1 Response to cincy95chang_stich

1. Voo de Mar says:

   October 22, 2020 at 8:16 am

   Points won by each set: | 29-34, 26-16, 41-38 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   20 % Chang – 20 of 100
   30 % Stich – 26 of 84

   Chang [5] defeated actually all the best servers of the 90s in tight ‘best of three’ matches, when a tie-break of the 2nd set was required to escape from a ‘0-2’ defeat or prevailing in deciding 3rd set tie-breaks. His semifinal vs Stich [8], it was very entertaining night session match. The German won unbelievable point at *0:1 (15/0) in the 2nd set, something unseen before or after (* perhaps the ball hit by Stich touched his side first), but the solid Chang dealt better with very demanding conditions (hot & humid), being on his way to notch an easy three-set win. But when he led 4:1* in the 3rd set, he suffered a blister on his ring finger of the leading hand and Stich came back to the match. At 5-all in the deciding tie-break he missed his first serve, stayed back behind the second serve and made a casual backhand error. On the first match point, Chang surprised his opponent with an ace down the T, his first since the opener.

   Serve & volley: Chang 0, Stich 15/29

   # Comparison of Chang’s tight wins over the best servers of the 90s:
   Toronto ’90 (SF): Chang d. Sampras 3-6, 7-6, 7-5… 2 hours 39 minutes… Total points: 223 (aces: 9-19)… 3 pts away
   I.Wells ’92 (3R): Chang d. Krajicek 6-3, 6-7, 7-6… 2 hours 31 minutes… Total points: 211 (aces: 0-12)… 1 m.p.
   Miami ’92 (3R): Chang d. Rosset 4-6, 6-3, 7-6… 2 hours 40 minutes… Total points: 201 (aces: 1-17)… ?
   Osaka ’93 (QF): Chang d. Rusedski 6-2, 4-6, 7-6… 2 hours 3 minutes… Total points: 187 (aces: 0-17)… ?
   Atlanta ’94 (F): Chang d. T.Martin 6-7, 7-6, 6-0… 2 hours 50 minutes… Total points: 226 (aces: 1-6)… 3 pts away
   Cincy ’95 (SF): Chang d. Stich 4-6, 6-2, 7-6… 2 hours 8 minutes… Total points: 184 (aces: 4-6)… 2 pts away
   Paris ’96 (2R): Chang d. Phi’ssis 7-5, 3-6, 7-6… 2 hours 30 minutes… Total points: 225 (aces: 15-26)… 2 pts away
   Hanower ’96 (r): Chang d. Ivanisevic 6-7, 7-6, 6-1… 2 hours 18 minutes… Total points: 216 (aces: 8-23)… 1 m.p.

   Chang also defeated Becker 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 at Kooyong ’95 (exhibition)… never involved in a match of this type against a player I’d include to the Top 10 of the best servers of the 90s (Guy Forget – Chang defeated him easily in all three meetings)

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