Bernard Tomic’s third-round Australian Open showdown with Roger Federer on Saturday night continues the tradition of classic match-ups involving locals at Melbourne Park.
PAT CASH v MATS WILANDER, men’s final, 1988
Melbourne was abuzz with Cash the hometown hero and Wimbledon champion taking on Sweden’s formidable all-court force in the first men’s final at the then-named Flinders Park. Pitting Cash’s spectacular athleticism and shot-making against Wilander’s strategic smarts, the match lived up to all expectations. After a shaky start and nerve-wracking rain delay, Cash seemingly seized control and charged ahead two sets to one. But Wilander, who would go on to win three of the four slams in his finest-ever season, broke local hearts in denying Cash 8-6 in the fifth of what remains one of only two men’s deciders to go the distance in the past 25 years. WILANDER wins 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 3-6 6-1 8-6.
MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS v PETE SAMPRAS, men’s third round, 1996
At 19 and ranked 39th, the explosive Philippoussis was the youngest player in the men’s top 50 and taking on one of the legends of the game, the world No.1 and reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion. In a relentless display of power and precision, the Melbourne teenager hit for the lines and blasted 29 aces to record one of the great giant-killing acts in Open history. PHILIPPOUSSIS wins 6-4 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (7-3).
PAT RAFTER v ANDRE AGASSI, men’s semi-final, 2001
In his best-ever showing at his home slam, Rafter served and volleyed his way to a two-sets-to-one lead over the titleholder and a place in a final against unfancied Frenchman Arnaud Clement beckoned. A nation held its breath. But, cruelly, cramps crippled Rafter as he drowned in his own sweat. Agassi, who would go on to win four Open titles, battered the Queenslander with his powerful groundstrokes and Rafter couldn’t hang on. AGASSI wins 7-5 2-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-3.
ALICIA MOLIK v LINDSAY DAVENPORT, women’s quarter-final, 2005
Bidding to become the first Australian woman to make the last four in 21 years, Molik carried a 12-match winning streak into her showdown with the world No.1. Molik had won five titles and an Olympic bronze medal in five memorable months and was eyeing grand slam glory. Alas, serving at game point at 7-7 in the tension-filled deciding set, the 23-year-old fired down an ace that was incorrectly called wide, despite television replays – pre Hawk-eye – confirming the ball caught the line. Two points later, Davenport broke Molik’s serve before closing out the longest women’s match of the championship after two hours and 33 minutes. DAVENPORT wins 6-4 4-6 9-7.
LLEYTON HEWITT v MARAT SAFIN, men’s final, 2005
The centenary Open was celebrating its first-ever night-time final and a record 4.045 million viewers tuned in to watch Hewitt try to end the 27-year wait for a home-grown Open singles champion. He dropped just two points on serve in the opening set and seemed set to deliver when jumping to a 4-1 lead in the pivotal third set. But upset by foot-fault calls against him and with the cursed Greg Norman in his courtside box for the first time all tournament, Hewitt crashed and burned. Like Norman at the Masters, Hewitt has never won the title he covets above all. SAFIN wins 1-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.
JELENA DOKIC v DINARA SAFINA, women’s quarter-final, 2009
Contesting just her second major in five years, Dokic captivated the nation with her inspired run through the draw. Ranked 187th, she ousted a string of big names including Caroline Wozniacki and was striving to become only the second women’s wildcard entrant to ever qualify for a grand slam semi-final. The crowd at Rod Laver Arena erupted when Dokic took the second set to force a decider. But Russia’s world No.3 held firm to prevail in a two-hour, 19-minute thriller. SAFINA wins 6-4 4-6 6-4.
