McIntyre Tennis

10 of the Greatest Tennis Rivalries in History

Considered to be a quintessentially English game, tennis has long been labelled as the sport of gentry. A match doesn’t become aggressive until it is well underway, and even then the aggression is only taken to the ball with the bat rather than at the opposing player.  

In spite of its calm demeanour, at first glance, tennis isn’t without its competition. There have been many great rivalries throughout the sports history, not just in individual competitions but throughout the seasons.  

Rivalries can be created in several different ways, occasionally they are long standing and come about when players of equal measure meet on the courts. Sometimes they can spawn as a result of conflicting personalities. They can even be put down to style of game play.  

Almost every great tennis rivalry consists of the world’s greatest players rather than those who are lesser known. It only takes one incident, on one occasion for the media to get hold of a story and run with it. Some of the greatest rivalries are built up not only on the courts, but also by incidents that become sensationalised stories. 

In this article we looked at rivalries from players that are still challenging each other today. We also included some of the greatest rivalries in a long line of major players throughout history.

1. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer  

 The first and ongoing rivalry that has to top our greatest list is the one between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. It is possibly due to consistency throughout their game, as well as their almost equal ability overall. Their rivalry is so well known that they have a page on Wikipedia dedicated to it. 

The pair have faced each other on thirty seven separate occasions throughout their time in the professional game. They battle it out every year to finish in consecutive positions in the world rankings. They also face each other in many ATP tour competitions, often seeded one after the other. 

Of their thirty-seven matches Nadal is on top with twenty-three wins to Federer’s fourteen. Federer has more success on hard courts and grass, whilst Nadal is of course better on clay. These results are somewhat predictable as it is no secret that Federer prefers to play on grass and Nadal favours a clay surface. Nadal isn’t nicknamed the clay king for no reason.

2. Margaret Court and Billie Jean King

A major rivalry in woman’s tennis has been the long standing one between Margaret Court and Billie Jean King. Their conflict in the sport, grew from their first of thirty two matches on the courts, in the 1960’s and through to the following decade. Of their thirty-two matches, Court out played her opponent on twenty two separate occasions.  

Having faced each other in finals, at no less than five grand slam events, the pair were well matched in their abilities. King secured victory over Court, just once, in a grand slam final. This was in the 1968 Australian Open, Women’s Final competition. Just prior to Kings grand slam victory, Court had taken two years out of the game.  

Court and King’s rivalry was well known for two famous matches that took place at Wimbledon.  The first of these two matches was played in 1962, when Billie Jean was eighteen years old, and starring in her second ever women’s singles match at Wimbledon. Seeded first that year, Margret missed out on the chance to progress any further than the opening round, in a shock defeat 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Billie Jean. 

The second of the two great Wimbledon matches between the pair, came in 1970. The rivals battled it out in a bid for the title in the final, when it was Courts turn to finish on top. At the time both players were struggling with injuries that had an impact on their game. King played through a knee injury that would later require surgery, Court played on an ankle that had to be injected with pain killers. 

The rivalry still continues today but for different reasons. Openly gay, Billie Jean King has publically expressed that she is hurt by her former rival’s opinions on same sex marriage. Margaret Court’s religion has a huge impact on her views. Despite the fact that her thoughts could affect her legacy in tennis, Court is highly unlikely to deter from them because of her beliefs.  

Although the two of them have differing opinions, both still respect each other because of their history in tennis.

3. Helen Wills and Helen Jacobs 

Helen Wills' rivalry with Helen Jacobs did not match the intensity of Wills' competition with Suzanne Lenglen. However, that said it was the greater of the two owing to its longevity. 

Wills was the better of the pair and only conceded a single match to Jacobs in a grand slam. It is perhaps because of this, among other points, they became such great rivals.  

With paralleled foundations in life, as well as a passion for tennis, the pair were nothing less than a phenomenon in the sport. Both women spent their informative years in Berkeley, both attended the same University and both trained under the same coach, Pop Fuller.  

