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

   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

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