memphis88agassi_pernfors

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2 Responses to memphis88agassi_pernfors

  1. Voo de Mar says:
    Points won by each set: | 37-33, 31-30, 41-38 |
    Points won directly behind the serve:
    13 % Agassi – 15 of 108
    12 % Pernfors – 13 of 102

    An important step in [18] Agassi’s career to become one of the greatest players of the 20th Century. It was his first “best of five” final and he passed the test in flying colors admittedly displaying reckless tennis, yet amazingly fluid all over the court at times (the serve was irrelevant, in the 3rd set there were seven breaks of serve). He showcased in this final what would be characteristic for his entire career, namely playing “cat and mouse” against shorter opponents (Agassi 7 cm taller than Pernfors, then maybe the difference was smaller). The seven years older Swede [39] had to run a lot to make it competitive. There was 4-all in each set before Agassi breaking his opponent. The teenage American couldn’t serve it out in the 3rd set at 5:4 though, earlier in the set he’d trailed *3:4 (15/40). Pernfors was 7, 7 and 5 points respectively to win each set. “The match was really closer than the score shows,” said Agassi receiving a check for $53.550, “It was decided by a few critical points. I hit some good shots when I needed them.” They both appeared in very similar clothes, wearing denim shorts. Later that year they face each other in another final, Los Angeles, and Pernfors unexpectedly takes a revenge 6-2, 7-5.

    Agassi’s route to his 2nd title:
    2 John Ross 6-4, 6-4
    3 Paul Annacone 6-7(10), 6-1, 6-4
    Q David Pate 6-4, 6-2
    S Kevin Curren 6-1, 6-4
    W Mikael Pernfors 6-4, 6-4, 7-5

    Serve & volley: Agassi 3/7, Pernfors 2/2
  2. Voo de Mar says:
    Agassi’s amazing potential in return games was displayed in this tournament,
    in the quarterfinal and semifinal he easily defeated players who belonged to the best servers in the mid 80s

    Pernfors played his first successful professional tournament in Memphis ’86 reaching
    the semifinal, he repeated it the following year

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