1 Response to rg89edberg_becker.

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 7, 2023 at 2:14 am

   Points won by each set: | 33-21, 37-31, 36-40, 30-41, 33-25 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   20 % Edberg – 32 of 155… (at 72% of 1st serves in)
   19 % Becker – 34 of 172… (at 55% of 1st serves in)

   Their only meeting on clay (outdoors) and the last French Open semifinals featuring two serve-and-volleyers… Just like a year before, Becker was eliminated from the event after a match lasting 3 hours 55 minutes, and just like a year before he lost to a guy who was more eager than him to attack the net. The Swede [2] trailed *0:3 in the 2nd set, he saved a mini-set point at 3:4. Becker [3] began to slow down the pace in the 3rd set enormously (30-second rule then), and it worked in his favor… he saved a break point at 1-all and got the only break of the set passing Edberg with his forehand in the 12th game. Very tight was the 4th set in its middle. Edberg lost two successive games having points to win them both (4 game points to lead 3:1, then 2 break points at 2-all – there was 12 deuces in four successive games). Edberg was broken in the first game of the final set; he broke back immediately though, withstanding Becker’s double game point for 2:0. The longest match between them, and Becker’s best chance to reach finals of all Slams. Perhaps the best chance to win all four majors because he knew how to play against Chang – the eventual ’89 champion, two years later Becker easily defeated him in the Parisian quarterfinal.

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