The pair faced seven grand slam final matches against each other. Jacobs only victory in a grand slam over her rival, came about in the US championships, when her opponent was forced to withdraw from the game citing back injury. The loss wasn’t taken too well by Wills who apparently snapped at Jacobs when she tried to comfort her following her retirement from the match. 

4. Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras 

With completely different personalities and styles Agassi and Sampras made for one of the greatest rivals ever! 

With a gentlemanly appearance and a well to do nature Sampras commanded the courts with his famous serve and volley skills. On the other hand Agassi was both eccentric and occasionally rebellious in his demeanour. His famous blond locks were his signature look, and his return following a serve was his signature move. 

Because they were different in every way the pair were unable to sustain any kind of relationship on or off the courts. However, they did provide audiences with interesting game play when they faced each other. 

They battled it out to sit at number one in the world rankings for a number of years. Before April in 1995 Sampras had laid claim to the top spot for an impressive eighty two weeks. A position that Agassi took from him, and held on to for thirty weeks, before Sampras managed to win it back. The following year, Agassi again took the position from his rival.  

Throughout their careers they played each other on thirty-four separate occasions, with Sampras finishing on top winning twenty of their matches. His victories over Agassi, included four out of five grand slam titles. 

They played each other 34 times, with Sampras winning 20 of them. They met 16 times in tournament finals, and Sampras won four of their five matchups in Grand Slam finals. 

5. Bill Johnston and Bill Tilden 

As with all major sports America has to be credited with delivering astonishing talent, this is absolutely the case, when it comes to the great nation and their history in tennis.  

Bill Tilden and Bill Johnston were the greatest American representatives in the 1920s. The pair helped to establish the game of tennis in its earlier days.  

Over the course of seven years they came up against each other in the US championships. Johnston was able to secure victory in their first final meeting, However, Tilden went on to win the following five. 

In 1925, the match they played in the US Championships final went down in history as one of their greatest matches ever. It was the last time they would play each other in the final of the competition. Tilden beat Johnston in a spectacular display of five sets ending 4-6, 11-9, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. 

Because they shared the same Christian name the pair were fondly nicknamed ‘Little Bill’ and ‘Big Bill’ owing to their contrasting heights. 

The pair didn’t always work against each other. In 1920 – 1926 They worked together to represent the US and contribute to a seven year run as Davis Cup Champions. However they were most famously known for their rivalry against each other rather than their achievements together. 

6. Steffi Graf and Monica Seles

Built on a fate of what might have been, the competition between Steffi Graf and Monica Seles began in the early 1990s. The women were at the height of their fame in tennis, well known for their abilities on the courts as well as for their rankings.  

Steffi Graf had her name at the top of the rankings and had sat there comfortably for three years before her rival came along and took hold of the top spot.   

The women met in the finals of three grand slams from 1992-93. They played each other in the French Open followed by Wimbledon and then in the Australian Open, in which Seles beat Graf. 

A shocking turn of events in ‘93 meant that 19-year-old Seles had to retire from the sport for two years. A deranged fan of Graf’s sought revenge on Seles, who at the time had a firm grip on the number one spot. The fan wanted to see Graf back at the top of her game and took it upon himself to ensure it would happen. 

During a match in Germany, the obsessed fan stabbed Monica Seles in the back. Sadly she was unable to return to the game on top form. Following on from her recovery she only managed to win one further title – the Australian Open in 1996. 

The rivalry could have been so much more if it wasn’t for the fanatic that intervened.  

 7. Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall

In terms of longevity the rivalry between Rod Laver and ken Rosewell is unmatched by any other. Having played each other an astonishing 143 times throughout their careers, in both amateur and professional tennis, the pair have to be mentioned in the greatest ever rivalries list. 

Rod Laver was arguably the better player with 80 wins out of the 143 matches.  

One of their most remarkable matches took place in Dallas during 1972. By his own admission Laver claimed this match was one of the most significant in America. It contributed greatly to the game of tennis in the US as we know it today. Lavers Rival claimed the victory on said occasion in a full five set match that thrilled the audience, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6. A record breaking 23 million viewers tuned in their television sets to watch the rivals battle it out in spectacular fashion.   

