2 Responses to cds02kuerten_coria

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 14, 2024 at 11:25 am

   Points won by each set: | 43-47, 44-38, 49-41 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   24 % Kuerten – 32 of 130
   29 % Coria – 39 of 132

   # The longest ‘best of three’ match in careers of them both, and the longest ATP final until 2021 when Nadal overcame Tsitsipas in Barcelona (the previous record came from Bologna ’93). Kuerten, actually the best player in the world of the years 2000-01 and Coria, the best clay-courter of the year 2003, but when they met in the Brazilian coastal town on a very hot day, ranking-wise it wasn’t impressive [55 vs 70]. Kuerten dramatically dropped in 2002 due to hip injury (surgery was required) while Coria – who was trying to break into the Top 20 already in 2001 – was sidelined for seven months for using nandrolone (initially the ban had to last two years).
   The six years younger Argentinian came back from a *1:4 deficit in the opener. Kuerten needed to serve three times to stay in the contest: in the 2nd set at 4:5 he was three points away from defeat, in the 3rd set he saved a match point attacking the net at 4:5 (Coria had a doable FH passing-shot) and four points away at 5:6. Earlier in the set “Guga” wasted a break point leading 4:2. In the tie-break, at *4:2 when they both were very tired, one of the best rallies occurred, finished with Kuerten’s forehand winner. The Brazilian was confused from which side he should have returned next, Coria was exhausted too, and another two points were super short (double fault, netted FH on third stroke in the rally). Unusually, Kuerten played the entire match wearing a cap (removed it just for two games), the temperature forced him to do so (~40°C).
   It was the second edition of the “Brazil Open”. In the years 2001-03 it was held on hardcourts, then the event was moved from September to February to be part of the Golden Swing on clay. Costa do Sauípe hosted players from 2001 to 2011, from 2012 to 2019 the event took place in São Paulo.

   Kuerten’s route to his 17th title:
   1 Julian Knowle 6-4, 6-2
   2 Mashishka Washington 6-0, 7-5
   Q Gaston Etlis 7-6(5), 6-1
   S Ramon Delgado 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3
   W Guillermo Coria 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(2) – 1 m.p.

   Serve & volley: Kuerten 3/7, Coria 4/6

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   March 14, 2024 at 11:41 am

   Coria lost just two matches in his short career squandering match points, the second one would occur in the French Open final two years later
   
   # The longest ‘2-1’ finals in other decades:
   Los Angeles 1985: P.Annacone d. S.Edberg 7-6(5), 6-7(8), 7-6(4)… 2:54h
   Bologna 1993: J.Burillo d. A.Cherkasov 7-6(4), 6-7(7), 6-1… 3:17h
   Valencia 2014: A.Murray d. T.Robredo 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(8)… 3:20h

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