Points won by each set: | 36-30, 33-35, 39-43, 34-30, 30-24 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
31 % McEnroe – 53 of 166
32 % Zivojinovic – 54 of 168
# Two years after their first meeting which ended up in a bizarre five-setter, they played another unusual five-setter, that time not in terms of the scoreline, just because McEnroe lost two sets squandering set points which doesn’t happen often. For the first hour of play nothing indicated that McEnroe [9] would lose even one set as he led 6-4, 4:1* (30/0). Later on Big-Mac had two set points on serve at 5:3 – first he made a volley error, then sent his forehand wide. During the rally, according to McEnroe, the ball hit by the Yugoslavian [23] landed outside the baseline. McEnroe was broken after three deuces and went furious during the changeover. The referee gave him a warning and a point penalty right afterwards. During another change of ends, McEnroe was furious again (broken at 15) and his abusive language caused a game penalty, so the score switched from 6:5 to 7-5 immediately. From that moment to the end of the contest McEnroe was trying to keep his composure because another outburst could cost him disqualification. At *4:5 (15/40) in the 3rd set Zivojinovic served two aces in a row, won easily the breaker, and led 4:3* in the 4th set when McEnroe finally established his authority winning 9 of the last 12 games and the 4-hour match with a backhand return winner.
# Comparison of their two five-setters: Aussie Open ’85 (q-final): Zivojinovic d. McEnroe 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-0… Total points: 111-113… 2 hours 25 minutes US Open ’87 (3rd round): McEnroe d. Zivojinovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3… Total points: 172-162… 4 hours
Points won by each set: | 36-30, 33-35, 39-43, 34-30, 30-24 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
31 % McEnroe – 53 of 166
32 % Zivojinovic – 54 of 168
# Two years after their first meeting which ended up in a bizarre five-setter, they played another unusual five-setter, that time not in terms of the scoreline, just because McEnroe lost two sets squandering set points which doesn’t happen often. For the first hour of play nothing indicated that McEnroe [9] would lose even one set as he led 6-4, 4:1* (30/0). Later on Big-Mac had two set points on serve at 5:3 – first he made a volley error, then sent his forehand wide. During the rally, according to McEnroe, the ball hit by the Yugoslavian [23] landed outside the baseline. McEnroe was broken after three deuces and went furious during the changeover. The referee gave him a warning and a point penalty right afterwards. During another change of ends, McEnroe was furious again (broken at 15) and his abusive language caused a game penalty, so the score switched from 6:5 to 7-5 immediately. From that moment to the end of the contest McEnroe was trying to keep his composure because another outburst could cost him disqualification. At *4:5 (15/40) in the 3rd set Zivojinovic served two aces in a row, won easily the breaker, and led 4:3* in the 4th set when McEnroe finally established his authority winning 9 of the last 12 games and the 4-hour match with a backhand return winner.
# Comparison of their two five-setters:
Aussie Open ’85 (q-final): Zivojinovic d. McEnroe 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-0… Total points: 111-113… 2 hours 25 minutes
US Open ’87 (3rd round): McEnroe d. Zivojinovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3… Total points: 172-162… 4 hours