Victory Will Be Served in Sampras, Ivanisevic Duel

They come into today’s men’s final with similar serves (fluorescent fuzzy blurs), similar results (each has lost only one set during the fortnight) and similar ambitions (each thinks he belongs here).

But how they got to Centre Court, how Pete Sampras and Goran Ivanisevic reached the last singles match of 1994 Wimbledon, is an altogether different story.

Sampras, the American, was groomed for Wimbledon success. Ivanisevic, the Croatian, stormed, pouted and then, after finally putting his legendary temper on hold, smiled his way here.

Sampras, the right-hander, is seeded No. 1 and ranked No. 1.

Ivanisevic, the left-hander, is seeded No. 4 and ranked No. 5.

Sampras has won twice as much as Ivanisevic, four times the number of Grand Slam titles, including the one that counts most--Wimbledon, in 1993.

Ivanisevic has beaten Sampras five of eight times, including the one that might mean something, their 1992 meeting in the Wimbledon semifinals.

“This is it,” Sampras said. “It’s the biggest match of the year so far for me. I hope I can get through it. It’s going to be tough either way. It’s going to be a lot of big serving, not a lot of rallies.”

Boris Becker, the three-time Wimbledon champion who was beaten by Ivanisevic in the semifinals, predicted that the first one with 40 aces would win.

He was kidding. Or so everyone thinks.

Ivanisevic, who had little trouble with Becker, doesn’t seem particularly worried about Sampras. The serve and his overall record against Sampras might have something to do with it. But so does his attitude adjustment, a Wimbledon twist for Ivanisevic.

He had Andre Agassi on the ropes back in the 1992 Wimbledon final, but let it slip away. This time he feels more calm, more confident.

“It’s surprising me sometimes, I’m so quiet,” he said. “Just last year I had bad memories here (he lost in the third round). I was very nervous and if you’re very nervous here you can’t do anything.”

But after the victory over Becker, Ivanisevic looked anything but nervous.

“I think if I play like this in the final--and I hope I play like this in the final--the chances are very good,” he said.