1 Response to cincy89gilbert_edberg

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 20, 2024 at 11:52 am

   Points won by each set: | 38-30, 14-28, 42-43 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   19 % Gilbert – 19 of 98
   19 % Edberg – 19 of 97

   The biggest title in Gilbert’s career, more impressive in retrospect given [94] Sampras’ development. It was the last match at the Lindner Family Tennis Center before the enlargement of the stadium. Prior to 1990 there were three big American events leading to the US Open (Stratton Mountain, Canadian Open and Cincinnati), from 1990 onwards the Canadian Open (Toronto/Montreal) and Cincinnati have been incorporated into Mercedes Super 9/Masters 1K while Stratton Mountain disappeared from the ATP calendar. That week of ’89, Montreal and Cincinnati were held simultaneously, but Gilbert’s task to win his third event within three weeks was super difficult as he had to defeat No. 2 and No. 3 in back-to-back matches.
   Gilbert [9] raced to a *4:0 lead in the opener in very demanding conditions (heat, strong wind), but Edberg levelled at 4-all (30-all). The Swede broke thrice in the 2nd set as Gilbert was clearly trying to save the energy before the decider. The final set was very dramatic, at 3-all Edberg wasted two break points, Gilbert led *5:3, at 5:4 he squandered a match point missing his forehand passing-shot by an inch. Edberg led 6:5 (30-all) on serve, playing at the net quite comfortable volley, but he didn’t do it with the required precision, and Gilbert passed him. The American was very nervous at the end of the match, arguing with the umpire a couple of times, but another backhand passing-shot gave him a double match point in the tie-break, and he converted his third chance with a service winner to get a check for $77.6K. Gilbert was in a form of his life that Summer, winning 23 out of 24 matches which naturally put him among the title contenders at the US Open. Despite a week break before the last Slam of the season, the amount of tennis accumulated in August proved to be overwhelming for the 28-year-old American, and he was stunned in the first round by Todd Witsken [lived 1963-1998] in five sets. ”I felt pretty good, and then I woke up this morning and I felt kind of sick. It’s not something that everybody wants to wake up with, and unfortunately, it depleted a lot of my energy. I got tired from the second set on.” said Gilbert after his sensational loss to Witsken [63]… Edberg and Gilbert face each other in the Cincy final the following year (the draw cut from 64 to 56), that time the Swede destroys his American opponent.

   Gilbert’s route to his 16th title:
   1 Agustin Moreno 6-3, 6-4
   2 Jason Stoltenberg 6-3, 6-2
   3 Pete Sampras 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
   Q Michael Chang 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 – 1 m.p.
   S Boris Becker 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
   W Stefan Edberg 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5)

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