1 Response to bucharest00balcells_hantschk

1. Voo de Mar says:

   October 13, 2020 at 6:01 am

   Points won directly behind the serve:
   31 % Balcells – 28 of 90
   23 % Hantschk – 21 of 91

   Interesting situation that both finalists had little experience at the main level (10th tournament for the 25-year-old Balcells & 21st for two years younger German). Looking from retrospective it was a lifetime opportunity for them both… The broad-shouldered Balcells [112] – an untypical Spaniard – was constantly attacking the net behind the serves and enjoying the best season of his life then, concluded with a great success – as a doubles player he was a member of the Spanish team in 2000, and made his contribution to the first Spanish triumph in the Davis Cup that year. The season ’00 turned into the best in Hantschk’s [93] career as well: he reached two ATP finals, however, actually evaporated from the main tour in the following seasons, prematurely retiring in 2006…. In the 3rd set, Hantschk held two match points at 6:5* – Balcells saved the first one with a forehand volley, on second match point he repeated the pattern of the previous match point – kick-serve on Hantschk’s backhand, then cross-court volley – the German played defensive lob which landed a few centimetres behind the baseline. The only match won by Balcells having saved a match point (main level).

   Balcells’ route to his lone title:
   1 Alexandre Simoni 6-2, 6-4
   2 Mariano Puerta 6-4, 6-4
   Q Albert Portas 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
   S Mark-Kevin Goellner 6-4, 6-4
   W Marcus Hantschk 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1) – 2 m.p.
   

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