1 Response to mc96muster_costa

1. Voo de Mar says:

   November 16, 2023 at 12:08 pm

   Points won directly behind the serve:
   11 % Muster – 18 of 151
   9 % Costa – 14 of 147

   [2] Muster’s 35th consecutive win on clay after a 3-hour 12-minute contest. He led 3:0* in the 3rd set, and trailed *1:2 in the decider to win the last five games finishing the tournament with a forehand inside-out winner (# which was the reminiscence of their French Open ’95 quarterfinal when the Austrian also put himself in a good position to win the 3rd set, and won the last five games of the decider). Muster captured the Monte Carlo title second successive year after a five-set struggle – it lasted five minutes longer in 1995. “I probably used my power better at the end, and when it was necessary, I put more pressure on him,” Muster said. “He was tired at the end, I think.” “My game doesn’t suit him,” Costa [16] said. “I play a lot of points on his backhand. I mix the game, and I win many points and that bothers him. I got him into a fifth set and I couldn’t do any more.” # It was their third successive meeting concluded in a five-setter. Two months later a decider is required again, that time the 3rd set as Muster defeats Costa 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the Rome semifinal.

   Muster’s route to his 39th title:
   2 Tomas Carbonell 7-5, 6-4
   3 Carlos Moya 6-2, 7-6(3)
   Q Sjeng Schalken 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
   S Cedric Pioline 6-3, 6-3
   W Albert Costa 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

   * Schalken had an easy volley to lead 3:0* in the 3rd set vs Muster

   # Comparison of their three 5-setters within 10 months:
   French Open ’95 (QF): Muster d. Costa 6-2, 3-6, 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-2… 195 minutes… Total points: 168-148… Breaks: 9-5
   Kitzbuhel ’95 (F): Costa d. Muster 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4… 193 minutes… Total points: 157-162… Breaks: 4-5
   Monte Carlo ’96 (F): Muster d. Costa 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2… 192 minutes… Total points: 161-137… Breaks: 12-9

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