1 Response to masters88becker_lendl

1. Voo de Mar says:

   November 16, 2020 at 12:21 am

   Points won by each set: | 35-37, 40-42, 20-27, 31-18, 38-38 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   31 % Becker – 51 of 164
   23 % Lendl – 38 of 162

   Ninth (!) in a row and the last one, [2] Lendl’s appearance in the ‘Masters’ final. It lasted 4 hours 43 minutes – the longest ‘Masters’ final in history. In the 5th set, after ten easy holds in succession, Lendl broke to ’15’ in the 11th game and was two points away from the championship serving at 30-all. He was two points away also in the ensuing tie-break at 5-all – he missed a backhand passing-shot then, and on [4] Becker’s match point there was the longest rally of the final concluded on 37th stroke when Becker’s backhand clipped the net and went over leaving the helpless Lendl stunned! “At the end, I didn’t see the ball,” Becker said. “I was just playing and running, playing and running.” The runner-up philosophically stated: “I thought it was a great match. You are going to win some of those and you are going to lose some of those. You just hope you win more than you lose.” Becker won $285,000 with the victory, his seventh Grand Prix title in 1988. Lendl won $135,000.

   Becker’s route to his 19th title:
   rr Mats Wilander 7-6(7), 6-7(1), 6-1
   rr Stefan Edberg 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-6
   rr Henri Leconte 6-0, 1-0 ret.
   S Jakob Hlasek 7-6(2), 7-6(3)
   W Ivan Lendl 5-7, 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(5)

   Percentage of 1st serves in:
   Becker – 57% (50, 52, 57, 68, 57)
   Lendl – 61% (63, 74, 52, 60, 57)

   Comparison of three ‘Masters’ finals between them:
   1985: Lendl d. Becker 6-2, 7-6, 6-3… 2 hours 25 minutes… Total points: 100-73
   1986: Lendl d. Becker 6-4, 6-4, 6-4… 2 hours 19 minutes… Total points: 107-78
   1988: Becker d. Lendl 5-7, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6… 4 hours 43 minutes… Total points: 164-162

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