1 Response to toronto00safin_sampras

1. Voo de Mar says:

   August 11, 2020 at 3:36 pm

   Points won by each set: | 31-30, 21-29, 47-45 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   34 % Safin – 32 of 94
   33 % Sampras – 37 of 109

   Night session, and one of the most important matches in [9] Safin’s career. Even though he had all attributes to be the most dangerous on hardcourts, by that moment, he was considered a clay-court specialist. In the opener he got a lucky break at 2-all when Sampras [2] missed a forehand by intches from a comfortable position at the net. Nothing interesting happened in the decider until the Russian led 6:5. Through eleven games they were both holding quickly, and then Sampras survived the longest game of the match (six deuces) withstanding three match points. In the tie-break Sampras trailed *1:4 when struck an ace down the T off his second serve. What had worked for him then, didn’t work in two other critical moments: when he had a match point at 7:6 and when he faced the fourth match point at 8:9 – he committed double faults, trying the same type of serve that had helped him to escape at 1:4. In the meantime, SamPe had two other match points on return (Safin’s service winner & firm backhand cross passing-shot). Before that match, Safin legitimated a weak 4-10 record in deciding set tie-breaks.

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