1 Response to montreal97woodruff_kuerten_

1. Voo de Mar says:

   August 10, 2020 at 4:36 pm

   Points won directly behind the serve:
   40 % Wooodruff – 34 of 83
   36 % Kuerten – 34 of 94

   There were three players to win their maiden ATP titles at the prestigious ‘Mercedes Super 9’ level: in Hamburg did it two Spaniards – Roberto Carretero (1996) & Albert Portas (2001) and Chris Woodruff [57] at the Canadian Open ’97. It was the third final for the 24-year-old American (two-time runner up in 1996). In the 1-hour 48-minute final, he improved from *2:4 to 5:4* (40/0) in the opening set. “Country” got the decisive break leading 2:1 in the 3rd set, serving to win the title found himself at 15/30, then served an ace, played a backhand winner on the line & converted his first match point with another ace – 18th (career-best!)

   Woodruff’s route to his maiden title:
   1 Jocelyn Robichaud 7-6(7), 6-3
   2 Jan Siemerink 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(2) – 1 m.p.
   3 Goran Ivanisevic 7-6(6), 6-2
   Q Mark Philippoussis 6-4, 6-4
   S Yevgeny Kafelnikov 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
   W Gustavo Kuerten 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

   Woodruff came to Montreal having lost three straight matches; he saved a match point vs Siemerink (seeded No. 16), then defeated another four seeded players in a row! After the tournament Woodruff advanced to No. 29, and never went higher.

   Log in to Reply