September 15, 1971: The US Open Final Achieved Its First Tiebreak

Stan Smith: The American Who Was Once Rejected as a Ball Kid

Born in Southern California in 1946, Stan Smith's tennis journey began with an early setback. He was turned down for a ball boy position at the Davis Cup due to perceived clumsiness. Despite this, Smith went on to play collegiate tennis at the University of Southern California. By 1971, he had already secured 11 singles titles, including victories over notable players like Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver, and John Newcombe. After a close Wimbledon final loss to Newcombe, Smith was aiming for a Grand Slam title to solidify his place among the era's elite.

Jan Kodes: Two-Time Roland-Garros Champion from Prague

Jan Kodes, born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1946, began his international tennis career in 1966. His most significant achievements came in 1970 and 1971, when he won the French Open twice consecutively. His consistent baseline game, however, hadn't yielded comparable success on grass courts; he had never advanced beyond the second round at Wimbledon or the US Open. Kodes was a two-time Roland-Garros champion, defeating Zeljko Franulovic in 1970 and Ilie Nastase in 1971.

Flushing Meadows, New York: The Stage for a Historic Match

The US Open, established in 1881, is the only Grand Slam tournament played annually without interruption. Initially held on grass courts in Newport, Rhode Island, it moved to New York in 1915, settling at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. By 1971, the tournament was a cornerstone of the tennis calendar.

The Match: Kodes Takes the First Set, Smith Fights Back

The 1971 US Open final between Stan Smith and Jan Kodes was an unexpected pairing. Both players had navigated challenging five-set semi-finals. Smith defeated Tom Okker, while Kodes, despite his limited grass-court success, ousted Arthur Ashe. In the final, Smith, initially confident in his serve-and-volley tactics on grass, lost the first set 6-3. He later adjusted his strategy, opting for a slower, higher bounce. This change helped him win the next two sets, 6-3 and 6-2. In the fourth set, Kodes maintained his challenge, forcing the set to 6-6. This led to the US Open's first-ever tiebreak, a 9-point playoff format where the first player to win five points secured the set. Smith proved superior in the tiebreak and clinched his title with a final overhead smash. Overjoyed, he celebrated by throwing his racquet and hurdling the net before shaking Kodes's hand.

Aftermath: Wimbledon Success for Both Players

Stan Smith captured his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1972, defeating Ilie Nastase. He went on to win nine tournaments that year and was considered the tour's top player, even before the official ATP rankings were established. Smith retired with 37 career titles and five major doubles titles. He also achieved lasting fame through the popular Adidas sneakers bearing his name.

Jan Kodes won another Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1973, defeating Alex Metreveli. This victory, however, was somewhat overshadowed by a boycott of top players due to political reasons. Kodes reached one final major final at Forest Hills in 1973, where he lost to John Newcombe.