1 Response to cincy99rafter_kafelnikov

1. Voo de Mar says:

   October 5, 2022 at 6:56 pm

   Points won by each set: | 31-22, 28-15 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   53 % Rafter – 23 of 43
   28 % Kafelnikov – 15 of 53

   Rafter (b. 1972) and 13 months younger Kafelnikov (b. 1974) spent almost the entire 90s traveling to the same places, but faced each other only six times at the main-level and never co-created a spectacle. First, in the Indian Wells ’93 qualies, Rafter won 6-2 6-1, another three matches Kafelnikov won easily, and the last two Rafter grabbed on the same court in Cincinnati without any problems (day session of ’98, night session of ’99). Both semifinals had similar progress – the Russian couldn’t have dealt with Rafter’s pace from the end stages of the 1st sets onwards. Their sixth and last meeting is the most disappointing because they both were at the peaks of their careers, as double Grand Slam champions and players who occupied the pole position shortly in 1999 (Kafelnikov six weeks, Rafter a week).
   Their only match with a deciding set comes from an exhibition event in Hong Kong ’96 (Rafter won it 6-4, 4-6, 6-4).

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