1 Response to ao90wilander_becker

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 7, 2025 at 11:29 am

   Stats without the first set: number of aces, double faults, backhand winners & break points, valid for the entire contest

   Points won by each set: | X, 37-31, 30-19 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   19 % Wilander – 12 of 62
   16 % Becker – 9 of 55

   Just a month after destroying Wilander in the Davis Cup final, Becker lost to the Swede in straight sets. The conditions were completely different: in December ’89 they were playing in pristine environment in Germany, meanwhile in Australia one month later it was not only very hot (37°C), but also windy (~30 kph). Becker [2], the main favorite to the title – having won Wimbledon & US Open in 1989 – so being on an 18-match winning streak at Slams, couldn’t have found his proper service rhythm. Nonetheless he had his chances in the opening two sets: he had two mini-set points in the 1st set at 4-all, and another two mini-set points at 4:2 in the 2nd set. Admittedly he came back from two-sets-to-love in his previous match against a similar opponent (Mecir) but that match was played in the evening. Wilander [15] wearing a white beret, was hitting backhand like in his best 1988 season when he reached the top. Even though the Swede finished his career in 1996, he was unable to repeat a performance he showcased against Becker. It turned that with the Becker win, Wilander reached the end of his physical capabilities, in the semifinal he had no chance against his countryman Edberg, and for another 12 Slams he participated in, he never reached the quarterfinal. The Becker vs Wilander rivalry ended at 7-3 for the German, and what’s quite intriguing, every time when they faced each other at Slams (twice French Open, once Aussie Open), the Swede always won in relatively easy three-setters.

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