1 Response to ao00norman_kiefer

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 14, 2024 at 1:57 pm

   Points won by each set: | 27-37, 34-26, 30-21, 38-37 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   37 % Norman – 50 of 133
   34 % Kiefer – 40 of 117

   That match (indoors) basically finished Kiefer’s aspirations to become one of the most memorable players of the 00s. The 23-year-old German finished the year 1999 as No. 4 in the world, and began the new season with a semifinal in Doha. The quarterfinal of the Aussie Open ’00 he reached without any troubles, so he was a favorite in his first meeting against Norman [11] # Moreover Kiefer had defeated Kafelnikov (his next opponent hypothetically) in their two recent meetings, so Kiefer’s fans could have expected his maiden Slam final at least, in Melbourne. The German was quite regularly attacking the net behind his first serves throughout the match, but this tactics was successful only in the opener. At the beginning of the 2nd set there were two long games (4 and 2 deuces), Norman won them both (surviving 5 break points), and the match changed its complexion. In the 4th set Kiefer came back to his great service disposal from the opener, but wasted a break point at 3-all, and was unable to maintain a 3:1* advantage in the tie-break. At 4:6 he committed a double fault risking his second serve. Kiefer kept his high form for another event – he triumphed in Dubai, the rest of the season brought disappointments, and he dropped outside the Top 50 exactly one year later, never regaining his form from the period between February ’99 and February ’00. Dubai arguably remained the biggest title of his career for another ten years of professional appearances.

   Serve & volley: Norman 0, Kiefer 14/23

   # Comparison of two matches they played against each other:
   Aussie Open ’00 (QF): Norman d. Kiefer 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 7-6… 2 hours 55 minutes… Total points: 129-121… Breaks: 4-1
   US Open ’00 (4R): Kiefer d. Norman 6-2, 6-7, 6-1, 6-3… 3 hours 0 minutes… Total points: 141-120… Breaks: 8-2
   

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