Points won by each set: | 37-42, 32-22, 25-22, 30-36, 46-44 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
17 % Smith – 32 of 179
21 % Nastase – 34 of 159
There was one break in the final set, in the 12th game despite Nastase leading 40/0 – Smith played his best return of the final then. Earlier in the set, Smith held in the 5th game after 8 ‘deuces’ saving three break points. It was 4th of their 5 five-setters (Smith edged 3-2 in the end) which was a record in the 70s – no other pair of players involved in so many deciding 5th sets.
Smith’s route to his 14th title (2nd major):
1 Hans-Joachim Ploetz 6-1, 6-1, 6-3
2 Hank Irvine 6-4, 9-8, 6-3
3 Sandy Mayer 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 9-7
4 Ian Fletcher 8-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Q Alex Metreveli 6-2, 8-6, 6-2
S Jan Kodes 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5
W Ilie Nastase 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
Points won by each set: | 37-42, 32-22, 25-22, 30-36, 46-44 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
17 % Smith – 32 of 179
21 % Nastase – 34 of 159
There was one break in the final set, in the 12th game despite Nastase leading 40/0 – Smith played his best return of the final then. Earlier in the set, Smith held in the 5th game after 8 ‘deuces’ saving three break points. It was 4th of their 5 five-setters (Smith edged 3-2 in the end) which was a record in the 70s – no other pair of players involved in so many deciding 5th sets.
Smith’s route to his 14th title (2nd major):
1 Hans-Joachim Ploetz 6-1, 6-1, 6-3
2 Hank Irvine 6-4, 9-8, 6-3
3 Sandy Mayer 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 9-7
4 Ian Fletcher 8-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Q Alex Metreveli 6-2, 8-6, 6-2
S Jan Kodes 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5
W Ilie Nastase 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5