The players involved in this historic match were Stan Smith, a Wimbledon and US Open champion born in 1946, and Mike Fishbach, a former college player ranked world No 200. Smith had an impressive career in the early 1970s, winning the US Open and Wimbledon titles and reaching world No 1 status. Fishbach, on the other hand, gained attention for using a unique double-strung racket he discovered in Europe.
The match took place at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, the long-time venue for the US Open. Fishbach’s unconventional spaghetti racquet, which generated incredible spin, caused a stir in the tennis world. Smith, a seasoned veteran, struggled to handle Fishbach’s shots and ultimately lost the match.
Despite his success at the US Open, Fishbach was eventually defeated in the third round by John Feaver. As more players experimented with the spaghetti racquet, its use was eventually banned by tennis authorities. Fishbach’s ranking peaked at world No 47, but he was unable to replicate his early success without the unique racket.
