World no. 1 Ivan Lendl lost 62 63 to Roger Smith in the second found of Stratton Mountain in Vermont in July 1988.
This year at US Open I ran into Roger Smith – on his way to coach a WTA player in qualies – by the Ashe Stadium fountains and we did this quick interview about his monumental upset of Lendl…
Scoop Malinowski: What are your memories of beating Ivan Lendl in Stratton Mountain in 1988?
Roger Smith: Great memories. I went in very positive and very confident, one of the most confident frame of minds I’ve been in. Look, I was just ready to accept whatever happened. I just let it all out there and things just went my way.
Smith, from the Bahamas, was 24 years old at the time and ranked 150 (his career best was 96). Before Vermont, Smith had lost in the round of 16 in Newport to Brad Drewett (ATP 172) after beating Matt Anger (ATP 177) 57 64 64. In Washington DC Smith fell in the first round to Danie Visser (ATP 191) 62 61.
Then in Stratton Mountain, Smith’s fortunes changed. He beat Dan Goldberg (ATP 282) 36 76 63 to set up the showdown with Lendl
Scoop: You beat Lendl 62 63, what was working that day? Did anything surprise you?
Roger Smith: Serve. I was just seeing the ball very well. Seeing the ball like a balloon. Everything happened in slow-motion. I was just ready to make it happen.
Scoop: Was this the best match of your career?
Roger Smith: Sure. Absolutely.
Scoop: What was the standout memory of this win vs Lendl? How did he handle it?
Roger Smith: No, he was pleasant. I just spoke with him a few minutes ago (in Arthur Ashe Stadium locker room, Lendl was there coaching Andy Murray). We’re still friends. We’re still cool about it. He accepted it well so that was good.
After beating Lendl, Smith followed it up by beating Eric Amend (ATP 992) 61 64 but then lost in the QF to Darren Cahill (ATP 35) 36 64 26.
Then in Indianapolis, Smith lost first round to Todd Witsken (ATP 93) 63 61 and in Cincinnati he lost first round to Martin Laurendeau (ATP 163) 63 76. At US Open Smith lost first round to Wally Masur (ATP 50) 62 63 64.
Six years later in 1994 at US Open, Smith also nearly pulled off a second shock upset of a world no. 1 when he won the first set from Pete Sampras 64 but then Pete recovered to triumph 62 64 63.
Bahamas · Ivan Lendl · Roger Smith · US Open
