1 Response to daviscup79mcenroe_alexander

1. Voo de Mar says:

   December 16, 2021 at 4:49 pm

   Points won by each set: | 50-42, 29-16, 48-37 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   33 % McEnroe – 33 of 100
   32 % Alexander – 40 of 122

   McEnroe [3] established himself as the third best player in the world at the end of the 70s (behind two legends of the decade: Borg & Connors), but if the Davis Cup rubbers had been awarded with ranking points, he would have been no. 2. In the years 1978-79, he was a father figure of two American triumphs in this prestigious competition winning his all ten singles rubbers not dropping a set! The closest to lose a set he was against Alexander [19], the player eight years older, one of the biggest servers of the 70s. What was quite paradoxical about that encounter is the fact that Alexander was using more modern equipment (aluminium/wooden racquet), but his game-style was already out-dated in the late 70s, namely he was playing backhand slices on return and passing-shots when the ball was close to his body; when he was in an awkward position he was implementing defensive lobs. Alexander’s first BH winner (return slice) came in the 10th game of the 3rd set – he led 40/0 but five good first serves in a row helped McEnroe to hold.

   Semifinal: USA d. AUSTRALIA 4-1 (October 5-8th, Sydney: grass)
   Gerulaitis – Edmondson 6-8, 14-16, 10-8, 6-3, 6-3 – 3 m.p.
   McEnroe – Alexander 9-7, 6-2, 9-7
   Lutz/Smith – Alexander/Dent 7-9, 4-6, 4-6
   Gerulaitis – Alexander 5-7, 6-4, 8-6, 6-2
   McEnroe – Edmondson 6-3, 6-4

   The first rubber it’s one of the most amazing Davis Cup matches as far as involvement of elite players is concerned. In the 2nd set Gerulaitis wasted mini-set points at 10:10 and 12:12 (four in total), then escaped from *7:8 (0/40) in the 3rd set! “You don’t expect to come back from triple match point down,” said the victor, who committed 20 double faults. “I’m proud of having the condition to pretty good distance, but I’m always in pretty good shape. I’ve never been down like that before. You can’t be further down then that.” Because the first rubber was very long and rain fell during the second rubber, the McEnroe-Alexander match was halted in the opener on Friday and continued on Saturday. The Australians extended the semifinal for a day, but on Monday they lost it anyway when Gerulaitis defeated Alexander for the eighth time in a row

   Log in to Reply