1 Response to stockholm94becker_ivanisevic

1. Voo de Mar says:

   October 19, 2023 at 4:35 pm

   Points won by each set: [ 23-26, 29-27, 32-22, 49-42 ]
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   44 % Becker – 52 of 116
   46 % Ivanisevic – 61 of 132

   It’s arguably the highlight of Becker’s career as far as his favourite surface (carpet) is concerned. The German as the best indoor player for a decade (1986-96), not only beat the best three players at the time, but also the biggest specialists on fast courts along with him (Stich, Sampras, Ivanisevic). It was the first time when someone defeated the best three players within one tournament, no-one will do this for the next 13 years until Djokovic in Montreal.
   It was the fifth and last edition of the Stockholm Open as a ‘Mercedes Super 9’ (in 1995 replaced by Essen), Becker won it three times. His final match against Ivanisevic resembled their Wimbledon semifinal of 1990. In both matches the Croat [2] was a better player in the first hour of play, but he lost the 2nd sets. In Sweden there was 4-all in the 2nd set when Ivanisevic led 30/0 on Becker’s serve and lost two consecutive points not being able to return Becker’s [6] second serves. In the 10th game the Croat had 30/15 on serve having easily held nine times, and suddenly lost three points in a row committing a double fault on set point. In the 4th set he squandered a triple break point at 2:1 and was three points away from the set at 6:5* (15/0). “It must be something in the air in Stockholm that makes me play great here. I can’t remember playing as good tennis three days in a row against the best players in the world,” said Becker.

   Becker’s route to his 42nd title:
   2 Richey Reneberg 7-6(3), 6-1
   3 Andrei Chesnokov 6-4, 6-3
   Q Michael Stich 7-6(3), 6-3
   S Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-4
   W Goran Ivanisevic 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(4)

   Comparison of two 4-set wins of Becker against Ivanisevic:
   Wimbledon 1990 (SF): Becker d. Ivanisevic 4-6, 7-6, 6-0, 7-6… 2 hours 30 minutes… Total points: 135-124 (aces: 13-12)
   Stockholm 1994 (F): Becker d. Ivanisevic 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6… 2 hours 21 minutes… Total points: 133-117 (aces: 22-21)

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