1 Response to ao99haas_hewitt

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 17, 2022 at 12:21 pm

   Points won by each set: | 27-33, 39-33, 30-27, 33-28 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   24 % Haas – 35 of 145
   26 % Hewitt – 28 of 105

   Exciting match on Rod Laver Arena – two young players who were supposed to dominate men’s tennis in the next decade, in their first encounter. Indeed, it was a beginning of a long rivalry (last match in 2013, Hewitt won H2H 7-4), but they didn’t fulfill the expectations of the late 90s, especially Haas, they never even played an ATP final against each other which was very unlikely given their potential. The ~21-year-old Haas [33] took advantage of a bigger experience over his 3 years younger opponent [101], having established his authority during baseline rallies thanks to much more versatile backhand. He was trailing *1:3 (15/40) in the 2nd set but stayed very calm, saved the double break point with the help of two BH-dropshots, also another BP in that game with an ace, and escaped from *2:4 (0/30) to take full control over the rest of the match (withstood a mini set point in the 7th game); in the 4th set he trailed *2:3 (15/40). Later on, Haas advanced to the semifinals and the opener dropped to Hewitt was only one of two sets he lost in his five won matches. At the time fans could wonder how many Slams he would win – he didn’t even play a major final (four semifinals)! Other young and upcoming players who were mentioning then as potential stars: Di Pasquale (20 y.o.), Puerta (21 y.o.) Safin, & Malisse (19 y.o.).

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