On This Day, 2003: Andy Roddick outlasts Younes El Aynaoui in quarterfinal epic at Australian Open

On January 22nd, 2003—20 years ago to this day—Andy Roddick and Younes El Aynaoui played one of the most electric Grand Slam matches in history, with the American defeating the Moroccan in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, 21-19, after four hours and 59 minutes.

Afterwards, the two players weren’t just celebrated for the quality of their play, but for the manner in which they competed, and the spirit between them.

Roddick was asked about that dynamic in his post-match press.

“I think my respect levels for him just grew and grew throughout the match. I’m pretty sure it’s vice versa,” he said. “I don’t even remember ever talking to Younes before this match. But down the line, I mean, we could see each other in 10 years down the line and know that we did share something pretty special.”

When El Aynaoui was asked what he would remember most from the match, he pointed to one thing.

“I think the great audience, the crowd,” he said. “Everybody stayed until the end, you know, five hours. They were pushing us at the end. They were not with Andy or with me, they were just enjoying a good match.

“That’s terrific for us, when you play and you feel the crowd is supporting you.”

El Aynaoui had pulled off the upset of the tournament the round before, taking out No. 1-ranked Lleyton Hewitt in another marathon, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-4, and for a while it looked like he may be headed for another upset over the No. 10-ranked Roddick as he went up two sets to one, and even brought up a match point in Roddick’s 4-5 service game in the fifth set.

But Roddick ripped an incredible inside-out forehand winner to fight off that match point and hold serve for 5-all.

Eventually, at 19-all, the two players handed their racquets to ballkids, and took a quick break while they hit a few balls.

“I was the one who bailed first and handed my racquet to the ballkid,” Roddick said. “I think that was a really cool moment, though. Whatever crazy number we were at, but we can still keep some humor about the game—I think that was a pretty cool moment.”

Roddick would close out the two-hour, 23-minute final set—and the match—two games later, after retrieving a short backhand that El Aynaoui volleyed into the net.

They hugged at the net, gave a joint bow to the crowd and left the court to a standing ovation.

“I called my parents, my wife, too,” El Aynaoui said. “They stayed five hours in front of the TV. I think they were more tired than I was after this match.

“But yeah, it was on national TV. I think people understood that I gave everything and I tried my best, but at the end you have to have a winner and a loser, and this time it didn’t go for me. But I think, after all, it’s a good match and a good performance.”

“I don’t think, you know, anything made a big difference. I just broke, that’s about it,” Roddick said. “I mean, I don’t think you can say anything like I was hitting my forehand better than him or anything. I think strategy was out the door, you know, late in that fifth set.

“I think it was just pure fighting.”