Points won by each set: | 34-23, 37-32 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
36 % Martin – 21 of 58
19 % Gilbert – 13 of 68
The 33-year-old Gilbert was still ranked relatively high [39], but at the time he was already more a coach than a player. He was fresh after publishing his book Winning Ugly and just one month before taking the position of Agassi’s coach. Memphis meant his 40th and last main-level final (20-20 record). En route to it he i.a. stunned Courier 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals – the last time Gilbert defeated a top player. Against Martin, Gilbert played a decent match, leading by a break in both sets (1:0 and 4:3) – Martin [9] broke back immediately. Gilbert also had a game point to play a tie-break. Two months later Gilbert reached the semifinal in Hong Kong, and it was the beginning for him of losing the vast majority of matches he played which would lead to retirement one year later.
Martin’s route to his 2nd title:
2 Jacco Eltingh 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-2
3 Jakob Hlasek 7-5, 7-5
Q Paul Haarhuis 6-1, 6-7(7), 7-6(2)
S Alex O’Brien 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
W Brad Gilbert 6-4, 7-5
# In both tight matches (quarter- and semifinals), Martin was serving first in the 3rd sets,
having squandered his chances in the 2nd sets (MP vs Haarhuis, *4:2 vs O’Brien)
Points won by each set: | 34-23, 37-32 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
36 % Martin – 21 of 58
19 % Gilbert – 13 of 68
The 33-year-old Gilbert was still ranked relatively high [39], but at the time he was already more a coach than a player. He was fresh after publishing his book Winning Ugly and just one month before taking the position of Agassi’s coach. Memphis meant his 40th and last main-level final (20-20 record). En route to it he i.a. stunned Courier 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals – the last time Gilbert defeated a top player. Against Martin, Gilbert played a decent match, leading by a break in both sets (1:0 and 4:3) – Martin [9] broke back immediately. Gilbert also had a game point to play a tie-break. Two months later Gilbert reached the semifinal in Hong Kong, and it was the beginning for him of losing the vast majority of matches he played which would lead to retirement one year later.
Martin’s route to his 2nd title:
2 Jacco Eltingh 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-2
3 Jakob Hlasek 7-5, 7-5
Q Paul Haarhuis 6-1, 6-7(7), 7-6(2)
S Alex O’Brien 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
W Brad Gilbert 6-4, 7-5
# In both tight matches (quarter- and semifinals), Martin was serving first in the 3rd sets,
having squandered his chances in the 2nd sets (MP vs Haarhuis, *4:2 vs O’Brien)