1 Response to toronto90chang_sampras

1. Voo de Mar says:

   September 23, 2020 at 3:38 pm

   Points won by each set: | 30-38, 40-38, 40-37 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   18 % Chang – 21 of 114
   30 % Sampras – 33 of 109

   Chang [24] was Sampras’ [19] toughest opponent in the early stages of career of the best player of the 90s. Chang won their first five matches, and among them the Toronto encounter meant the only one when Sampras was close to snap the negative streak. There was no break point in the 2nd set before the tie-break in which Sampras led 4:3* when he poorly played at the end losing it 5/7 (at 1-all Chang won an unbelievable rally defending Sampras’ two very aggressive shots at the net). Even though the Greek American seemed to be more tired after two hours of playing in the heat, he built a 3:0* (30/0) advantage in the decider. The Chinese American broke back in the 5th game after Sampras decided to unsuccessfully play backhand overhead standing in the doubles alley. Sampras led 5:4* when Chang held easily to win the last three games. # The following day Chang defeated Berger in the final becoming the first man in the Open Era to win the last three matches en route to the title being within a few points of losing them all. Chang’s feat will be repeated by Nicolas Escude & Grigor Dimitrov (in each case the champion won five sets when his defeat hung in the air at 5-all!).

   # Comparison of three similar routes to the titles in the last three matches:

   Chang in Toronto ’90:
   Q Andre Agassi 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.. 2 hours 10 minutes… 4 pts away
   S Pete Sampras 3-6, 7-6, 7-5… 2 hours 39 minutes… 3 pts away (total points: 110-113)
   W Jay Berger 4-6, 6-3, 7-6… 2 hours 42 minutes… 2 pts away (total points: 116-114)

   Escude in Rotterdam ’02:
   Q Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6, 7-5… 2 hours 6 minutes… 2 pts away (total points: 113-108)
   S Sebastien Grosjean 4-6, 7-6, 7-5… 2 hours 28 minutes… 1 pt away (total points: 127-120)
   W Tim Henman 3-6, 7-6, 6-4… 2 hours 28 minutes… 2 pts away (total points: 98-102)

   Dimitrov in Acapulco ’14:
   Q Ernests Gulbis 4-6, 7-6, 7-5… 2 hours 39 minutes… 2 pts away (total points: 112-103)
   S Andy Murray 4-6, 7-6, 7-6… 2 hours 55 minutes… 3 pts away (total points: 107-109)
   W Kevin Anderson 7-6, 3-6, 7-6… 2 hours 58 minutes… 2 pts away (total points: 114-110)

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