1 Response to bastad04zabaleta_gaudio

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 24, 2024 at 7:52 pm

   Points won by each set: | 31-21, 24-30, 47-42 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   19 % Zabaleta – 17 of 86
   11 % Gaudio – 13 of 109

   Zabaleta [31] was the most successful junior in the 90s, but his transition to the professional tour disappointed, and at the age of 26 in Sweden – as a defending champion – he captured his arguably biggest title, because his good friend Gaudio [11] – a fresh French Open champion – was on a 13-match winning streak. In the decider Gaudio came back from a break twice, at *5:6 he withstood a match point as Zabaleta’s forehand flew wide. “This is my favorite tournament,” said Zabaleta, who ended a five-year title drought a year before when he won the event. “I promise to come back next year.” Zabaleta came back indeed the following year, lost in the quarterfinal to Berdych – 20-year-old Czech.

   Zabaleta’s route to his 3rd & last title:
   1 Joachim Johansson 6-4, 6-3
   2 Irakli Labadze 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
   Q Alberto Martin 6-1, 6-2
   S Fernando Gonzalez 6-1, 6-4
   W Gaston Gaudio 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(4)

   Serve & volley: Zabaleta 2/4, Gaudio 0/2

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