Points won by each set: | 25-31, 33-29, 34-22, 39-36, 25-12 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
40 % Edberg – 56 of 137
27 % Lendl – 41 of 149
A few months earlier they met in the US Open semifinal, and Edberg easily outplayed Lendl in straight sets. Through more than hour everything indicated that Lendl [4] would take a perfect revenge in Melbourne – he was leading 6-4, 5:3* playing superb tennis as both, server and receiver. Edberg [1] managed to break back and he took in total 10 out of 11 games! The 4th set went with serve until the tie-break where Edberg was two points away from victory as he sent his backhand volley long. Lendl converted the first set point with a forehand passing-shot winner, and the repetition of their Aussie Open semifinal ’91, seemed plausible. If Lendl had won the fifth set it would have been almost a copy in terms of the scoreline of their previous encounter on Rod Laver Arena, however, a year before the temperature was much hotter, and they began the decider having played 25 minutes longer. In new circumstances Edberg’s serve was better, he could do more on Lendl’s serve and took advantage of it building a quick 5:0 lead. In the last game of the match the Swede fired two aces and advanced to his fourth Australian Open final two days later after defeating Wayne Ferreira.