8. Serena Williams and Venus Williams

We couldn’t exclude the two sisters that took the world of tennis by storm when they turned professional. Serena Williams and Venus Williams have one of the greatest rivalries ever. Combine the determination that each sister readily displays on court with the natural phenomenon of pure sibling rivalry. 

The sisters have faced each other twenty eight times with Serena, the younger of the two, coming out on top 17-11.  

The pair are famed for their world record. In the 2002 French Open, the sisters faced each other in the women’s final, starting a consecutive run with appearances in the following three final grand slam events. This is the only time in history that four consecutive grand slams have featured the same two female players. 

The media has credited them with being two of the greatest female tennis players ever. The fact they are from the same family in the same era is what makes the rivalry so unique.

9. John McEnroe and Björn Borg 

Nicknamed the fire and ice rivalry, John McEnroe and Björn Borg had a relatively short lived conflict that spanned over the course of four years.  

The pair played each other only 14 times, of which, both players won seven matches. Over the course of three years, 1979-81, the sparring players passed the number one spot to each other on seven occasions.  

The rivalry between them sparked the imagination of tennis fans from around the world, their dynamic on the courts was incredible causing. Together they put on a captivating show. In fact if they came up against each other the impending match became highly anticipated. In their day they were both considered to be the world’s greatest tennis players. 

Borg won five Wimbledon titles in his day using formidable techniques. He was known for his abilities, using extreme topspin on his forehand and an accurate two-handed backhand. He was also famed for his laid back attitude. McEnroe, on the other hand, was credited with his serve and volley skills. He was well known for his bad temper, particularly when things were not going his way in a match. He didn’t think twice about his conduct on the courts and there were often fireworks if he began lost out on points and sets. 

The rivalry didn’t last as long as it could have. At the 1981 US Open finals Borg decided it was time for him to retire from grand slam tennis without a reasonable explanation. The Swedish tennis star was just 25 years old, and arguably in his prime. McEnroe, was 22 that year and had won three of his four grand slam titles in finals against Borg. The fiery player went on to win three further titles but didn’t win another after the age of 25. Coincidentally, the same age his rival was when he quit. 

Borgs leaving the game had a lasting effect on McEnroe, who later claimed that the game was never as good as it had been when Borg was his main competition. 

10. Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova 

Arguably the greatest rivalry in tennis ever, was that between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. It was a fierce competition on the courts that turned into a lasting friendship for the pair, both during their days on the courts, and continuing today.  

The talented women played each other, an astonishing, eighty times during their careers that spanned more than a decade. Navratilova held a 43-37 lead over her rival. Evert favoured clay courts and Navratilova found her finest form on grass.  

The number of times that this pair faced each other wasn’t the only phenomenon that led to the great rivalry they shared. Until Navratilova made her debut, Evert was virtually impossible to beat. Her skills in accuracy were second to none at the time. In great contrast it was Navratilova’s serve and her skills in a volley that set her above the rest.   

 

Perhaps you can experience some of these and future tennis rivalries yourself. Whether you’re with family, friends or with colleagues, experiencing these rivalries first hand would certainly be iconic. Click here to find out more about corporate hospitality packages.  

Sampras vs Agassi Post Match Press Conference in New York

By Mike McIntyre

Not too many reporters stuck around for the brief Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi post match press conference at Madison Square Garden last night in New York. Either they did not realize that the players would do press for an exhibition match or they decided that there was little worth talking about following the 6-3, 7-5 victory by Sampras.

ProTennisFan was front row and managed to record this seven minute long clip. The quality is not the greatest and it is slightly off-center, but they do provide some nice answers. Agassi also questions whether yours truly had taken the time to read his autobiography after I asked him how he has managed to reconcile his negative feelings towards the sport.

 Agassi/Sampras Press Conference

 

Be sure to follow ProTennisFan on Twitter for timely tennis updates.

Sampras Eases Past Agassi at BNP Paribas Showdown in New York

By Mike McIntyre

It was like looking through a time-warp Monday night in New York. Madison Square Garden opened its hallowed gates for an evening of classic tennis between some of the greatest players to ever pick-up a racquet. 

