When Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis took to the Philippe Chatrier court on June 5 1999, many tennis fans were expecting a change of the guard to occur.
After all, veteran Graff was nearing retirement, while an 18-year-old Hingis had already won five Grand Slams heading into this encounter. She had actually be labelled the 'the new Steffi Graf' in some quarters.
All appeared to be going with the script when the young Swiss claimed the opening set 6-4. However, the game turned in the second set on a line call from which Hingis failed to recover.
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Leading 2-0, Hingis's shot was called out. The youngster disputed that, believing that the ball had bounced on the line. Down came the umpire to inspect the mark in the clay, but the call stood. That sparked the petulant side of Hingis to appear - she even went round to Graf's side of the court to make her point, which still didn't work.
She returned to her chair in protest and asked for the tournament referee, who docked Hingis a point. Those actions got the crowd behind Graf and she forced the match into a decider by taking the set 7-5.
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Hingis was never really a factor in the third set and she showed even more immaturity by serving underarm on two occasions in attempt to save match points, which brought further jeers from the French crowd. Much to their delight, Graf ran out a 6-2 victor.
And as if that wasn't enough, Hingis stormed off court before the presentation and only returned, in tears, when she had been convinced to by her mother.
From Graf's point of view, it proved to be her last and 22nd singles Grand Slam title of an illustrious career.
Liam Apicella
