2 Responses to antwerp91krickstein_becker

1. Voo de Mar says:

   October 20, 2025 at 12:51 am

   The last edition of the European Community Championship – before transforming that biggest exhibition event (invitations for lower ranked players if they performed well in Europe) into an ATP tournament – was held for the first time after the regular season, a week before the Grand Slam Cup. The prize money was the highest in its history, the draw looked sensational featuring seven Top 10ers. Unfortunately matches involving the best players were one-sided and there were two big setbacks; Krickstein [34] benefited from both as the two best players in the world – Edberg and Becker – withdrew from matches against him! Edberg did it feeling pain in his knee and arm at the practice session, the officials avoided a walkover calling for Patrick McEnroe who was in Europe at the time and he entered the court several hours after the call! Becker, who contracted flu, couldn’t have been replaced in the “best of five” final. In those bizarre circumstances Krickstein got the largest check in his life not being overworked during the week, his first two rounds he won under an hour each. Becker had spoiled (photo) Lendl’s quest for a $1,250,000 million prize ($250,000 prize money plus the $1,000,000 racquet) by beating him in the semifinals. Lendl wanted to win the title for the third time within five years again (previously he had done it the years 1982-85) – it was the condition to take the diamond racquet home.

   Scorelines (2-8.XII. – indoor hard; $1,250,000)

   First round:
   Krickstein – (WC)Wuyts 6-0, 6-3
   Leconte – Rosset 6-1, 6-4
   Camporese – Chesnokov 6-2, 6-2
   Svensson – E.Sanchez 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
   Yzaga – Chang 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
   Poliakov – Hlasek w/o
   Cash – (SE)Guardiola 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5
   Siemerink – Cherkasov 6-2, 6-2

   Second round:
   Krickstein – (SE)P.McEnroe 6-0, 6-3
   (8)Gustafsson – Leconte 7-5, 6-4
   Camporese – (6)Novacek 4-6, 7-6, 6-1
   (4)Sampras – Svensson 6-4, 6-4
   (3)Lendl – Yzaga 6-1, 6-3
   (5)Forget – Poliakov 6-3, 6-2
   (7)Korda – Cash 6-4, 6-2
   (2)Becker – Siemerink 7-6(0), 6-3

   Quarterfinals:
   Krickstein – (8)Gustafsson 6-1, 6-4
   Camporese – (4)Sampras 6-3, 6-4
   (3)Lendl – (5)Forget 6-4, 6-4
   (2)Becker – (7)Korda 7-6, 6-2

   Semifinals:
   Krickstein – Camporese 6-4, 6-4
   (2)Becker – (3)Lendl 6-4, 7-5

   Final:
   Krickstein – Becker w/o

   ☆ A few days later Krickstein was stunned 3-6, 3-6 in the Grand Slam Cup first round by Todd Woodbridge. The colour of the court in Munich was the same as in Antwerp (also deprived of tramlines), but carpet in Germany suited Krickstein’s game-style less than hardcourt in Belgium.

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   October 20, 2025 at 9:32 am

   ☆ Four champions in the event’s ten-year history (1982-91):

   Lendl (1982, 84-85, 87, 89)
   J.McEnroe (1983, 86, 88)
   Ivanišević (1990)
   Krickstein (1991)

   …the last two editions without tramlines, Krickstein became the only unseeded Antwerp champion,
   but like previous champions he won 4 not 5 matches en route to the title due to Becker’s walkover

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