1 Response to ao77gerulaitis_lloyd

1. Voo de Mar says:

   August 5, 2023 at 12:29 pm

   Stats without the last 11 games (78% made).

   Points won by each set: | 31-26, 48-42, 34-42, 17:18… |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   32 % Gerulaitis – 43 of 133
   26 % Lloyd – 35 of 133

   The second Aussie Open final in 1977 (! – in January triumphed Tanner) co-created two long-haired light blondes, but neither of them was a Scandinavian: Gerulaitis of the United States (Lithuanian origin) and Lloyd of Great Britain. Two weeks earlier they met in Sydney, and Gerulaitis won 6-2, 6-2. The beginning of their much more important contest could suggest hypothetically similar conclusion – Gerulaitis [5] raced to a 3:0* lead and won the set comfortably despite losing his serve. Lloyd improved his serve, and had a set point at 5:4* (40/30) in the 2nd set, but the American saved it after the longest rally (11 strokes) in which they both lobbed themselves. The favorite led 5:4* (deuce) in the 3rd set when Lloyd [49] played a very good volley and the momentum shifted. In the 4th set Gerulaitis began to struggle with his leg in game no. 3, and lost four straight games after leading 3:2* (30/0). In the decider he somehow overcame his cramps and won the set with surprising ease. “Today was my lucky day and the Good Lord looked down on me,” Gerulaitis said after the match, “The pain was dreadful, and I remember looking up toward the sky in the fourth set and saying to myself I couldn’t win without some sort of help.” Lloyd won’t play another major quarterfinal until the US Open ’84.

   Gerulaitis’ route to his lone major title:
   1 John Marks 7-6, 6-0, 6-1
   2 Brad Drewett 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
   3 Dick Bohrnstedt 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
   Q Ray Ruffels 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
   S John Alexander 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
   W John Lloyd 6-3, 7-6(4), 5-7, 3-6, 6-2
   

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