Points won by each set: | 47-45, 9-24, 31-23, 47-42 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
33 % Becker – 48 of 143
20 % Lendl – 25 of 125
The Czech, best player in the world, led *2:0 in the 4th set, then it was *2:4 (deuce). His eight US Open final in a row and the last one (record in them: 3-5). Becker finished the 3-hour 51-minute final with two powerful serves: an ace and a firm service winner. One out of three meetings between them, all occurred in New York, with Becker [2] winning two sets in tie-breaks (other two cases: Masters ’88 & US Open ’92). Between Wimbledon ’88 and US Open ’89 they met four times, always producing dramatic 4- or 5-setters, Becker won them all leaving an impression he was the best player in the world of the late 80s, but the ranking didn’t reflect it – Lendl finished the year 1989 on the top; it would have been otherwise if Becker’s rubbers of the Davis Cup ’89 had been awarded with the ranking points.
Becker’s route to his 23rd title (4th major):
1 David Pate 6-1, 6-3, 6-1
2 Derrick Rostagno 1-6, 6-7(1), 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-3 – 2 m.p.
3 Miloslav Mecir 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
4 Mikael Pernfors 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
Q Yannick Noah 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
S Aaron Krickstein 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
W Ivan Lendl 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4)
Points won by each set: | 47-45, 9-24, 31-23, 47-42 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
33 % Becker – 48 of 143
20 % Lendl – 25 of 125
The Czech, best player in the world, led *2:0 in the 4th set, then it was *2:4 (deuce). His eight US Open final in a row and the last one (record in them: 3-5). Becker finished the 3-hour 51-minute final with two powerful serves: an ace and a firm service winner. One out of three meetings between them, all occurred in New York, with Becker [2] winning two sets in tie-breaks (other two cases: Masters ’88 & US Open ’92). Between Wimbledon ’88 and US Open ’89 they met four times, always producing dramatic 4- or 5-setters, Becker won them all leaving an impression he was the best player in the world of the late 80s, but the ranking didn’t reflect it – Lendl finished the year 1989 on the top; it would have been otherwise if Becker’s rubbers of the Davis Cup ’89 had been awarded with the ranking points.
Becker’s route to his 23rd title (4th major):
1 David Pate 6-1, 6-3, 6-1
2 Derrick Rostagno 1-6, 6-7(1), 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-3 – 2 m.p.
3 Miloslav Mecir 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
4 Mikael Pernfors 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
Q Yannick Noah 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
S Aaron Krickstein 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
W Ivan Lendl 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4)