2 Responses to indy93rafter_sampras

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 25, 2023 at 3:33 pm

   Points won by each set: | 40-40, 42-48, 49-53 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   34 % Rafter – 53 of 153
   35 % Sampras – 42 of 119

   # Sampras won Wimbledon and US Open in 1993 solidifying his position of the best player in the 90s (claimed both titles with an excellent ratio off eleven tie-breaks he played – 81%), but in the meantime a strange period occurred when he lost three matches in deciding 3rd set tie-breaks, each defeat in an all-serve-and-volley duel, and each another defeat was suffered after a longer and more dramatic match. Admittedly Sampras [1] failed twice to win the most important tie-break facing well established players, but the third loss it was a shocker because one year younger Rafter [139] had had no successes prior Indianapolis. However, in that quarterfinal, the Australian displayed all skills which helped him to become the best player in the world a few years later: athleticism, great net coverage, kick serves off the second delivery, and ability to play better ground-strokes when it matters the most. In the 1st tie-break Rafter trailed 2:4 and 5:6 – he saved the set point with a backhand volley and beautiful backhand down the line turned into a passing-shot winner as he led 7:6. In the 2nd set Sampras withstood mini-match points at 4-all and 5-all. The decider it was like a miracle for the underdog: Rafter needed 6, 5 and 1 deuces in successive games to hold between 3-all and 6-all. First he fought off eight break points, at 4-all another two. Ten break points in total (!) but never a longer rally than 3 strokes was required, so either volley winner after the return or unreturned serve, there was an ace too (kick serve). In the tie-break Rafter improved from 1:3 to 6:3 and converted his third match point with another kick-serve on Sampras’ backhand forcing an error.

   # Sampras’ three defats in deciding tie-breaks in his three consecutive events on US hardcourts:
   Los Angeles, SF: Krajicek d. Sampras 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3)… Total points: 85-85… 1 hour 52 minutes… 4 points away
   Cincinnati, SF: Edberg d. Sampras 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(5)… Total points: 127-126… 2 hours 40 minutes… 3 points away (4 mini MPs)
   Indianapolis, QF: Rafter d. Sampras 7-6(6), 6-7(3), 7-6(5)… Total points: 131-141… 2 hours 58 minutes… 3 points away (2 mini MPs)

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   July 25, 2023 at 6:21 pm

   Sampras’ second and last all-tie-break three-setter, the previous one he lost to Curren in just two hours, 7-6(5), 6-7(8), 6-7(1) as a teenager in Scottsdale

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