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The world's best players had been gathering at the Madison Square Garden in New York for the ATP Tour World Championship for 13 years. It all changed with the ATP Tour formation in 1990, when the premium ATP event moved to Frankfurt.
The defending champion Stefan Edberg was the top favorite after winning seven titles that season. Still, many candidates wanted to replace him on the throne. Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Emilio Sanchez, Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl, Andres Gomez and Thomas Muster completed a stellar field on the fast indoor carpet surface.
Edberg won all three matches in the Arthur Ashe Group. Agassi reached the semi-final after beating Sampras and Sanchez in straight sets, finding his form and seeking the second notable title in 1990 after suffering Roland Garros and the US Open final losses.
After a commanding win over Sampras, Agassi lost to Edberg 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-7(5) despite being three points away from victory. The American completed the round-robin stage with a rock-solid 6-0, 6-3 triumph over Sanchez in 53 minutes to set the semi-final meeting with the 1988 champion Boris Becker.
Andre proved too strong in a 6-2, 6-4 victory for an 18th ATP final at 20, only his third on an indoor court. Boris Becker scored all three wins in the Cliff Drysdale Group. A five-time champion Ivan Lendl secured the semi-final berth before losing to Stefan Edberg 6-4, 6-2 in another one-sided clash like the one that featured Agassi and Becker.
On November 18, Andre Agassi overpowered world no. 1 and the defending champion Stefan Edberg 5-7, 7-6, 7-5, 6-2 in three hours and 15 minutes to wrap up a perfect week and claim the biggest title in a career. Agassi served well and improved his net game to keep the points on his racquet against the more accomplished and experienced serve & volley rivals.
Stefan hit 44 service winners, and Andre added 32 to his tally. It was an excellent addition to Agassi's booming groundstrokes that helped him survive the tight opening three sets and move closer to the finish line. The American hit 35 groundstroke winners.
He delivered fury and precision from both wings to leave the Swede far behind, having more success at the net in the volley department. Andre faced 17 break points and fended off an impressive 13 to limit the damage in his games and mount the pressure on Stefan.
The defending champion got broken six times to lose the title after failing to match Agassi's pace in set number four.
Andre Agassi dethroned Stefan Edberg at the 1990 ATP Finals.
The American secured a break in the encounter's second game after forcing The Swede's error with a powerful return.
He confirmed the lead with a backhand down the line winner for 3-0 after 12 minutes. Stefan pulled the break back in the seventh game following Andre's terrible backhand and played against two break chances in the next one.
The Swede fired four winners to get out of jail and bring the game home for 4-4. He clinched another break in the next one to move in front for the first time. Serving for the set, Edberg got broken in the tenth game to keep Agassi in contention and forged another advantage with the third break a few minutes later.
The Swede saved a break opportunity in game 12 and clinched the set with two service winners for 7-5 after 58 minutes. Andre repelled three break chances at the beginning of the second set to avoid an early setback. They both served well until 5-5, when Edberg had another opportunity to move in front.
Andre stayed focused and fended it off with a volley winner, closing the game with a perfect backhand lob winner in one of the encounter's pivotal moments. The Swede served great in the entire set but suffered three mini-breaks in the tie break that Agassi claimed 7-5 after a beautiful forehand crosscourt winner.
Stefan hit a double fault to get broken at the start of the third set, and he pulled it back in game four after a terrible call from the umpire after his forehand landed wide. Agassi worked hard in the eighth game, erasing three break points and stealing Edberg's serve in the 11th game after a return winner and his rival's two double faults.
Serving for the set, Andre blasted five winners for 7-5, forging two sets to one lead after two hours and 42 minutes and taking another big step toward the title. Agassi blasted another great return at 2-2 in the fourth set that forced Edberg's error and pushed him in front.
Ready to fight, the Swede created four break chances in the next one. Andre saved them and moved 4-2 ahead after Stefan's unforced error. He maintained the lead and put one hand on the trophy after another break in game seven that pushed him 5-2 up.
The American started the eighth game with two winners. It was all over when Edberg netted an easy backhand, allowing Andre to celebrate the biggest title of his young career.