Points won by each set: [ 31-21, 34-28 ]
Points won directly on serve:
37 % Gonzalez – 21 of 56
22 % Massu – 13 of 58
This is quite special story. Already in the late 90s when Rios belonged to the strict elite, his two Chilean successors were known among juniors (Massu no. 5, Gonzalez no. 4), and they both reached their first ATP final in the same event! The almost 20-year-old Gonzalez [352, qualifier] was playing his just third main-level event after withstanding several match points in the qualifying round while the one year older Massu [89] his 11th. It was the fourth and last edition of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships held in Orlando (moved to Houston the following year). As juniors they had met twice, exchanging victories… two weeks before the Orlando final they met in the second round of a Challenger in San Luis Potosi – Massu won 6-4, 7-6.
Gonzalez’s route to his maiden title:
[ Ketola 6-4 6-4; Galimberti 6-2 6-7(2) 7-6(6) – 4 m.p.; S.Prieto 6-2 6-3 ]
1 Cecil Mamiit 6-2, 7-5
2 Antony Dupuis 7-5, 7-6(4)
Q Paradorn Srichaphan 6-3, 6-3
S Martin Rodriguez 6-0, 3-6, 7-5
W Nicolas Massu 6-2, 6-3