1 Response to rg96kafelnikov_stich

1. Voo de Mar says:

   May 22, 2024 at 10:46 am

   Points won by each set: | 51-48, 38-35, 44-42 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   29 % Kafelnikov – 37 of 126
   26 % Stich – 35 of 132

   The tightest three-set final in the Open Era with crazy twists: Stich [16] was two points away from winning the 1st set at 6:5* (30-all) having saved a double break point in the previous game with two aces, had a set point on serve to win the 2nd set at 5:4 (already led *5:2, 30-all) & led 4:2* in the 3rd set, then saved two match points in the 10th game to squander a break point at 5-all! Stich is the last serve-and-volleyer to reach the final at Roland Garros… Actually it’s the last French Open with a bunch of attacking players in the quarter-finals, Kafelnikov [7] won his last three matches against serve-and-volleyers. It was a sunny edition, the courts were faster, and the quarterfinal line-up was echoing hardcourts. “I was trying to give everything that was still in my body,” Kafelnikov said. “I never thought I could do it, win a Grand Slam at age 22, especially after being in the quarterfinals five times in the last two years.”

   Kafelnikov’s route to his 10th title:
   1 Galo Blanco 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
   2 Thomas Johansson 6-2, 7-5, 6-3
   3 Felix Mantilla 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
   4 Francisco Clavet 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
   Q Richard Krajicek 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2
   S Pete Sampras 7-6(4), 6-0, 6-2
   W Michael Stich 7-6(4), 7-5, 7-6(4)
   

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