1 Response to basel89courier_edberg

1. Voo de Mar says:

   September 15, 2020 at 11:21 pm

   Points won by each set: | 42-41, 24-33, 16-29, 24-8, 39-35 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   17 % Courier – 25 of 139
   19 % Edberg – 30 of 152

   Courier snapped Edberg’s 19-match winning streak in Basel! The Swede [3] had won the event in the years 1985-86 & 88, and was a heavy favourite to win for the fourth time facing a young American [35] for whom reaching a semifinal of such a big tournament already seemed like a very good result (he had reached three main-level semifinals before). Courier led 6:5* (40/15) in the opener when Edberg delivered twice his second serves to his backhand getting the points immediately. In the tie-break Edberg had a set point, Courier fought it off with a service winner. The American led 2:0* (40/30) in the 2nd set when Edberg finally found his game mixing it a bit staying on the baseline behind the serves. There was a six-game winning streak for him… later Courier won seven straight games. In the decider Edberg led 4:2*, at 5-all he had a triple mini-match point and Courier saved the first break point with the help of an instinct backhand lob! The last game of the final was the longest – five deuces: they were exchanging game points with match points. Finally, on his third match point, Courier played a perfect forehand lob and fell on his back in joy. “This was by far my best tennis,” said Courier, who’ll win his second Basel title six years later (also 7-5 in the 5th set, vs Siemerink). “It’s an incredible feeling. I took advantage of the fact that Stefan could have played better.” He had lost his previous four five-setters. # It’s very peculiar that Courier claimed his first two titles winning dramatic five-setters, at the same time they were his first two matches won in the deciding fifth set.

   Courier’s route to his maiden title (33rd main-level event):
   1 Magnus Gustafsson 6-3, 7-6(2)
   2 Aaron Krickstein 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
   Q Marcelo Filippini 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
   S Andres Gomez 7-6(2), 6-4
   W Stefan Edberg 7-6(6), 3-6, 2-6, 6-0, 7-5

   # Comparison of Courier’s first two finals won:
   1989 Basel: Courier d. Edberg 7-6, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0, 7-5… 3 hours 15 minutes… 145-146 total points… 5 pts away
   1991 IW: Courier d. Forget 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6… 3 hours 30 minutes… 141-132 total points… 4 pts away

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