The BNP Paribas Showdown tried to re-ignite legendary rivalries between Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe as well as Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. With 37 Grand Slams between the four players there is no doubting their past accomplishments. Yet while on paper the idea seemed intriguing, in real life it did not quite translate as planned. The evening did however prove that tennis still has a place at MSG and that the people of New York would love to watch the sport live more than once a year.

Lendl and McEnroe kicked things off at 7pm as the arena was still filling up. Unfortunately the match was nothing close to any of their gripping encounters from the 1980s that included 20 ATP World Tour finals. After years of hitting golf, rather than tennis balls, Lendl clearly lacked the necessary match practice to keep up with McEnroe and found himself in a 0-4 hole pretty quickly.

The lack of competitiveness had a distinct hand in keeping the crowd subdued as they collectively wondered if we'd see anything that relatively resembled what one might expect from two men who hold 15 Grand Slam titles between them. It's one thing to watch a dull match when there is at least something on the line, but in an exhibition it becomes just plain painful pretty quickly.

Just when it appeared that Lendl might be picking his game up slightly, McEnroe retired leading 6-3 with an ankle injury he had sustained while warming up two hours prior to the event. The fact that an injured Johnny Mac was able to still dominate his opponent spoke volumes to the disparity that existed between the two on this night.

Almost as disappointing as the lack of competition between these two old rivals was the complete absence of any of McEnroe's typical bad-boy antics. No cursing the umpire or an unsuspecting spectator. No thrown racquet or disputed line-calls. McEnroe's silence was even more surprising than that of the crowd but I guess it's hard to blow a gasket when you're leading so comfortably.

The main tilt between Agassi and Sampras got underway around 9pm and just from watching the warm-up you could tell that this would be a much more skillful match. Aside from the fact that these two American legends are roughly twelve years younger than their opening act, they have both been playing competitive exhibition matches of late.

Agassi played twice against retired head-case Marat Safin in Taiwan in January, while Sampras played two weeks ago against current pro Gael Monfils in San Jose. The two were clearly trying to arrive in New York prepared yet not for what some media had anticipated as a grudge match after last year's embarrassment in the "Hit for Haiti" fundraiser.

For those of you who missed that one, here's a reminder of the bad blood that surfaced between these two usually classy guys. Things start playfully at the 1:32 mark of the clip when Sampras shows off his sense of humor by imitating Agassi's pigeon-toed walk. I have to admit that at the time I thought it was refreshing to see Pete show us his lighter side. Unfortunately Agassi responded by taking things to another level by making reference to Pete being a bad tipper. This statement was all the more hurtful since it was written in Agassi's autobiography which had already caused tension between the two. Sampras proceeded to aim a serve directly at Agassi and the mood for the rest of the evening was one of tense confusion as the crowd struggled to figure out if the two were seriously airing out their differences or not.

This time around fortunately the two stuck to playing tennis and did their best to rekindle memories from their glory days. For Sampras, he aptly proved he still has his greatest weapon of all - his serve. Agassi admitted after the match that while other parts of Pistol Pete's game might not be as vicious as they once were, the one device that always frustrated him still packed a punch. Agassi too showed us glimpses into the past with some torrid forehand returns that from time to time left Sampras flat-footed.

Mostly though, this was a night where Sampras was the sharper of the two. He moved well for a 39 year-old and often found his way to the net where he still could put away the majority of his volleys. His footwork seemed solid and he displayed a real desire to compete. Agassi did too, but more often than he would have liked saw his shots fall short of their intended targets. Sampras would prevail 6-3, 7-5.

While it was not the three set nail-bitter that fans were hoping for, it still brought us back to the greatest American tennis rivalry of the past twenty years. One more time Agassi and Sampras managed to divide a crowd's allegiances almost evenly down the middle. Chants of "Come on Andre!" and "Let's Go Pete" were being traded back and forth in the stands just as frequently as the two players traded their groundstrokes down on the court.

