Andre Agassi reached the title clash at the first Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells 1990, beating Boris Becker in straight sets.. Formed that year, the ATP Tour brought together the Grand Prix and WCT events, creating a new tournament organization and establishing the top tier of the ATP Championship Series.
What would become the Masters 1000 level began in Indian Wells in March, with the best players in the world battling it out for the title. Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi and Jim Courier were the players to beat under the California sun.
They reached the semifinals and put together the hectic venue in search of the crown. Top seed Boris Becker knew how to play in Indian Wells, winning titles in 1987 and 1988 and expecting his third in four years in 1990.
Becker faced Agassi in the semifinal and got off to a great start. hHowever, the American shifted into a higher gear and cruised to a 6-4, 6-1 triumph in less than 70 minutes for a place in the title clash..
Andre Agassi defeated Boris Becker in the 1990 Indian Wells semifinal.
Andre trailed 4-2 in the opener before winning ten of the last 11 games for his first win over Boris in four meetings.
Agassi secured the first game of the match after a forced error by Becker, and the German responded with an ace in the second game to make it 1-1. Boris defended very well in the third game and scored a break for an early lead. world no. 2 broke an ace in game four to end a comfortable hold and move 3-1 in front.
The German delivered another good service game in game six and opened a 4-2 gap with an unreturned serve. The American closed Game 7 with a perfect drop shot. He pulled back the break on the next after a solid return that Becker couldn’t control into the net.
Agassi survived a break chance and four deuces in the ninth game to get in front and build the momentum he would carry late in the match. Andre broke Boris in the tenth game with a game-winning volley, making it four games in a row and stealing the opener 6-4 to build momentum ahead of set number two.
Becker hit a backhand slice in the second game to suffer the second break in a row and drop a set and a break. Andre fired an ace in game three to bring it home and carve out a 3-0 lead, winning seven straight games and moving closer to the finish line.
The American grabbed another break in game four and fell for a serve winner in the next to extend his streak and force the German to serve to stay in the match at 0-5! Becker saved a match point and avoided a bagel, closing out the game and reducing the deficit.
Agassi served for the win at 5-1 and fired a backhand down the line winner to seal the deal in style and advance to the title clash.
