or in 1996, when Pete Sampras defeated Michael Chang in three sets. In fact, in the very long history of the US Open, yes, all Grand Slam tournaments, there has only been one men's final that was decided in a classic tie-break in the fifth set: 2020 between Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev. As is well known, with the better end for the Austrian.
Navratilova as mourners
Something like this won't come back. Because the cacophony in terms of decision-making at majors has come to an end. Currently and probably also in the future, all matches in the four largest tournaments are decided in a match tie-break in the fifth or third set.
Incidentally, the women's narrowest possible determination of the winner in New York City was twice. And on both occasions, Martina Navratilova suffered: in 1981, Navratilova lost to Tracy Austin in the tie-break of the third set, as did Hana Mandlikova four years later.