1 Response to toronto98krajicek_agassi

1. Voo de Mar says:

   August 20, 2023 at 2:14 pm

   Points won by each set: [ 23-28, 43-40, 27-17 ]
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   41 % Krajicek – 39 of 95
   19 % Agassi – 16 of 83

   # Three years after their New Haven final they met again on North American hardcourt and the Dutchman [9] took a perfect revenge – in New Haven he lost a match which he should have won (squandered a match point in amazing circumstances), in turn at the Canadian Open he prevailed being almost beaten in straight sets. Agassi’s decisive break in the 2nd set seemed inevitable as he led 3:2 (40/15), 4:3 (three mini-match points) & 5:4 (30/0, deuce) – Krajicek missed his first serve just once in those difficult moments. In Agassi’s first ten service games Krajicek had no chance, and then at 5-all he played slightly above his level (BH dropshot off Agassi’s first serve i.a.) to break after the longest game of the match (three deuces). Agassi [11] created another break point leading 2:1 (40/30) in the 3rd set – Krajicek saved it with a FH volley and grabbed the last five games snapping Agassi’s 13-match winning streak. I assume Agassi lost his focus in the 3rd set because it was his third consecutive 3-set match against the three biggest servers at the time (he’d defeated 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 Ivanisevic and 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 Sampras). Due to rain, third round matches and quarterfinals were played the same day, Krajicek had not only much easier Friday than Agassi, he also came to Canada after a few weeks of rest while for Agassi it was second straight week (he’d triumphed in Los Angeles a week before).

   # Comparison of their two dramatic 2-1 matches:
   New Haven 1995 (F): Agassi d. Krajicek 3-6, 7-6, 6-3… 1 hour 53 minutes… Total points 100-94 (aces: 8-19)
   Toronto 1998 (SF): Krajicek d. Agassi 4-6, 7-5, 6-2… 1 hour 51 minutes… Total points 93-85 (aces: 17-0)

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