2 Responses to rg05safin_ferrero

1. Voo de Mar says:

   May 20, 2022 at 1:22 pm

   Points won by each set: | 48-49, 36-34, 16-28, 42-34 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   24 % Safin – 32 of 132
   16 % Ferrero – 25 of 155

   Each player who competes in more or less 200 main-level events should be mentally prepared for all scenarios in terms of the scoreline, including at least one win/loss in 3- and 4-setters being within a few points to lose/win all sets. The Spaniard, who had defeated his peer Federer 7-5, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 at the US Open ’00, suffered a very similar defeat to Safin – the longest 4-setter in careers of them both (3 hours 46 minutes). “I think the crowd should get a video cassette of this match because it was a classic,” said Safin as he left court with sweat dripping off his face. “I’m taking this tournament very seriously and in this sort of match you have to take your opportunities when they come.” # Well, I think Safin [4] exaggerated a bit, he displayed a full array of his strokes only in the 4th set. That match took its toll and Safin was ousted in the following round by another Spaniard, presenting quite similar style – Robredo. Ferrero [33] led:

   1st set: 4:2* (30/15), then he was two points away from taking the set at 5:3*, 5:4 and 5-all in the tie-break when he played a good dropshot, but Safin responded with an ideally long ball and finished the rally with an overhead to win the breaker 7/5
   2nd set: 4:1* (30-all), 5:4 (30/40)
   4th set: *3:2 (30-all)… tie-break 7/2

   He was 2, 3, 5 points away to win the sets he lost. Safin didn’t drop a point in his last three service games.
   It’s quite bizarre that the following year, Ferrero loses on the same Philipp Chatrier court again being close to win each set he succumbs. In a clash of two former French Open champions, Gaudio upsets Ferrero in the third round 7-5, 7-5, 7-6 after 3 hours 15 minutes, trailing:

   1st set: *3:5
   2nd set: 2:5* (15/40)
   3rd set: saved a set point at 6:7* in the tie-break which he won 9/7

   The longest ‘3-0’ match in careers of them both, Ferrero was 3, 1, 1 points away to win the sets he lost.

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   May 20, 2022 at 3:33 pm

   # Higher percentage of total winners in the match vs Robredo (28%) than against Ferrero (26%)

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