Anatomy of a Historic Tie Breaker
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0-0, AGASSI TO SERVE Agassi and Blake embark on a 13-stroke rally that ends with an Agassi backhand clipping the net and bouncing wide.
0-1, BLAKE TO SERVE Agassi fires a forehand into the net on the 12th stroke of a rally.
0-2, BLAKE TO SERVE Blake finds himself in control after taking a cross-court forehand from Agassi and steering it down the line for a winner.
0-3, AGASSI TO SERVE Trying to strike a fatal blow, Blake nicks the tape as he tries to shoot a forehand down the line with Agassi in no position to recover.
1-3, AGASSI TO SERVE Agassi takes to the net on a backhand cross-court approach and drops a volley winner into the open court.
2-3, BLAKE TO SERVE Blake risks a serve and volley attack and hits his forehand volley long. The crowd gives a standing ovation as the players change ends.
3-3, BLAKE TO SERVE Blake unleashes a 129-mph ace right on the service T.
3-4, AGASSI TO SERVE Agassi flicks a forehand cross-court and Blake misses another down-the-line forehand into the net.
4-4, AGASSI TO SERVE Agassi, trying for a backhand winner, misses by a few centimeters. He turns toward the crowd with a look of disgust.
4-5, BLAKE TO SERVE Agassi steps into a slow kick serve from Blake and blasts a forehand return winner into the opposite court.
5-5, BLAKE TO SERVE In perhaps the most crucial point of the night, Blake rips a forehand into the corner that lands just long. Agassi’s first lead of the tie breaker results in his first match point.
6-5, AGASSI TO SERVE Blake, backpedaling to his left, whips another forehand down the backhand sideline for a winner. Another standing ovation as the players change ends again.
6-6, AGASSI TO SERVE Agassi moves Blake side to side for 14 strokes, then slices a backhand drop shot barely over the net. Blake charges and returns it, but Agassi lines up a backhand passing shot for his second match point.
7-6, BLAKE TO SERVE Agassi steps around a soft second-serve and clobbers a forehand over the high part of the net, painting both lines. As he walks to the net, he seems on the verge of tears.
