1 Response to masters99agassi_kafelnikov

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 5, 2025 at 8:47 pm

   Points won by each set: | 29-25, 40-39 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   40 % Agassi – 27 of 67
   27 % Kafelnikov – 18 of 66

   A meeting of two best players in the world that year: if Kafelnikov [2] had defeated Agassi [1] – also winning the final – he wouldn’t have finished the year as a ranking leader… They met thrice within a few months towards the season end (Washington, New York City), and similarly to both US matches, Agassi won in Germany convincingly, but with some troubles. He raced to a 2:0* lead with a help of Kafelnikov’s double faults in the opening game. In the 2nd set the situation was somewhat repeated: Agassi led 2:0*, then the Russian improved his tennis winning five straight games to lead 5:2* (30-all) when he missed his return off Agassi’s second serve; at ‘deuce’ in that game Agassi fired an ace. In the tie-break Kafelnikov was again two points away from the set, this time leading 5:4 as a receiver – Agassi took the point with an overhead. Known for interesting tactical solutions, the Russian decided to play “return-volley” for the first time at 5-all, but Agassi sensibly replied with a flat backhand forcing a half-volley error – Kafelnikov threw his racquet for the only time in this match. There was a quite long rally (19 strokes) on first match point, Agassi attacked forwards, and Kafelnikov’s backhand passing-shot landed in the net.

   Serve & volley: Agassi 0, Kafelnikov 1/2

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