2 Responses to ao84wilander_curren

1. Voo de Mar says:

   April 15, 2024 at 9:06 pm

   Points won by each set: [ 48-47, 35-26, 51-44, 33-20 ]
   Points won directly on serve:
   28 % Wilander – 43 of 151
   22 % Curren – 35 of 153

   The first of two similar major finals lost by Curren [21], meanwhile the 20-year-old Wilander [4] had already won two Slams on grass, something that seemed completely improbable when he sensationally triumphed at Roland Garros ’82. The Swede managed to deconstruct Curren’s powerful serve, but wasted several chances in the opener (Curren fought off break points in three different games, including a set point & came back from 0:4, 3:5 in the tie-break). There were six breaks in total in the 3rd set (!) – Curren was serving at 5:3 when was broken at ’30’. He wasn’t closer than three points to lead 2-1 in sets. “I lost control a little, and when he served for the set, I thought I was in trouble,” Wilander said. “But after the tiebreaker, I thought I should win it. I don’t think he served as well after the first set.” It was the first of their two meetings, the second one also occurred at major – US Open ’88… Wilander won it 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

   Wilander’s route to his 16th title (2nd Aussie Open):
   2 David Mustard 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3
   3 Dale Houston 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1
   4 Stefan Simonsson 2-6, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
   Q Stefan Edberg 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
   S Johan Kriek 6-1, 6-0, 6-2
   W Kevin Curren 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2

   # Comparison of Curren’s two major finals:
   Aussie Open ’84: Wilander d. Curen 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2… 2 hours 52 minutes… Total points: 167-137
   Wimbledon ’85: Becker d. Curren 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4… 3 hours 18 minutes… Total points: 162-140

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   August 22, 2024 at 5:40 pm

   McEnroe, who was almost unbeatable that year, skipped the event. It was the beginning of his relationship with Tatum O’Neal and he preferred to spend time with her instead of making a trip to Australia while the following week he was supposed to fly to Sweden for the Davis Cup final. It wasn’t a problem for Wilander, the Aussie Open champion, who switched the Australian heat to Swedish cold within a week, as well as surfaces (from grass to clay), to have outplayed Connors.

   Seeded no. 1 Lendl, lost in the fourth round to Curren in straight sets. The other favorite to the title, Cash, lost his quarterfinal match to a two-time champion Kriek.

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