25 years later, a look at Muster's magical run

Back in 1989, Thomas Muster was struck by a drunk driver the night before contesting the final of the Miami Open. It was going to be the biggest match of the Austrian's burgeoning career.

Six years later, he reached the pinnacle of an improbable comeback by capturing the French Open title and establishing himself as one of the greatest clay-court players ever in the men’s game.

Muster returned to the court from a career-threatening left knee injury by the end of the year behind an intense, now-legendary, rehabilitation program, one that saw him hitting balls while sitting in a specially designed chair to keep weight off his leg. In 1990, he won three titles on clay—including the Italian Open—and reached the semifinals of the French Open. Over the course of the next four seasons, the Austrian would go on to claim 15 more titles on the dirt without making much headway at Roland Garros, only going 5-4 at the tournament.

Starting his 1995 clay-court campaign during the Golden Swing of the ATP calendar in Mexico City, Muster captured his first title of the year, dropping only one set along the way. His spring preparations for the French Open began in Estoril, Portugal, where he’d win his second championship of ’95, but not without some trouble along the way: He had to fend off a match point against Javier Sanchez in the quarterfinals. Another Spaniard, Jordi Burillo, almost eliminated Muster from the tournament in Barcelona in the first round, but the world No. 17 got through that encounter and proceeded to win the tournament.

Muster at the French Open in 1990, the year following the accident. (Getty)

Perhaps his greatest escape act, though, occurred in Monte Carlo, which gave further credence to the fact that this might be his year in Paris.

In the final against Boris Becker, the Austrian fought off multiple match points to win his second title there and third title in a row. He carried that momentum with him to Rome: Having made a return to the Top 10, Muster beat three members of that group in the last three rounds on his way to the title.

Muster’s latest victory put him in prime position to finally overcome one of his greatest professional hurdles.

Winning four tournaments in a row would do wonders for anyone’s confidence heading into a Grand Slam, and Muster—ranked No. 5 in the world at this point—had established himself as the firm favorite for his first major title. However, how much would he have left in the tank after having to battle from the brink multiple times during his run on such a punishing surface?

Surprisingly, he dropped his opening set of the tournament against the Frenchman, Gerard Solves, who was ranked 191 in the world. Rallying to win in four, Muster then proceeded to defeat Cedric Pioline, Carlos Costa and Andrei Medvedev—all former members of the Top 10—in straight sets.

Through to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1990, Muster faced Albert Costa, his opponent in the Estoril final. In the rematch, the Spanish teenager came out determined to exact revenge for that loss.

After the two split the first two sets, Costa eked out a third-set tiebreak to take the lead. The fourth set was a battle, which the more-experienced Muster won, 7-5. Breezing through the decider, Muster was in the semifinals, where he’d face another recent opponent, Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Muster topped the Russian in Barcelona in straight sets in the semifinals and repeated the feat in Paris to reach his first Grand Slam final.

Muster would reach No. 1 in the world in February 1990. (Getty)

In the championship match, Muster would go up against the player right behind him in the standings: Michael Chang, contesting his first Grand Slam final since his historic run to the 1989 French Open title.

The two players met for the first time back in 1990, when Muster defeated Chang in the Davis Cup semifinals. The U.S. would go on to win the tie, though, and eventually, the team championship.

When Muster and Chang next met, in the 1995 semifinals in Indian Wells, Calif., Muster posted one of his best hard-court wins in recent memory by topping Chang in a third-set tiebreak. Muster then bested Chang again on his run to the Rome title right before Paris.

Both players were renowned for their physical baseline style, and were on fairly even ground through the first set before Muster broke through to take the opener 7-5. The Austrian had an easier time in the second, winning it 6-2. Serving up 5-4 in the third set, Muster finally clinched the championship when Chang’s backhand sailed wide after another lengthy baseline exchange.

The title capped one of the greatest clay-court stretches ever seen and for a time, established Muster as the game’s reigning King of Clay.