2 Responses to kitzbuhel1995costa_muster

1. Voo de Mar says:

   April 28, 2025 at 1:05 pm

   Points won by each set: | 35-41, 33-26, 40-39, 18-29, 31-27 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   15 % Costa – 24 of 157
   19 % Muster – 32 of 162

   Muster [3] was almost unbeatable on clay in years 1995-96; in those two seasons he collected 18 titles (11 and 7), suffering five defeats on his beloved surface, one of them came in the final, against Costa – the man who had taken Muster to a dramatic five-setter at Roland Garros two months before. Even though Muster was a big favorite being supported by the home crowd it could be tough to expect he would win easily, especially that he lost a serious amount of energy in the semifinal defeating the second best Austrian – Schaller 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 after a 2.5-hour contest. Muster probably was aware of that already at the beginning of the 2nd set in the final because he showed some signs of irritation and impatience despite winning the opener. The 20-year-old Costa [27] managed to win two sensational points leading 5:4*, and it seemed like a repetition of the scenario of their Parisian encounter – the Spaniard again won the 3rd set in a tie-break (no breaks, Muster saved break points at 3:4), and Muster tied at two sets apiece. The beginning of the decider was rather strange – first Costa won two games thanks to Muster’s casual errors, then other way around in the following two games. Costa converted a break point to lead 3:2 with an excellent cross-court FH passing-shot, and raised his arms in the air. Another few games proved it wasn’t a premature celebration – the eight years younger Spaniard felt he’d conserved more energy; he served the championship out rapidly and firmly (the shortest game of the final) – unreturned serve, ace, two forehand winners in three-stroke rallies.

   Costa’s route to his maiden title (37th main-level event):
   2 David Nainkin 6-3, 6-4
   3 Adrian Voinea 6-3, 6-4
   Q Andrea Gaudenzi 6-2, 7-6(4)
   S Bernd Karbacher 6-2, 6-4
   W Thomas Muster 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4

   Serve & volley: Costa 0, Muster 2/5

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   April 28, 2025 at 1:30 pm

   Kitzbuhel became Costa’s favorite tournament, he triumphed there also in 1998 (five sets over Gaudenzi) and 1999 (four sets over Vicente) losing the 1999 final (four sets to Lapentti). Kitzbuhel’s altitude (752 m) suited Costa’s top-spins off both wings, and his very good kick-serve (especially the second serve) was more efficient comparing to other clay-courts. Costa triumphed twice in Gstaad (1996 and 1999) where the elevation is even higher (1,050 m).

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