2 Responses to dc89becker_wilander

1. Voo de Mar says:

   December 9, 2024 at 8:58 am

   Points won by each set: | 34-21, 30-13, 30-17 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   47 % Becker – 33 of 69
   18 % Wilander – 14 of 76

   As Becker trashed Wilander on Sunday, December 17th, 1989, the West Germans defended their title (they had defeated Sweden in the 1988 final as well), however, it was a dynamic period in German history – on 9 November ’89 – so one month before the final – people began the deconstruction of the Berlin Wall which led to the reunification on 3 October 1990… [2] Becker with bleeding right elbow, at his finest during the weekend, he was playing the best tennis could have been played at the end of the 80s with the contemporary technology, it was a kind of tennis that featured the 90s – simply beyond [12] Wilander’s grasp, like a collision of two different decades in terms of the average speed. The only weaker game on Becker’s serve occurred as he led 3:0 in the 2nd set – he held it after four deuces. The German finished the season as No. 2 but if the ATP points for the team competitions had been awarded at the time (it happened in the years 2009-15), he would have finished on the top as he won 11 matches of this type that season (one dead) while Lendl, the best in the world, none. Becker captured two majors that year (defeating Lendl in both), the Czechoslovak one; Becker helped West Germany to win the World Team Cup and Davis Cup, thus generally the year 1989 belonged to him even though the ranking didn’t reflect it. Record of their matches in 1989: Lendl 79-7 (92%), Becker 64-8 (89%).

   WEST GERMANY d. SWEDEN 3-2 in Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart, West Germany: Carpet (Indoor)
   Mats Wilander (SWE) d. Carl-Uwe Steeb (GER) 5-7, 7-6(0), 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3
   Boris Becker (GER) d. Stefan Edberg (SWE) 6-2, 6-2, 6-4
   Boris Becker / Eric Jelen (GER) d. Jan Gunnarsson / Anders Jarryd (SWE) 7-6(6), 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-4
   Boris Becker (GER) d. Mats Wilander (SWE) 6-2, 6-0, 6-2
   Stefan Edberg (SWE) d. Carl-Uwe Steeb (GER) 6-2, 6-4

   

   From left: Patrik Kühnen, Boris Becker, Eric Jelen, Carl-Uwe Steeb and Niki Pilić (captain)

   German reunification began in November ’89 lasting until October ’90. West Germany won the football World Cup ’90 event, but in tennis the year 1990 brought a debut of Germany – the double defending champions, deprived of Becker, lost in the quarterfinals to Argentina. Germany was represented by players raised in West Germany anyway. Michael Stich, who would become a national hero in 1993, made his debut in 1990 playing singles & doubles in ties vs the Netherlands and Argentina.

   Serve & volley: Becker 18/30, Wilander 2/6
   

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   December 9, 2024 at 9:14 am

   West Germany’s route to the title: Indonesia 5-0, Czechoslovakia 3-2, USA 3-2, Sweden 3-2

   Points:
   8 – Boris Becker
   3.5 – Carl-Uwe Steeb
   1.5 – Eric Jelen
   0 – Patrick Kuhnen

   Becker was substantial for (West) Germany to conquer the Davis Cup in the last two seasons of the 80s decade,
   but given his overall Davis Cup performances he may be considered the best Davis Cup player of the Open Era, here’s the % comparison in singles:

   .935 Nadal (29-2)… doubles 8-4… played 2004-2024
   .926 Becker (38-3)… doubles 16-9… played 1985-1999
   .925 Borg (37-3)… doubles 8-8… played 1972-1980

   Nadal (ESP) lost two vital rubbers, his first (Novak ’04) and last (Van de ZandSchulp ’24)
   Becker (GER) also two vital rubbers: Casal (1987) and Haarhuis (1995)
   Borg (SWE) three vital rubbers: Kodes & Pala (1972) and Orantes (1973)

   Percentage-wise, Marcos Baghdatis is at their level but comparing him doesn’t make sense as he never even played in Group I with Cyprus while these three players mentioned above, always participated in the World Group or playoffs to enter this elite Group… so comparing Baghdatis to them is more or less like comparing Challenger/Futures/Satellite matches to the ATP/Slams level

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