Safin overcomes Sampras in an epic encounter

First set: Safin 6-2 Sampras

Sampras starts horribly, losing his opening two service games. So much for his big serve. His Deputy Dawg face shows little emotion - well, there's still a long way to go. Valiantly he tries to come back, but four breakpoints come and go and the Safin serve stays strong. Soon 3-0 to Safin has become 6-2, and Sampras knows he's in trouble.

Second set: Safin 6-4 Sampras

There's almost a déjà vu moment in the opening game as Sampras drops to 15-40 on his own serve. But, just in time, his serve cranks into gear and he holds on. Just. His Russian opponent has no such problems, though: his huge shoulders keep cranking in ace after ace and even the serves Sampras does get back often half-heartedly loop beyond the baseline.

At 2-2, Sampras goes 30-0 up on his serve but then he double-faults horribly. Safin, like a hungry bear, scents blood. Sampras's volleying lets him down, Safin hits another great backhand winner - that's six in total now - and suddenly he has another break.

Sampras calls for a trainer to examine his heel and the break seems to reinvigorate him. He shows emotion, punching the air after an ace and grimacing after another double fault. But he can't find a way to break back.

By now, Safin's first serve percentage in the set has dropped to 38% - compared to Sampras's 73% - and, trailing 5-4, Sampras decides on a new tactic: chipping and charging Safin's serve. A stunning whipped forehand soon changes his mind, and soon Safin is quickly two sets to the good.

Third set: Safin 6-7 Sampras

The third set starts like the previous two: with Sampras struggling to hold his serve. 30-40 down at 0-0 he pulls out three scudding rockets, reminiscent of his prime, to save the game. However in his next service game, the serve crumbles again - Safin snatching a break by somehow reaching a ball going behind him on his backhand side before swivelling around and - think Gordon Banks saving from Pele in 1970 World Cup - scrambling to his forehand to hit an unbelievable winner.

At this point Safin looks too strong and consistent. His hitting and speed are frightening and, worst still for Sampras, he is running everything down. But one part of the Russian's game isn't quite on song: his service. From a position of strength he misses eight first serves in a row, and at 4-3 down, Sampras takes advantage.

At 15-40 ahead, he chips and charges and Safin's backhand can only find the net. Soon from 4-3 down Sampras is 5-4 ahead, leaving the surly Russian to mutter angrily to himself.

With both men rediscovering their service strength, a tie-break and more drama inevitably follows. Sampras looks to be in control as he hits two consecutive winners off Safin's serve to move 5-2 ahead. Then he double faults. Then follows anger as, at 6-3 ahead, Safin's clearly long serve is called in. Finally Sampras is ecstatic, fist-pumping with the best of them as he smashes one home to take the tie break 7-5. As one the crowd rise to give Sampras the sort of standing ovation he never got when Grand Slam victories were a matter of course.

Fourth set: Safin 7-6 (10-8) Sampras

Is the Sampras recovery short-lived? It looks that way in the opening stanzas of the fourth set as Safin races to a 1-0 lead then goes 40-0 in front on Sampras's serve.

Somehow though, the American clings on - particularly at 15-40 down when he produces an Exocet of a second serve which lands right on the service corner. Safin can only lob it back and Sampras puts away a venomous smash. The adrenaline now racing, he saves three more break points and levels the match at 1-1.

The game establishes the pattern for the set. The serve is less dominant, the rallies longer and the chances to break even greater.

In the next game, Sampras outmanoeuvres his opponent to go 30-40 ahead. But Safin's serve - when it goes in - is a great equaliser and an ace down the middle keeps him in the game.

Both men continue to trade breakpoints like Panini stickers. At 4-3 Safin gets his turn but can't convert. Ditto Sampras at 5-5. Neither games won nor the stats can separate the two players. Points won? Sampras 44, Safin 44. First serve percentage? Sampras 56%, Safin 56%. First serves won? Sampras 79%, Safin 78%. Appropriately, the fourth set goes to a tie-break.

Sampras starts like a man going places. A thumping forehand gives him a mini-break and he races into a 3-0 lead. But Safin retaliates, breaking back and hitting two monster forehands to go 5-4 ahead. Play goes with serve for the next eight points, during which Sampras has two break points, and Safin one matchpoint, before finally, after 3hrs and 30mins and with the score at 9-8, the Russian produces a furiously-hit forehand down the line. Sampras, at the net doesn't move. An extraordinary shot to end an extraordinary match.