Okay, let’s have an extra coffee at the bar, and maybe even a croissant. While we’re at it, let’s also order some orange juice. So much so that you want that to happen if we miss the first few minutes of an irrelevant match? Journalists and professionals, gathered inside the refreshment area, sip and bite Melbourne Park. They will naturally arrive at their stations on time, but they already have the entire match film in their head.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 1991: BECKER VS CAMPORESE
Third round of the 1991 Australian Open. The world number 2 challenges the number 45. That is, the magnificent German Boris Becker against our Omar Camporeseon the rise, and in what would later prove to be its year of grace. There can’t be a match, bookmakers also point out, it simply doesn’t make sense to even bet.
The first two sets seem to fully confirm this sensation, even if some cracks undermine the acquired beliefs. Because Becker wins them both, but needs to use a tie-break to do so: 7-6/7-6. Anyone expecting a walk in the park is disappointed. Those who, on the other hand, have glued their bottoms to the seats of the facility to witness a minimum of contention, are rubbing their hands.
Omar is in shape, he is at his maximum potential, he replies with his arm confident and outstretched, blow for blow. He plays with stinging passers from the back and also indulges in serve and volley. But he’s still down and the curtain is about to fall on his tournament. Here, however, his unthinkable comeback begins.
THE COMEBACK IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH SET
The third set of the Italian tennis player is a masterpiece. Camporese sinks, precise and sharp, Becker’s premature plan for glory. Indeed, it actually demolishes it, inflicting them a very bitter 0-6. The audience was speechless. Boris too. What’s happening? Losing a set is okay, perhaps due to a human drop in tension, but this was a defeat.
Fourth set. Boris enraged by the blow he just suffered. Now show off all your class. But Camporese holds on. They are stuck at 4-4 while the clock continues to tick and the German now leads to 40-0. Going up from here is almost impossible. The slightest mistake and Omar goes home. Instead he still resists, drawing from his repertoire two cosmic rightswhich puts the game back in balance. Then he continues his rise and wins the set 6-4.
Now no one understands anything anymore. How is it possible that the number 2 in the world can’t get to the bottom of it? Becker touches his head, probably suffering from a migraine caused by Camporese’s unexpected tennis.
BECKER WINS AFTER 5 HOURS AND 12 MINUTES
Fifth and decisive set. Here too Omar doesn’t give up an inch. We are at 6-6 and there is no tie-break in the final set. It goes on indefinitely.
And here, finally, the greater class and experience of the German prevails, which wins 14-12but at the price of 5 hours and 12 minutes of gameplay. Destroyed by tiredness, they greet each other smiling. Even though he didn’t win, Camporese still accomplished an epic feat.