1 Response to wb87doohan_becker

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 15, 2021 at 8:32 am

   Points won by each set: | 37-35, 33-41, 28-19, 35-30 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   36 % Doohan – 51 of 140
   37 % Becker – 39 of 118

   The biggest upset at majors of the 80s! Even though Doohan [70] was a grass-court specialist, his win over the double-defending champion seemed actually impossible when they entered the court no. 1. The 26-year-old Doohan (1961-2017) was obtaining better results only in Australia (on grass). He had played against Becker twice before and had no chance, including a 2-6, 4-6 defeat at Queens Club two weeks before… Very rarely, the first game of the match is crucial, but it was the case; after two impressive passing-shots Becker [2] led 40/0* and left the ball after Doohan’s FH volley thinking it was going out. It landed on the baseline though, Doohan held, and strange things began to happen. Becker hadn’t any problems to hold his serves in the opening two sets, but there was 1-all after 1 hour 40 minutes because the Australian took the tie-break 7/4 thanks to two passing-shots (FH cross, BH down the line). The sets 3 & 4 were unbelievable: the underdog won them 6-2, 6-4 saving only one break point, as he led 2:1 in the 3rd set. From technical point of view, I think two factors contributed to the shocker: Doohan’s approach volleys and his proactive attitude as a receiver – he was constantly changing the position with short steps in different directions, in the last two sets he was reading Becker’s serve very well which helped him to keep the ball in play with returns. The Australian was very calm throughout, he didn’t show any signs of excitement until he won his second match point. In terms of progress of the match and magnitude of the upset, it reminds me of the fourth round at Aussie Open thirty years later. Doohan finished Wimbledon ’87 in the fourth round, equalling his previous best major appearance (Australian Open ’87).

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