"I went right into the doctor’s office and collapsed" - When Pete Sampras recalled his intense quarterfinal against Alex Corretja at the US Open 1996
One of the greatest-ever competitors in tennis history, Pete Sampras was often at his dominant best at the US Open, having won it on five occasions.
The American's fourth title at Flushing Meadows came in 1996, where he beat Michael Chang 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(3) in the final. But before that, he had to overcome a grueling quarterfinal against Alex Corretja. Sampras beat the Spaniard 7-6(5), 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(7) in a marathon five-setter to seal his place in the semifinals, even having to save match point.
The former World No. 1 wrote about the match in his book "A Champion's Mind". He admitted that Corretja double-faulting at match point helped him get over the finish line, remarking that he, in his tired state, may not have been able to do so otherwise.
"People were leaning over the railings in the stadium, hanging into the court, screaming encouragement at me. I didn’t know it, but all over the United States and the world, things in many places came to an utter standstill as people got sucked into the drama of it all," Pete Sampras wrote.
"And then Alex blinked. He did the one inexcusable thing, under the circumstances: he double-faulted at match point. I won without having to take that additional step—one that I might not have been capable of making." he added.
Sampras further revealed that he left the court utterly exhausted and went straight to the doctor's office, where he collapsed. The American also stated that he was instantly hooked onto an IV bag to replenish his liquids.
"I won without having to take that additional step—one that I might not have been capable of making. I left the court completely spent, dehydrated, disorientated, and vaguely aware that I had made a spectacle of myself. I went right into the doctor’s office under the stands in Louis Armstrong Stadium and collapsed," Sampras wrote.
"They immediately hooked me up to an IV bag. Paul (Annacone) went to gather my things from the locker room, and when we finally opened the door to leave the doctor’s office, I saw a sea of faces, members of the press who had staked out the room," he added.
Pete Sampras had a 65-11 record in 1996
The 1996 season was statistically one of the most successful seasons of Pete Sampras' illustrious career, as he won 65 out of 76 matches with eight titles to his name.
The American was particularly impressive during the second half of the season as he won the US Open as well as the ATP Tour World Championships (now known as the ATP Finals), where he beat Boris Becker 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 6-7(11), 6-4.
Other tournaments he won include the Swiss Indoors in Basel and the Japan Open in Tokyo.