1 Response 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… Prior to 1997, Rafter and Rusedski were known as good serve-and-volleyers, they finished the 1996 season as racquets Nos. 62 & 48 respectively. Six months after their US Open final, they both could reach the world No. 1 (!) – due to Sampras’ early loss, one of them had to win the tournament to take the Sampras’ spot – both lost early 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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