Points won by each set: [ 44-42, 20-30, 29-17, 30-24 ]
Points won directly behind the serve:
28 % Muster – 31 of 109
25 % Washington – 33 of 127
The only edition of the Eurocard Open in Essen, replacing Stockholm which was held as Mercedes Super 9 in the years 1990-94… That year Muster [3] was the king of clay, almost unbeatable on that surface, and his self-confidence was so high having won plenty of matches that he also managed to claim his only indoor title (in his fourth attempt in the finals under the roof, following three defeats in Vienna). When the event kicked off such a line-up in the final seemed actually impossible because Washington [54] had to play in the qualifying event; he entered the draw due to Rafter’s withdrawal though, and eliminatedinter alia Agassi, who was in a great form at the time. The Afro-American had his chances in the opener as he led 6:5 (30-all) & 5:4 in the tie-break – Muster was serving on both occasions. In the 3rd set the Austrian, as many as four games won at ‘love’. They played against each other twice, and both matches occurred within two weeks; one week before Muster had defeated Washington 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the first round of Vienna.
Muster’s route to his 35th title (12th of the season!):
2 Byron Black 6-2, 6-3
3 Andrei Medvedev 6-4, 6-3
Q Sergi Bruguera 6-4, 7-6(3)
S Pete Sampras 7-6(6), 6-2
W MaliVai Washington 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Points won by each set: [ 44-42, 20-30, 29-17, 30-24 ]
Points won directly behind the serve:
28 % Muster – 31 of 109
25 % Washington – 33 of 127
The only edition of the Eurocard Open in Essen, replacing Stockholm which was held as Mercedes Super 9 in the years 1990-94… That year Muster [3] was the king of clay, almost unbeatable on that surface, and his self-confidence was so high having won plenty of matches that he also managed to claim his only indoor title (in his fourth attempt in the finals under the roof, following three defeats in Vienna). When the event kicked off such a line-up in the final seemed actually impossible because Washington [54] had to play in the qualifying event; he entered the draw due to Rafter’s withdrawal though, and eliminated inter alia Agassi, who was in a great form at the time. The Afro-American had his chances in the opener as he led 6:5 (30-all) & 5:4 in the tie-break – Muster was serving on both occasions. In the 3rd set the Austrian, as many as four games won at ‘love’. They played against each other twice, and both matches occurred within two weeks; one week before Muster had defeated Washington 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the first round of Vienna.
Muster’s route to his 35th title (12th of the season!):
2 Byron Black 6-2, 6-3
3 Andrei Medvedev 6-4, 6-3
Q Sergi Bruguera 6-4, 7-6(3)
S Pete Sampras 7-6(6), 6-2
W MaliVai Washington 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4