1 Response to daviscup86_taroczy_hlasek

1. Voo de Mar says:

   September 17, 2014 at 11:54 am

   Taroczy’s beautiful display in a 2-hour first rubber of a Europe-Zone Semifinal tie between Hungary and Switzerland on July 18, 1986 in Budapest. 32-year-old Taroczy, the best Hungarian player in history *, was competing in his 33rd and last tie (76-19 record combined: singles & doubles). He was ranked 190, but on his beloved clay he stunned a 10 years younger opponent, No. 26. Taroczy was trailing *2:4 (30/40) in the 1st set when he started to mix up the pace with his technical mastery. Match on YouTube (Hungarian commentary)

   Two days later, Taroczy overcame Roland Stadler in a grueling five-setter, yet Switzerland won ultimately the tie 3-2 to lose in the Europe-Zone Final 1-4 to Israel, October ’86 – that tie featured Hlasek’s two marathon defeats:
   # 2-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 10-12 to Amos Mansdorf &
   # 3-6, 6-1, 6-8, 12-10, 9-11 to Shlomo Glickstein (!)
   No other player in the Open era lost two matches with so long deciding sets within three days…

   Taroczy after his farewell tie, played just one main-level tournament (244th in his career) – Kitzbuhel ’86, losing in the third round.
   * I mean The Open Era… cause József Asbóth won French Open in 1947

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