For the players, it was clear that their bodies would no longer perform the same reflexes and reactions that they once did so routinely. That's bound to happen when you've been away from the game for eight years like Sampras and five for Agassi and only find the time for a few exhibitions a year. The most difficult thing for some fans to watch in friendly matches like this one isn't that the players are no longer what they used to be, but rather that there is really nothing on the line for two great former champions to play for.

Despite the lament for something more meaningful to validate this tennis showdown, Agassi was able to find one word to explain why we were all here today: nostalgia. During changeovers the jumbo-tron played clips of their greatest Grand Slam matches against each other. Not only did these highlights enthral the crowd as they reflected on the past but Agassi and Sampras as well. My favorite image of the night was of the two sitting in their chairs with Sampras leading 5-4 in the second set and both simultaneously straining their necks to watch a montage of their 2001 U.S. Open quarterfinal match on the jumbo-tron. Even within a match that was not yet finished, nostalgia for what they once had together made them pause and reflect. The fact that they shared that moment with 17,000 tennis fans tonight in New York is meaning enough for me.

 

Sampras vs. Agassi Rivalry Ready to Resume in New York

By Mike McIntyre

One of the greatest American tennis rivalries in the history of tennis ready to resume tonight at historic Madison Square Gardens in New York City.

Attempting to turn back the clocks will be 39 year old Pete Sampras against 40 year old Andre Agassi. The pair have been linked together since their first meeting as pros back in 1989 and finished their careers with total of 22 Grand Slam titles. Sampras owned a 20-14 career head-to-head against Agassi.

Diametrically opposed in the way they handled themselves both on and off the court, the tension between the two seems to have mounted in recent years. At an exhibition match to raise funds for victims of the floods in Haiti a year ago, the two engaged in a verbal joust while on court with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in a doubles match. Sampras first mimicked Agassi's trademark pigeon-toed walk and then Andre got things amped-up with a sarcastic comment about how Pete was cheap and a low-tipper.

When asked recently to describe his relationship with Sampras over the years, a typically comic Agassi replied, "Our relationship, is strictly platonic, I assure you. Pete and I spent a lot of weekends together -- on Sundays with a blimp in the sky."

About their on-court incident a year ago Agassi said, "Unfortunately … I had a microphone to my mouth for too long. That was my fault. I apologized to him directly. Hopefully, life will allow us to get to know each other better."

The two will try to get to know each other better tonight in a best of three sets match at MSG which has been labelled the BNP Paribas Showdown. Prior to the main event, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe will do battle in a one set affair.

Check back later for full coverage of the event.

 

Agassi Defeats Safin in Taiwan 'Rise of Legends' Exhibitions

By Mike McIntyre

A forty year old Andre Agassi showed he can still keep-up with the younger generation as he defeated 30 year old Marat Safin 2-6, 7-6(7), 13-11 during an exhibition match in Taiwan on Thursday.

Prior to their match, local tennis product Lu Yen-Hsun, ranked 35th in the world, defeated No. 10 Mikhail Youzhny 7-6(5) in a one-set encounter.

Agassi and Safin reunited two days later in Kaohsiung (also in Taiwan) and again the older of the two retired tennis champions came out on top by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.

During their time together on the ATP World Tour, Agassi and Safin each won three times against each other between 1998 and 2004.

Safin defeated Agassi at Roland Garros in 1998 in the first round, a year before the American claimed his first and only Grand Slam in Paris.

Agassi will be back on a tennis court on February 28th at Madison Square Gardens in New York where he will face his old nemesis Pete Sampras in another friendly exhibition match.

Prior to playing Safin, Agassi said that todays rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was "more compelling" than the one he once shared with Sampras.

Agassi Sorry for Behavior at Hit for Haiti

Andre Agassi has offered a public apology to Pete Sampras for his inappropriate behavior at the Hit for Haiti charity event at Indian Wells on Friday evening. He hopes for the opportunity to meet with Pete in person to apologize face-to-face. Agassi mentions that he got carried away in the heat of the moment, trying to come up with something comedic for the crowd.

See below for the full article by the Associated Press.

