Classic Finals: Sampras v Becker (Hannover '96)

Pete Sampras and Boris Becker produce sublime tennis in the 1996 ATP World Tour Championship final in Hannover.

[WUDAT]

Pete called that the greatest match he was ever a part of.

[ceylonin]

What a legend, Sampras: he beat Boris Becker in Hannover, playing in his pijamas

[davidcappel]

Nice to hear the huge sheering Sampras received from the German crowd while lifting the trophy. It showed the well-deserved respect for him.

[martydav]

Anyone who believes Sampras was one-dimensional and just a server, or a serve-and-volleyer, should watch this and see what a brilliant all-court game he had (much the same applies to Becker). This is as high a standard of tennis as you will see, and those deluded fanboys who think this era is the best there's ever been simply have little knowledge of, or interest in, tennis before this era. This is the great match, with its magnificent all-court attacking tennis - note attacking: there's hardly a defensive shot to be seen and certainly, thank God, no Djokovic-type baseline defensive grinding - to show the fallacy of the fan-boys' view of today's tennis being the best ever.

[halbiggiam]

Was fortunate enough to see both in person many times in their prime.. They never disappointed. Both had great service and net games, not any real weakness. Class competitors.

[gregorymgm]

Masterpiece of 1996. Probably the best match that year🤝🤝🤝

[andrewsLG]

this classic matches deserve to be uploaded at their full lenght

[POBIJIHSVE]

Sampras was one of the greatest players ever, but in my opinion, Becker all the way, a true legend!

[purplebondsaiyan]

One of the Greatest Matches of All Time.

[Allbbrz]

Arguably the best match ever: fantastic charismatic players, superb technique, fine shots, rallies, volleys, several tie-breaks, a true game to be enjoyed.

[inquisitor]

It was an epic match. I always felt like this match was one of the greatest examples of Becker having aged like fine wine into a finesse player rather than his early days known as a power server. The variation of the many court surfaces of the eighties and nineties truly added something special to the sport. This fast action is so dynamic it is truly fun to watch players have to negotiate a changing surface from tournament to tournament.

[MichelePardini]

the first tennis match I watched on TV was in 1989, Lendl-Chang at Roland Garros. And then all over the 90s. Maybe it's because I was in my 20s, the first TV marathons and sleepless nights due to timezone, but the emotions I felt watching games like this are unmatched. I like Roger a lot, but Lendl, Sampras, Becker, Edberg and Agassi are carved in my heart.

[ElevenMileRecords]

One of the best matches I have ever seen. Becker's power was just incredible to watch. Puma Boris Becker Super Vs. Wilson Pro Staff. Classic stuff indeed.

[Raimund]

Dieses Match zeigte, wie gut Boris eigentlich war!Niemand der damaligen Spieler, ausser eben Sampras, hätte ihn an diesem Tag geschlagen!Übrigens auch keiner der heutigen Grundlinienwühler!

[mitchdep]

Sampras and Becker, two of my favorite backhands in tennis!

[juharyjunie]

single backhanded always my favourite...

[laxmikantlathkar]

What a great match. It reminds the match between the great Borg and Mecanro.The two gaints in the history of Tennis displaying amazing classic game of power and art. Both are reallye very great players. Salute to them and their game.

[davidjoseph]

Wow tennis was really amazing at that time

[Playboyy]

Sampras is the only player ever who could have beaten Becker that day

[BurnsTennis]

1996 was the last year the ATP final would be played on indoor carpet, in 1997 the surface was changed to indoor hardcourt, plexicushion. The players unanimously voted for this change. Indoor surfaces were being slowed down already in the mid 1990s. Nice to watch two players do a combination of serve volley and then stay back and rally on their own serve. Mixing things up.