The stats without six games of the 2nd set (23 of 29 games… 79%). Number of aces, double faults & break points valid for the entire match.
Points won by each set: [ 27-20, 25-30, 33-23 ]
Usually when you see a scoreline like this one, especially manufactured by baseliners, you can expect it lasted at least 2 hours. The semifinal (final) meeting between Grosjean and Agassi was conducted in an express pace though. Both players generally didn’t like long rallies; that day the Frenchman was serving tremendously well for a guy of his height (more than 30% of points won directly behind the serve) whereas Agassi held as many as 6 of his 14 service games at love, and the entire contest lasted just 1 hour and 40 minutes. The American obtained his crucial breaks in the final stages of sets 1 & 3 that were preceded by 8 & 9 easy holds respectively. It was the first Mutua Madrileña ’02 semifinal, but it turned to be a match for the title because in the second semifinal Jiri Novak defeated Fabrice Santoro, and couldn’t participate in his first (and only) Masters 1K final due to leg injury he suffered at the end of his victory. It’s a pity because a few weeks later in similar conditions (indoor hard) they faced each other in a Masters ’round robin’, and Novak defeated Agassi 7-5 6-1, so who know what could have happened if they had met in Madrid; perhaps the Czech could win the biggest title of his career. “It’s a very disappointing way for the tournament to come to an end,” Agassi said after being presented with the trophy. “You worry about Novak’s health – I hope it’s not too bad. It’s been a great week, with so much excitement, and it’s disappointing for it to end this way.”
Agassi’s route to his 54th title:
2 Jan-Michael Gambill 6-4, 6-4
3 Feliciano Lopez 7-6(6), 6-7(8), 7-5
Q Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-2
S Sebastien Grosjean 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
W Jiri Novak w/o