INDIAN WELLS, California (AP)—Andre Agassi told ESPN.com he was “out of line” and apologized for poking fun at Pete Sampras during a charity match last week.

Longtime rivals Agassi and Sampras were wearing microphones during the match, and the crowd at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California could hear an exchange that started lighthearted but turned testy.

At one point Sampras mimicked Agassi’s pigeon-toed walk, which drew laughs from the crowd.

Then Agassi chided Sampras for being stingy. In his book, Agassi criticized Sampras for being a poor tipper.

Sampras responded with a high, hard serve that forced Agassi, who was partnering Rafael Nadal, to duck.

Both Agassi and Sampras were smiling, but neither showed up at the post-match news conference.

“It was out of line,” Agassi told ESPN.com on Monday. “It was inappropriate. The night was on fire. We were all having fun. I was trying to be comedic. I only had a split second to make a decision. I went for it and it fell flat. I was trying to get past it, but Pete didn’t really let me get past it. He didn’t really roll with it. I’ve texted Pete to ask him if I can apologize in person.”

“The joke fell flat and I’m sorry,” he added. “My hope was that the night was still enjoyable.”

Nadal was asked about Sampras and Agassi after his Monday night match.

“Everybody told me after the match what’s happened, but during the match, you know how fast Americans speak, and I am Spanish. I didn’t understand nothing,” he said.

He said he felt no tension between them either on or off the court.

A capacity crowd of 16,100 filled the stadium for the Hit for Haiti fundraising exhibition Friday night.

The event helped raise $1 million to aid relief efforts in the earthquake-ravaged island nation.

Who's A Poor Tipper?

Here is a youtube clip of the moment the Hit for Haiti event got a tad awkward last night in Indian Wells between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Sampras starts out by amusingly imitating Andre's pigeon-walk before Agassi comes back with an offside expression of how Sampras is a poor tipper. A small blip on the screen on an otherwise entertaining and extremely humanitarian evening.

Hit For Haiti A Huge Success

By Mike McIntyre

Some of the greatest tennis stars in the history of the sport came together Friday night in Indian Wells for the second edition of Hit for Haiti to raise money for those affected by the devastating earthquake that hit the small country in early January.

The night started out with a women's doubles match between Martina Navratilova/Justine Henin and Steffi Graf/Lindsay Davenport that could not disappoint with a collective 50 Grand Slam singles titles between them.

The level of tennis and good-natured banter were both impressive as the Navratilova/Henin tandem won 8-6 on a Henin backhand up the line.

All four players had their moments that rekindled moments past, from Graf's forehand to Davenport's serve, from Navratilova's volleys to Henin's backhand - it was all on display for the capacity crowd to enjoy,

Most impressive hands-down, were the quick hands that 53 year old Navratilova showed off to us all. Even with 22 Grand Slam singles titles to her name and another 31 Grand Slam doubles titles it is a wonder that she is still able to work her magic on court at her age. It is a tribute to her incredible fitness and obviously her raw talent as well. If she played doubles today I'm certain she could still be a factor which is just amazing.

Equally as impressive as Navratilova's physical game was her verbal one as she joked with the crowd, the ball kids and her opponents throughout the charity match.

Early on in the match Graf was able to track down a Navratilova shot and launch a perfect lob for the point, which prompted Navratilova to sarcastically dead-pan, "it's a slow court."

She later asked for the service gun to be turned off after her serve was clocked at a mere 80mph.

My favorite Martina quote of the night was after the Graf/Davenport tandem picked on Justine Henin for four or five overhead smashes in a row and she said, "obviously you're playing to the weaker link (Henin) over there."

After the women's match the men took to the court with the serve and volley dream-doubles tandem of Pete Sampras and Roger Federer against the baseline duo of Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal.

As much fun as watching the women was, this was the match I was really looking forward to. The four greatest ATP players of the last twenty years all on the same court. The greatest rivalry of the 1990s as well as the greatest rivalry thus far of the 21st Century.

