1 Response to kb89lendl_muster

1. Voo de Mar says:

   February 25, 2023 at 10:20 pm

   The third and last Key Biscayne when it made sense to call it “Fifth Grand Slam” (the 128-draw, and all matches “the best of five”).
   Champions: 1987 – Mecir, 1988 – Wilander, 1989 – Lendl

   A few hours after the semifinal match (1st April 1989), a drunk car driver named Norman Sobie struck Muster harming ligaments in his left knee… Unable to play the final against the Czecho(slovak), Muster flew back to Vienna for a serious surgery… he returned to pro-tennis less than six months later (in the meantime he was practicing his shots on a specially constructed chair – picture). It was extremely disappointing conclusion of the event because two months before (also on hard-courts) Lendl had big problems before he ousted Muster in the Aussie Open semifinal, he had also needed 4 sets when they met in the third round of Key Biscayne ’87. Shortly after the comeback, Muster played an exhibition match against Lendl in Vienna which he lost 3-6, 5-7 on a clay-court in Vienna… Eight years later Muster advances again to the Key Biscayne final and raises the trophy.

   Lendl didn’t drop a set in the fortnight, only in one match he was forced to play a 5-all set. His comment about it: “I didn’t feel that good today about hitting the ball. I just feel like sleeping all day today. I had a hard time reading his shots. His racket is strung so loosely, I can’t hear the shots. Soft shots and hard shots make diferent sound, so it’s hard to judge.”

   Lendl’s route to his 76th title:
   1 Todd Woodbridge 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
   2 Jim Pugh 6-3, 6-1, 6-1
   3 Paulo Cane 7-5, 6-0, 6-4
   4 Andres Gomez 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
   Q Aaron Krickstein 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
   S Kevin Curren 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
   W Thomas Muster w/o

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