2 Responses to wb01ivanisevic_rafter

1. Voo de Mar says:

   December 3, 2023 at 10:10 am

   Points won by each set: | 31-25, 20-32, 31-20, 21-29, 50-44 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   45 % Ivanisevic – 74 of 164
   40 % Rafter – 56 of 139

   The first Grand Slam event with 32 seeds, new slower grass, first time chamion with “wild card”, and the only Wimbledon final played on Monday! Rafter [10] was two points away from the title leading 7:6* (30/0) in the 5th set. They played just four times against each other, it was their last meeting. Ivanisevic [125] was also two points away from losing his semifinal to Henman (each of them lasted 3 hours 2 minutes!). Also unique in Ivanisevic’s case is the fact that he is a Grand Slam champion as a left-hander with double handed backhand. The same applied to Jimmy Connors, however, the American wasn’t attacking the net constantly behind 1st and 2nd serves.

   Ivanisevic’s route to his 22nd title:
   1 Fredrik Jonsson 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
   2 Carlos Moya 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
   3 Andy Roddick 7-6(5), 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
   4 Greg Rusedski 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4
   Q Marat Safin 7-6(2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3)
   S Tim Henman 7-5, 6-7(6), 0-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 ☆
   W Patrick Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7

   ☆ Ivanišević became the first Open Era champion to be on the verge of defeat (two poibts away) in his last two matches

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   December 3, 2023 at 10:44 pm

   Ivanisevic has won more long 5-setters (when the score hit 6-all in the decider) thank anyone else in the Opn Era, yet he never experienced a 5th set tie-break:

   French Open ’92: Larsson 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 9-7
   Olympics ’92: Hlasek 3-6, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6, 9-7 – 2 m.p.
   Olympics ’92: Santoro 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 8-6 – 2 m.p.
   Wimbledon ’93: Bailey 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 9-7 – 1 m.p.
   Wimbledon ’98: Krajicek 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 15-13
   Aussie Open ’00: Pioline 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 1-6, 9-7
   Wimbledon ’01: Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7

   lost twice matches of this type:
   Grand Slam Cup ’94: Sampras 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 8-10
   Wimbledon ’97: M.Norman 3-6, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4, 12-14

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