1 Response to dubai97muster_ivanisevic

1. Voo de Mar says:

   April 28, 2025 at 5:18 pm

   Points won by each set: [ 43-34, 47-46 ]
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   21 % Muster – 21 of 99
   36 % Ivanisevic – 26 of 71

   High quality match at the top of men’s tennis at the time [Muster No. 3, Ivanisevic No. 2]. In short the Croat lost because of two badly missed overheads – the first one occurred as he had a break point at 3:2, the second when he tried to save a break point at 5-all. In both situations his position (moving backwards) was rather difficult, but very doable given his skills. After both misses he threw his racquet: first he got a warning, then a point penalty, so Muster began the 12th game leading 15/0. Some points in the second half of the 2nd set were exquisite, Ivanisevic had break points in three consecutive games, including four set points at 5:4 (three) & 6:5 (one): service winner, BH passing-shot, BH error after arguably the best exchange from the baseline… on the fourth set point Ivanisevic tried to play aggressive return off Muster’s second serve, but the ball hit the net-cord and stayed on Ivanisevic’s side. There was a period in the first two months of 1997 when the Croat had a 21-2 record, having lost both matches to Muster, first of them at the Australian Open.

   Muster’s route to his 43rd title:
   1 Thomas Nydahl 6-4, 6-3
   2 Martin Sinner 6-4, 6-4
   Q Christian Ruud 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-5
   S Jim Courier 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3
   W Goran Ivanisevic 7-5, 7-6(3)

   # In the 2-hour 39-minute quarterfinal vs Ruud, Muster led on serve throughout the 3rd set;
   one month earlier in Doha they played in the 2nd round and Muster won 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 (2 hours 14 minutes)

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