2 Responses to ao02haas_federer

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 17, 2024 at 7:25 am

   Points won by each set: | 39-40, 29-35, 24-27, 40-32, 44-37 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   25 % Haas – 43 of 172
   33 % Federer – 58 of 175

   An indoor match of two super gifted players, applying very similar strategy (Federer more eager to attack the net behind serve, but during rallies their net approaches had similar frequency). In the early 00s, Haas [9] was actually playing like Federer [12] from 2004 onwards, so the question is “Why the Swiss achieved incomparably more?” It’s not easy to explain not having insight into their private lives, who knows maybe Haas would have been more successful if he had won the Aussie Open ’02. He was playing a tennis of his life at the time collecting three titles within six months. Federer was already a better sever then, but all other strokes they had at the same level, and I’d argue Haas’ backhand was slightly better.
   In the fourth round match against Federer, Haas came back from *4:5 (0/30) in the opener, and withstood a match point at 5″6 in the decider when Federer’s sliced backhand landed in the net after a 12-stroke rally. Haas led 4:3* (30/15) in the 2nd set after two stunning passing-shots when lost his service timing to be broken four times within six games. In the 4th set he got the crucial break at 2-all. He finished the match with a high backhand volley. # It was the first of his six “best of five” wins after saving a match point – in the Open Era only Lendl has collected more.

   Serve & volley: Haas 5/6, Federer 12/22

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   January 17, 2024 at 8:03 am

   # Haas’ six 3-2 wins from a match point down:

   Aussie Open ’02 (4R): Federer 7-6(3), 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 8-6 – 1 mp
   Wimbledon ’04 (1R): Dupuis 2-6, 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-4, 8-6 – 1 mp
   US Open ’07 (QF): Davydenko 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5 – 1 mp
   US Open ’07 (4R): Blake 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 7-6(4) – 3 mp
   Wimbledon ’09 (3R): Cilic 7-5, 7-5, 1-6, 6-7(3), 10-8 – 2 mp (wasted 2 match points in the 4th set)
   French Open ’13 (3R): Isner 7-5, 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-7(10), 10-8 – 1 mp (wasted 12 match points in the 4th set!)

   * against Dupuis the only case when he saved a match point in the 3rd set

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