1 Response to masters95chang_sampras

1. Voo de Mar says:

   November 12, 2024 at 10:32 am

   Points won by each set: | 31-27, 33-28 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   27 % Chang – 17 of 61
   39 % Sampras – 23 of 58

   Sampras [1] and six months younger Chang met on the tennis court for the first time as ~8-year-old kids. As long as they were kids and teenagers, Chang usually took the upper hand during their encounters, but when they physically matured Sampras’ much better serve turned to be a crucial factor. Before the Masters ’95 semifinal, Sampras had won their six straight matches, never being seriously threatened, therefore Chang’s victory in Frankfurt may be perceived as a big sensation, especially given the style in which he achieved this – he was forced to save the only break point as he led 3:2 in the 2nd set – apart from that he had no problem to hold nine times
   (streaks of his holds in both sets: 4-1, 4-2, 4-1, 4-2, 4-2 | 4-2, 4-0, 7-5, 4-2, 4-1)
   Chang [4] implemented a special strategy for this match, standing 1 meter inside the court to return Sampras’ serves, and he was very eager to attack the net with his forehand as an approach-shot. Three times he attacked the net directly behind Sampras’ first serve (!) winning one point in the consequence of a volley-volley exchange. The year 1995 meant domination of three players: Sampras, Agassi and Muster, none of them was able to advance to the Masters final (Agassi withdrew, Muster lost all his matches in the group stage, including a defeat to Chang with whom had a 4:0 record before it).

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