2 Responses to lyon00clement_rafter

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 11, 2025 at 10:59 am

   Points won by each set: [ 47-41, 43-47 ]
   Points won directly on serve:
   27 % Clement – 26 of 95
   40 % Rafter – 34 of 83

   Clement and Rafter faced each other twice, both times in Lyon, and the scorelines were similar # On the first occassion Clement’s win meant a total shocker because he was just beginning his career at the main-level while Rafter was fresh after his maiden major title. Three years later it was a different story as Clement [25] had already an experience of playing against all the best guys in the world at the biggest stages while Rafter [17] was far away from his form off the previous three seasons. There were break points in the first five games, Clement led 4:2 afterwards. In the 2nd set he needed a two-point advantage in all his service games (served three aces in a row from 0/30 at 2-all) when Rafter was holding without any troubles. “Winning the first title of my career is such a thrill,” revealed the 23-year-old Clement, who picked up a cheque for $109,000. “I don’t think I dominated the match. I played well in both sets though. The match turned on one or two points, it was like poker.”

   Clement’s route to his maiden title (85th main-level event):
   1 Thierry Guardiola 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
   2 Franco Squillari 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
   Q Raemon Sluiter 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5)
   S Andre Agassi 6-3 ret.
   W Patrick Rafter 7-6(2), 7-6(5)

   # Clement was two points away from losing to Sluiter; Agassi retired due to right hip injury

   # Comparison of their two matches:
   Lyon ’97 (1R): Clement d. Rafter 6-3, 7-6(5)… 1 hour 36 minutes… Total points: 77-73 (breaks: 2-1)
   Lyon ’00 (F): Clement d. Rafter 7-6(2), 7-6(5)… 1 hour 53 minutes… Total points: 90-88 (breaks: 2-2)

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   January 11, 2025 at 11:04 am

   It was Rafter’s third and last indoor final (1 hard, 2 carpet) – he lost them all. He finished his career with a 59% ratio (58-40) under the roof

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