1 Response to qc95_sampras_forget

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 18, 2022 at 1:48 pm

   Points won by each set: | 36-31, 38-34 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   66 % Sampras – 45 of 68
   54 % Forget – 39 of 71

   Super fast no-deuce all-tie-break grass-court match – just 77 minutes! It’s quite interesting that Sampras [2] who’s one of the best tie-break players in history, had lost all five previous tie-breaks to Forget, and he was struggling in them in the first half of ’95 like never before or after, so even though he was a favourite, a two-tie-break victory over the Frenchman rather couldn’t be expected especially given Sampras’ potential tiredness from a day before #. In the 1st tie-break there was 3-all when Sampras delivered four consecutive winners (FH return, two aces, FH passing); in the 2nd tie-break he led *6:4 when Forget [28] played his best point on that day as a receiver, but after change of ends, Sampras made a backhand passing-shot and converted his third match point with a powerful serve. “This is the best I have served in a long time. I was picking my spots and hitting it very hard,” Sampras said. “It sort of reminds me of last year’s final with no breaks of serve either. But it’s a different result.” It’s really remarkable that 60% of points were finished within 1-2 strokes (48% in their previous, also no-break two-setter).

   Sampras’ route to his 33rd title:
   2 Jonathan Stark 7-6(4), 6-3
   3 Jeremy Bates 6-3, 7-5
   Q Sandon Stolle 6-2, 6-2
   S Mark-Kevin Goellner 6-7(4), 6-2, 13-11 – 3 m.p.
   W Guy Forget 7-6(3), 7-6(6)

   # Saturday: June 18, 1994 (a miracle day)… Sampras saved three break points at 1:4 in 3rd set vs Goellner (ace, service winner, volley), then he trailed *2:5 (30-all); he saved two match points at 3:5 (double fault, BH return) and another one at 7:8 with an ace… the match lasted 2 hours 12 minutes, in terms of games, Sampras’ longest set won in his career. “I was definitely living nine lives in the semis, that’s for sure,” Sampras said. It was a crazy day for him, one of the most laborious in his stellar career; later that day he also won a doubles semifinal (along with T.Martin) against the best team of the 90s – the Woodies 6-3, 3-6, 12-10… he spent 5 hours 20 minutes on the courts in total!!

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