2 Responses to uo97rafter_rusedski

1. Voo de Mar says:

   September 4, 2020 at 3:28 pm

   Points won by each set: | 27-22, 28-18, 33-38, 39-28 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   36 % Rafter – 39 of 107
   33 % Rusedski – 42 of 126

   The first all-serve-and-volley US Open final since 1992. Rusedski [20] saved two mini-match points at 4-all in the 3rd set and a triple break point trailing 1:3 in the 4th. Afterwards he was 4:3 & 5:4 ahead (Rafter easily held twice). Rafter [14] entered that match with a 0-5 record in finals of ’97. Rusedski said: “If he can get ahead of Pete, I’ll bow down. I think No. 3 is a great accomplishment.” referring to the dominating No. 1, Pete Sampras. “I’ve got no idea what it’ll be like, mate,” Rafter said being asked how this title would change his life. “There’s going to be a lot of pressure around me, I suspect.”
   Prior to 1997, Rafter and Rusedski were known as good serve-and-volleyers, they finished the 1996 season as racquets Nos. 62 and 48 respectively. Six months after their US Open final, they both would reach the world No. 1 (!) – due to Sampras’ early loss, one of them had to win the tournament to take the Sampras’ spot – both they lost in the second/fourth round though, and Marcelo Rios took advantage of the enormous opportunity (Key Biscayne ’98)…

   Rafter’s route to his 2nd title:
   1 Andrei Medvedev 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
   2 Magnus Norman 6-2, 6-1, 6-2
   3 Lionel Roux 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
   4 Andre Agassi 6-3, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3
   Q Magnus Larsson 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-2
   S Michael Chang 6-3, 6-3, 6-4
   W Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

   Points won at the net: Rafter 68/95 (71%), Rusedski 54/100 (54%)
   

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   December 8, 2023 at 9:33 am

   At the end of the final, Rusedski established a new record in the serve-speed – 230 kph (143 mph), overcoming the previous one of Mark Philippoussis (228 kph, Scottsdale ’97), afterwards he fired even a quicker serve (234 kph) but the ball was long

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