1 Response to ao94washington_wilander

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 13, 2016 at 10:41 pm

   Points won by each set: | 40-41, 30-20, 42-48, 31-22, 24-11 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   20 % Washington – 28 of 135… 16 % Wilander – 28 of 174
   Winners by percentage:
   34 % Washington – 57 of 167… 25 % Wilander – 36 of 142

   A pleasant to watch (from technical & tactical point of view) 4-hour match on Rod Laver Arena at night session, between the players who shared the same initials and very similar game-styles. The 29-year-old Wilander, after an almost 2-year hiatus, decided to comeback to the competitive tennis from the beginning of 1994. So despite his low ranking [322] he was a dangerous opponent against the five years younger American [26], because had won three straight matches in Melbourne, and a solid experience on that particular court (champion in 1988, semifinalist in 1990). Washington was hypothetically close to win it even 5-0 because he’d squandered a set point in the 1st set (at *7:6 in the tie-break) and a 5:4* (30/15) lead in the 3rd set when Wilander won a tricky rally playing three volleys. The American also led 3:1 in the second tie-break (he lost those tie-breaks 7/9 and 3/7). The Swede used all his tactical mastery to find himself in a near-victor position – he was six points away at 4-all in the 4th set leading 30/0 on serve (Washington grabbed the next four points though, the last one with the help of a moon-lob)… Despite winning two tie-break sets, Wilander will lose again 17 months later (7-6, 6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 6-8 to W.Ferreira in Paris, after 3 hours 37 minutes).

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