chicago86becker_lendl

Points won by each set: [ 49-48, 29-23 ]
Points won directly behind the serve:
31 % Becker – 25 of 79
20 % Lendl – 14 of 70

“I came close before and I said to myself that one of these days I have to beat him, and I finally did it today,” said the 18-year-old Becker [6] after his first win over Lendl [1] in their fifth meeting. The West German trailed *1:3 in the tie-break to win five straight points. In the 2nd set he trailed *2:3 to win the last four games. Lendl questioned the third match point when the ball was called out, thinking that he’d played a forehand winner. He had won 29 consecutive matches to begin the year 1986.

Becker’s route to his 4th title:
1 Mike Leach 6-1, 6-3
2 John Sadri 6-4, 7-6(4)
Q Paul Annacone 6-4, 6-4
S Jimmy Connors 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4
W Ivan Lendl 7-6(5), 6-3

# Comparison of their two American “best of three” finals of 1986:
Chicago: Becker d. Lendl 7-6, 6-3… 2 hours 2 minutes… Total points: 78-71… Breaks: 3-1
Stratton: Lendl d. Becker 6-4, 7-6… 1 hour 59 minutes… Total points: 86-69… Breaks: 3-2

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