1 Response to iw89mecir_noah

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 5, 2023 at 7:58 am

   Points won by each set: | 22-28, 16-27, 31-18, 32-22, 33-23 |
   Points won directly on serve:
   22 % Mecir – 26 of 116
   32 % Noah – 45 of 138

   Prior to the tournament, Mecir [13] had lost three consecutive matches. Very interesting 2-hour 39-minute match, especially from a tactical point of view. Mecir was outplayed in the first two sets, yet he changed the pace applying a new tactic from the beginning of the 3rd set – attacking the net on his own serve & as a receiver! “I thought he already had me and I didn’t want to give up,” said Mecir, victim of 14 aces in the first two sets. Mecir won $136,700 and claimed his first title since August 1987, the last one at the age of 25; it’s also the last title gained with a wooden racquet (Mecir used a graphite/wood composite – Snauwaert)… The last big final in Noah’s [18] career too.

   Mecir’s route to his 11th & last title:
   2 Mark Woodforde 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
   3 Pete Sampras 6-0, 6-1 *
   Q Michael Chang 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
   S Jimmy Connors 6-2, 6-4
   W Yannick Noah 3-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3

   * Sampras’ worst defeat in his career on hardcourts (18 y.o. at the time)… against 17 y.o. Chang, Mecir led 3:0 in the decider, then trailed 3:4*

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