Points won by each set: [ 33-21, 21-27, *37-34 ]
Points won directly behind the serve:
32 % Connors – 25 of 76
27 % Leconte – 27 of 97
The final featured by bizarre situation at the beginning of the 3rd set when Leconte [30] fainted and collapsed after playing two lousy returns. According to the rules he received a point penalty after 30 seconds not being able to continue and lost the opening game lying on his back for another 30 seconds*. If he had lied for another 30 seconds, Connors would have won by default. Before it happened everything had indicated Connors’ routine win as he led 4:3* (30/0) in the 2nd set having won his nine service games not dropping even two points within a game. The Frenchman regrouped and had a break point at 1-all in the decider. Serving to stay in the final for the second time, he committed two double faults, the second one on the first match point. “I don’t know what happened,” Leconte said about his collapse. “I couldn’t see anything.” “He was dehydrated, he didn’t have enough liquids,” explained Norris – the trainer. “I was put in the position how do you play somebody who is in a coma. If I keep the ball in play and run him around and get him overheated, then what?” joked Connors.
Connors’ route to his 101st title:
2 Gianni Ocleppo 6-2, 7-6(2)
3 Tomas Smid 6-0, 7-6(11)
Q Fritz Buehning 6-3, 7-6(4)
S Ben Testerman 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
W Henri Leconte 6-3, 4-6, 7-5