1 Response to ao01rafter.hrbaty

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 15, 2016 at 6:50 am

   Points won by each set: | 28-17, 41-50, 41-36, 24-8 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   33 % Rafter – 40 of 118
   25 % Hrbaty – 32 of 127

   The neighbors in the ATP ranking, but Rafter [15] was a heavy favorite as a two-time Grand Slam champion, fresh after an impressive win over Henman. Despite Rafter’s 8 aces in the 2nd set, Hrbaty [16] found his way to steal the set trailing *5:6 (0/30), and he stunned the Australian crowd in the 3rd set because he added to his rock-solid returns, quick serves and serve-and-volley actions. He led 4:1* (30-all), but when the things got tighter, he stepped back and Rafter took advantage of that with his efficient chip-and-charge play. The Australian won the last nine games of the match (2 hours 31 minutes). Hrbaty will lose quite similar major quarterfinal (in terms of the scoreline) three years later to Henman in New York.

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