2 Responses to uo88wilander_lendl

1. Voo de Mar says:

   August 24, 2020 at 10:38 am

   The longest final in the US Open history (4 hours 54 minutes). In 2012, Andy Murray (coached by Lendl) and Novak Djokovic tied the record…

   Points won by each set: | 36-32, 31-38, 32-22, 33-37, 34-32 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   13 % Wilander – 25 of 181
   15 % Lendl – 23 of 146

   It was the second straight final in New York between Lendl and Wilander. And just like during the 1987 final, it was a topsy-turvy battle. Wilander led 4:1* (30-all) in the 2nd set and *4:3 (30/0) in the 4th. In the deciding set, the Swede established a 2:0* (15/0) lead only to lose 14 of the next 17 points – Lendl was 3:2* (30/0) ahead when another twist occurred. Exceptionally intriguing final from a tactical point of view. The Swede had started constantly attacking the net in his service games at 2:0 in the 2nd set, and he continued it until the last point. He approached the net 131 times in total! In the meantime, he delivered 37 consecutive first serves in [from 4:4, 15/30 in 1st to *4:2 (15/30) in 2nd set]. Thanks to that triumph, Wilander became the best player in the world at the age of 24, and lost his motivation. He never again played in a Grand Slam final.

   Wilander’s route to his 31st title:
   1 Greg Holmes 6-2, 6-1, 6-4
   2 Kevin Curren 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
   3 Mikael Pernfors 6-4, 6-0, 7-5
   4 Mark Woodforde 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
   Q Emilio Sanchez 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-0, 6-4
   S Darren Cahill 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
   W Ivan Lendl 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4

   Serve and volley: Wilander 24/47, Lendl 4/4

   # They faced each other in five Grand Slam finals, three of them turned into marathons. Here is the comparison:
   French Open 1987: Lendl d. Wilander 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6… 4 hours 17 minutes… Total points – 261… Breaks of serve – 10
   US Open 1987: Lendl d. Wilander 6-7, 6-0, 7-6, 6-4… 4 hours 47 minutes… Total points – 302… Breaks of serve – 12
   US Open 1988: Wilander d. Lendl 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4… 4 hours 54 minutes… Total points – 327… Breaks of serve – 11
   

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   July 30, 2023 at 2:34 pm

   Prior to that final, Lendl had defeated Wilander six times in a row. The Swede had to figure something out, and two things were the remedy in the US Open ’88 final: keeping the ball in play during rallies with a backhand slice & attacking the net behind the serve

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