By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Who was the worst pro player to ever beat Pete Sampras?
If you have the new “This Day In Tennis History” mobile app, you would know and would be alerted on June 12 with the following entry:
1991 – Mark Keil, ranked No. 224 playing in only his second career ATP tour event, stages a staggering upset of future seven-times Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras 6-2, 7-6 (2) in the second round of the Stella Artois Championships at Queen’s Club in London. Following his win over the No. 8 ranked player in the world and entering the post-match press conference, he asks reporters, “Is this where I am supposed to sit. I have never done this before.” Asked what his previous claim to fame had been prior to beating Sampras, Keil responded, “Nothing.”
“Mark produced an amazing upset,” says Geoff Grant in the opening scene of the cult-classic tennis documentary “The Journeymen” – in the process of a crowd-sourcing capital raise to make the move available in a digital format (for more info here: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-journeymen-tennis-movie-move-to-digital-project/x/3092071 ) The documentary, featuring Grant and Keil, states that Keil is the lowest-ranked player to beat Sampras when Sampras was ranked in the top 10. To boot, Keil produced the upset on a grass court, the surface where Sampras was virtually unbeatable for most of his career.
“Sampras appeared lethargic against Keil’s physical brand of tennis,” wrote the New York Times of the upset at Queens Club. “Keil was able to handle the windy conditions better, and he broke serve in the third and fifth games of the first set before Sampras even got into the match. The second set stayed on serve, forcing the tie breaker.”
“I never heard of him and I’d never seen him play,” Sampras said to reporters following the match. “It’s tough to play someone when you don’t know who they are.”
“My previous claim to fame — nothing,” said Keil, 24 following the match. “I’ve won a challenger event in Indonesia and been to all ends of the earth to move up in tennis.”
While Sampras went on to win seven Wimbledon titles on grass courts in his Hall of Fame career, Keil only reached a career high singles ranking of No. 167. He lost his next match to Mal Washington at Queen’s and only won two more ATP World Tour singles matches in his career. The end of his career as a journeyman doubles specialist is featured in the “Journeymen” documentary.
The “This Day In Tennis” mobile app can be found by searching “Tennis History” in the iTunes App Store and Play Store or directly at these two links:
Apple iTunes: http://m1e.net/c?96279190-QVNZbhE7otwIQ%4018743020-36wDaWUl4hHss
Google Play: http://m1e.net/c?96279190-vbTXOvDe.eVzA%4018743021-/sLwXB3bzqDE6
