1 Response to beijing08gonzalez_blake

1. Voo de Mar says:

   May 11, 2024 at 11:14 am

   Points won by each set: | 29-36, 42-40, 65-59 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   27 % Gonzalez – 38 of 138
   29 % Blake – 39 of 133

   The Blake vs Gonzalez rivalry is quite peculiar. On paper they were actually at the same level with similar attitude to the game (forehands their main weapon, Top 5 forehands in the 00s). Nonetheless, Blake won their first 3 encounters, Gonzalez another 7. # Among those seven matches there are two very tight when they represented their countries, and in each case the Chilean was close to lose two sets that might have decided about his defeat. It reflects a huge difference in their mentality: Gonzalez was a fighter, not afraid to take the risk under pressure while Blake couldn’t keep his concentration for longer periods of time, and under pressure he was prone to make simple errors, quite often being detached from the importance of the moment.
   Blake [7] was on his way to snap a 5-match losing streak to Gonzalez [15] at the Olympics as he led 6-4, 4:3* (30/0), but didn’t repeat his sensational quarterfinal win over Federer. In the decider he squandered a triple break point twice, at 3:2 and 6:5, so in the 12th game it meant a triple match point. Gonzalez avoided being broken in game no. 6 in the blink of an eye serving thrice to Blake’s shaky backhand. On first match point Blake had a better court position during the rally, but his beloved forehand deserted him. Another two match points evaporated quickly as Gonzalez delivered serves to Blake’s backhand, and attacked this weaker wing with his devastating forehands. As Blake led 9:8 he made a tactical mistake in the opening point of the game – first he thought that after his backhand pass the ball touched the frame of Gonzalez’s racquet. Gonzalez didn’t confirm it, the umpire didn’t see/hear it; yet the ball landed close to the baseline – Blake didn’t ask for a Challenge, he was arguing in vain about the touch. In the following game he was broken despite a 30/0 lead. Gonzalez led *10:9 (40/0) when Blake struck three successive backhand winners (!) but at two deuces he made two forehand errors, and ultimately his forehand return stayed on his side on Gonzalez’s fifth match point.

   Serve & volley: Gonzalez 3/4, Blake 6/8

   # Comparison of their two “USA vs Chile” matches:
   Davis Cup ’06 (QF): Gonzalez d. Blake 6-7, 0-6, 7-6, 6-4, 10-8… 4 hours 20 minutes… Total points: 207-205… Breaks: 6-7… Points away from defeat (2, 2)
   Olympics ’08 (SF): Gonzalez d. Blake 4-6, 7-5, 11-9… 2 hours 53 minutes… Total points: 136-135… Breaks: 3-2… Points away from defeat (7, 1)

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