Jennifer Capriati was the talk of the sports world when she won the 2001 Australian Open, her first Grand Slam championship. Last week, Capriati successfully defended her title, knocking off Martina Hingis in one of the greatest displays of resiliency in the modern era. Capriati battled through extremely hot conditions in Melbourne, fought off four match points in the second set, and rebounded to win 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2 in the 2002 women's final.

	Jennifer Capriati saved four match points before rallying to win the 2002 Australian Open.

Instant Classic
2002 Australian Open Women's Final
Jennifer Capriati vs. Martina Hingis
Friday, Feb. 1 at 9 p.m. ET

Capriati, whose SportsCentury profile will be aired immediately following the Instant Classic at 11 p.m. ET, broke a record that had stood for 113 years when she saved four match points. She staged the biggest comeback since Blanche Bingley Hillyard saved three on her way to beating Lena Rice 4-6, 8-6, 6-4 in an all-British Wimbledon final in 1889.

Capriati became only the fourth player, man or woman, to fend off a match point and win the Australian Open. Hingis led Capriati 6-4 and 4-0 before faltering. "At a set and 4-0 up, you shouldn't give it away," the 21-year-old Hingis said. "Today, Jennifer was just steady until the last point. That was the difference."

The victory was Capriati's first defense of a major, and no woman has saved more match points and won a Grand Slam final. "I'm not looking for a place in history," Capriati said. "I think I have something already in there. I'm just looking for titles."

Capriati has won three of the last five Grand Slam events. After her breakthrough 6-4, 6-3 championship victory over Hingis at the last Australian Open, Capriati won the French Open and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.