1 Response to wb95becker_pioline

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 27, 2021 at 2:34 pm

   Duration of each set without breaks between them, thus the time difference (4:02 according to the pic, 4:11 according to the scoreboard)

   Points won by each set: | 28-19, 31-17, 45-45, 49-50, 50-47 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   45 % Becker – 81 of 179
   27 % Pioline – 55 of 202

   One of the most intriguing major quarterfinals in the Open Era, 4-hour thriller on court no. 1. It was quite shocking that Becker [4] won the first two sets under an hour against a former quarterfinalist, and he had four break points leading 2:1 in the 3rd set – Pioline [58] had changed his tactics already after the 2nd set though, staying on the baseline behind the serve instead of classical serve-and-volley attitude. It helped him to hold 15 times in a row after losing the serve 4 times in 5 games following the old school! The Frenchman took the tie-breaks 8/6 and 12/10 squandering plenty of set points – he needed six of them in the 3rd set (led 6:1* in TB) as well as eight SPs in the 4th set (the first two he had when leading 6:5* another two at 6:4* in TB). Pioline led 3:1* (30/15) in the decider, then 4:2, had a game point to lead 5:3, but Becker came back being very calm & focused. The German wasted his second match point at 5:4 (the first one had occurred at 10:9* in the tie-break – service winner), another two at 8:7 (Pioline’s two forehand passing-shots), but ultimately raised his hands in the air after Pioline’s backhand error; in the preceding point Pioline sent out an easy backhand volley. # Amazing that third year running, Becker survived a Wimbledon five-setter losing two sets in tie-breaks!

   # Comparison of Becker’s five-setters year by year:
   1993 (QF): Becker d. Stich 7-5, 6-7, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4… 4 hours 14 minutes… Breaks: 4-0
   1994 (4R): Becker d. Medvedev 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5… 4 hours 53 minutes… Breaks: 7-5
   1995 (QF): Becker d. Pioline 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7… 4 hours 11 minutes… Breaks: 6-1

   Half a year later Becker defeats Pioline 6-1, 6-7(2), 9-7 in the first round of Munich (Grand Slam Cup)

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