1 Response to rotterdam01escude_federer

1. Voo de Mar says:

   September 23, 2020 at 3:02 pm

   Points won directly behind the serve:
   27 % Escude – 32 of 116
   27 % Federer – 30 of 109

   One of the most unpredictable players born in the 70s – Nicolas Escude [60] lost the first round in Marseille to a doubles specialist Bob Bryan, and came to Rotterdam the following week to play an unusual one match in the qualifying event as seeded no. 1 (he got “bye” in the first round due to the lack of people willing to participate). He won it quickly and another four matches in the main draw, easily breaking good serving opponents. In the final he faced a 19-year-old Federer [23]; in the opening set, the Frenchman three of his six service games held saving break points (eight in total). Federer began the decider with a break, but lost his serve immediately. In the deciding tie-break Escude raced to a *6:2 lead and converted his fourth match point when he forced Federer’s FH error in a 4-stroke rally. Afterwards Federer described the Rotterdam final as “a great disappointment.” “It’s a shame,” he continued, “that I couldn’t end this fantastic week with another title.” Escude, who was three points away from losing that 2-hour 23-minute final to Federer, will be two points away from losing when he plays against the Swiss in Rotterdam 2002 (quarterfinal).

   Escude’s route to his 2nd title: qualies – Thomas Behrend 6-1, 6-3
   1 Jonas Bjorkman 6-0, 6-4
   2 Tim Henman 6-3, 7-5
   Q Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-1
   S Vladimir Voltchkov 6-4, 6-1
   W Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(5)
   

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