1 Response to shanghai05gaudio_gonzalez

1. Voo de Mar says:

   November 27, 2021 at 5:16 pm

   Points won by each set: | 15-26, 38-38, 37-30 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   13 % Gaudio – 13 of 98
   30 % Gonzalez – 26 of 86

   An informal quarterfinal and quite unique match in the tournament history due to two factors:
   – Gonzalez [13] could (should) have advanced to the semifinals as an alternate
   – he blew a 6-1, *5:3 (30-all) lead which is a rarity (to waste such a big advantage) given the history of ‘Masters’ matches
   The Chilean had the match under full control until the moment he was serving to close it out. He seemed tense then (perhaps the fact he had lost all three previous matches to Gaudio in straights did the job), dropped his serve, but in the following game he led 40/15 and had three match points in total – the first one Gaudio [9] saved with a FH-volley, another two match points it were unreturned kick-serves (first Gonzalez’s missed backhand, then he run it around, played aggressive FH but missed badly)
   The decider was mutually good, Gaudio led 4:2, later on Gonzalez 5:4* – Gaudio held at love. The pivotal point came at 30-all in the 11th game: during a rally Gaudio slipped, sat on his buttom for a second, but was able to play a defensive lob and Gonzalez having an easy put away, missed an overhead a few meters. It must have made an impact on his state of mind because facing a break point, he risked his second serve, and the ball was half a meter beside the T line. The Argentine advanced to his lone big semifinal indoors where he lost a double bagel (!) to Federer which initiated his severe downhill, leading to the end of his career a few years later.

   Serve & volley: Gaudio 1/2, Gonzalez 4/6
   

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