Agassi played surprisingly well for someone who has not really played much tennis since retiring in 2006. He twice placed a serve within 1mph of his pre-announced target. For his part, Sampras looked a bit shaky but could still deliver some pop on his serve when needed. Federer and Nadal were clearly not at their usual level of brilliance - nor did they have to be. They were - for a change - more of a supporting act to the two great American players. 

Aside from the tennis, It was no surprise that Andre did about 95% of the chatting throughout the set and some of his quotes were just hysterical. Here are a few of my favorites from the evening:

"I know you’re not taking me seriously Fed, but I’m coming."  

"Stop hitting the ball to Federer alright?...Not Sampras either, just keep it in between them."

"I got that partner." (shot goes into the net) "I used to have that partner."  

"You’re not very intimidating there (Roger). You’re very disarming. You’re very Swiss."

"Red’s not your colour Rog."  

"You know what 10,000 kids are saying right now? Who are those two bald guys playing with Federer and Nadal?"  

"They just don’t make athletes like they used to." (after a Nadal shank into the net)

"You move a lot faster on tv." (to Nadal) 

"Sorry partner, I only go to net to shake hands."

Things did get somewhat awkward about halfway through the match when Pete finally got into the comedy act by mimicking Agassi's pigeon-toed walk. Andre stayed quiet in response for a change until Pete asked him if he had a comeback. Agassi then said he had an imitation of Pete and followed that up by pulling the pockets out of his track pants and pretending he had no money for a tip - a reference to a less than kind passage from Agassi's recent autobiography about Sampras. It was a poorly timed reference and I don't think anyone deserves to be called cheap during a charity exhibition match such as this one.

Federer picked up on the tension and turned to Nadal and said, "Rafa, do something!" Fortunately Justin Gimelstob stepped in at the changeover and tried to lighten the mood. A good Federer-Nadal exaggerated grunt-fest in the next game also helped to restore the festive mood and get the evening back on track.

Federer and Sampras would prevail 8-6 in what I would say was the expected outcome given the winning duo's talent at net. Another nice outcome was the $1 million dollars raised for the people of Haiti. A great cause got the support it rightly deserves and if you are able to help out some more please visit the Red Cross website to donate.

Hit For Haiti - Live Streaming

By Mike McIntyre

The second Hit for Haiti charity event is happening tonight in Indian Wells. The tennis kicks off at 7:30pm PST or 10:30pm ET.

You can catch live streaming of the event here for free.

The first match will feature Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport against Martina Navratilova and Justine Henin.

The second match has a scary combo of Pete Sampras and Roger Federer against Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal. Something tells me that Pete and Rog could make a very competitive doubles team on the tour today. Something also tells me that the husband/wife duo of Graf and Agassi is going to come up empty in the win column.

Enjoy the tennis and please remember those affected in Haiti as you do so.

Kooyong Classic Field Set

By Mike McIntyre

The eight-man field at the Kooyong Classic exhibition in Melbourne, Australia is now set with Ivan Ljubicic rounding out the draw. 

Winners from the first round advance onto the semi-finals while losers are relegated to the consolation side and are still guaranteed at least one other match. This is another reason why the unsanctioned tournament is such a drawing card for those looking for some extra preparation for the Australian Open. Players are sure of facing some top-level competition with the opportunity to work things out in their games despite the possibility of an early loss.

The opening round this year has the following battles:

Novak Djokovic vs Tommy Haas

Fernando Gonzalez vs Fernando Verdasco

Robin Soderling vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Juan Martin Del Potro vs Ivan Ljubicic

The Kooyong Classic began in 1988, the year the Australian Open was moved from the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club to its current location at Melbourne Park. The move was enacted to facilitate the growing need for space at the Open.

Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi were frequent visitors in the 1990s, with Agassi making the finals for five consecutive years from 2000-2004. Interestingly enough, the years that Agassi won in Kooyong (2000, 2001, 2003) were also years he managed to win the Aussie Open. No wonder why in recent editions of the tournament we've seen players like Federer, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick show up!

Federer won the tournament a year ago over compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka, but chose not to join the field for the 2010 edition. It is still a possibility that the world number one may stop by to play a friendly match outside of the established tournament format. 

The tournament runs from January 13-16th.