On the cusp of this year’s US Open, The New York Times Magazine asked Walter Iooss Jr. (legendary sports photographer) and comedian Andy Samberg to look back at several iconic men’s tennis rivalries. Andre Agassi vs. Pete Sampras, John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg, and Jimmy Conners vs. McEnroe are all done comedic justice. Not only was the level of play to be admired, the on court style was too (ignore Agassi for all intents and purposes). The New York Times meticulously dug into the archives of Nike, Fila, and Tacchini for the authentic tennis whites. The result fiercely rivals the best Will Ferrell sports comedies—save Semi-Pro, that was just bad. The piéce de résistance? Pistol Pete’s carpet of a chest.
Game, set, match.
Images via Walter Iooss Jr.
