antwerp97rosset_henman

By | Published October 4, 2025 | Full size is 533 × 403 pixels

Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to antwerp97rosset_henman

  1. Voo de Mar says:
    October 4, 2025 at 2:30 pm
    Points won by each set: | 29-17, 47-42, 36-27 |
    Points won directly behind the serve:
    37 % Rosset – 36 of 95
    27 % Henman – 28 of 103

    First time in Antwerp on hardcourts after more than a decade (1982-96) on carpet – a tendency to replace carpet with hardcourts (indoors) was initiated in the late 90s due to an amazing acceleration of speed of the first serves in the first half of the 90s… Arguably the second biggest title in Rosset’s career following his sensational triumph at the Olympics ’92. Apart from the big check, he got a “Rover” car and the 6.5 kg diamond racquet (just for holding in the trophy ceremony). The 27-year-old Swiss [23] was unseeded and took advantage of a favorable draw because Becker (no. 4 seed) and Ivanisevic (no. 1 seed), who’d been in his section of the draw, withdrew due to injuries. In the final he defeated Henman [19] easier than expected, but the Brit lost three games in the 2nd set when created break points. He finally broke trailing 2:3 in the 3rd set, but lost his serve immediately after Rosset’s stunning backhand passing-shot (his best one-handed BH that day). Rosset finished the event with an ace – one of his fastest in the final. Henman was a revelation of the first quarter of 1997, it was his third final in his fifth event of the year (moved from no. 29 to 14), but clay-courts brutally verified him soon, and his progress to the tennis elite was delayed for a year… He faced Rosset five times throughout his career and unfortunately none of their matches was mutually satisfactory, always straight sets: Henman won all three matches ‘best of three’, Rosset both ‘best of five’.

    Rosset’s route to his 12th title:
    1 Andrei Medvedev 7-6(3), 6-2
    2 Nisolas Kiefer 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
    Q Filip Dewulf 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
    S Petr Korda 7-6(2), 6-3
    W Tim Henman 6-2, 7-5, 6-4

    Serve & volley: Rosset 14/20, Henman 5/12

    # Comparison of their two ‘best of five’ matches:
    Antwerp 1999 (Final): Rosset d. Henman 6-2, 7-5, 6-4… 2 hours 10 minutes… Total points: 112-86… Breaks: 5-1
    Aussie Open 1999 (3R): Rosset d. Henman 7-6, 6-3, 7-5… 2 hours 22 minutes… Total points: 111-105… Breaks: 5-3

Leave a Reply