It’s Graf for Seventh Time and a First for Longshots

After two weeks of the unexpected and unpredictable, how fitting that the Wimbledon men’s final would come to this: No. 20 and No. 13 slugging it out for the most cherished prize in tennis.

MaliVai Washington and Richard Krajicek, two of the longest of longshots, will meet in today’s match. Never before have two unseeded players met in the Wimbledon final.

Washington staged a stirring comeback to defeat Todd Martin, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 10-8, in a match that was carried over from Friday. In the other semifinal, Krajicek of the Netherlands defeated Jason Stoltenberg of Australia, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.

Washington, from Glen Cove, N.Y., is the first black man to reach the final since Arthur Ashe won the title in 1975. He has never played Krajicek and neither he nor the Dutchman has played in the final of a Grand Slam event.

Krajicek continued his big serving against Stoltenberg, the same power game that allowed him to defeat two Wimbledon champions--Pete Sampras and Michael Stich--on his way to the final.

“Well, it’s looking pretty good, so far,” Krajicek said. “I’ve beaten two great players, and yes, I’ve really beaten them with better tennis. But tomorrow is another match and an opponent who has won six matches also, and he is confident.”

Make that confident and grateful.

“It feels good,” Washington said of being in the final. “It’s a moment you dream about and you appreciate--I appreciate the heck out of it. We’re obviously both playing good ball and we’re going to go out there, man against man. We’re going to be doing battle and the better man will win. It’s that simple.”

Washington and Martin came out Saturday with only one set to play, and it turned out to be the longest fifth set played in a Wimbledon semifinal.

Martin twice served for the match but, to use his own words, he “froze up” and lost his grip on the match. Martin’s collapse took about 15 minutes.

Martin had a 5-1 lead, then his game fell apart. He was serving for the match then double-faulted twice to get broken.

As Martin crumbled, Washington played brilliantly. He broke in the ninth game thanks to another Martin double fault.

“I’ve played this game a lot and I’ve never felt a feeling like today. That’s why I play, to overcome something like that,” Martin said. “I think everybody has experienced some bit of tightness before, and you go through your rituals and routines and make sure those don’t change. That didn’t happen.”

At the match’s most important juncture, at 6-6, a controversial call was made. Martin was serving at deuce. His second serve was called out by a linesman. However, the electronic line machine, Cyclops, had not sounded. The rules don’t allow a linesman to overrule Cyclops so chair umpire Bruno Rebeuh called for a replay, in effect overruling the overrule.

Washington went ballistic, having, in his mind, lost a chance for a break point. He vigorously questioned Rebeuh, “Are you overruling?”

The point was replayed, Martin served an ace and took the lead, 7-6.

The rain came and the players scurried into the locker room.

Washington returned the stronger player. Each man held serve until the crucial 17th game, with Martin serving. Martin fended off two break points and worked it to his ad.

Washington got back to deuce by dashing to a drop shot and returning it down the line, coaxing the ball to bend around the net post.

Martin held off another break point but double-faulted to set up the decisive break.

Washington held his service in the next game and when his volley winner found its mark, he sank to his knees, sat on his heels and raised his arms in triumph.