1 Response to munich98agassi_kucera

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 4, 2024 at 10:53 am

   Points won by each set: | 50-39, 38-38, 22-30, 47-43, 31-16 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   26 % Agassi – 46 of 172
   26 % Kucera – 48 of 182

   # One month earlier at the US Open, Agassi was on his way to notch the biggest comeback in his career from a 0-2 deficit, as he improved from *1:4 in the 3rd set to have two break points at 2:0 in the 5th. It occurred against Kucera, his opponent in the GSC semifinal, and this time Agassi [8] didn’t waste an opportunity to notch the biggest comeback trailing 1-2… in the 4th set he found himself at 2:5* (15/40), and saved four match points in total in that game; at two of them only centimetres separated him from defeat – first as his drive-volley from a comfortable position clipped the net changing the trajectory of the ball just a bit, then as his return landed on the line (both shots off the forehand side). On two other match points Kucera [6] made casual errors. In the 1st set Agassi saved a mini-set point at 5-all to win the tie-break 7/1, in the 2nd set he was serving twice to win the set, but failed in the 5/7 tie-break (at 5-all he slipped during an electric rally). After the two tie-break sets, Kucera ruled for an hour being unbroken, his forehand was working tremendously well (three return winners in one game), but ultimately paid the price for a demanding week – he came to Europe from Buenos Aires where he played three Davis Cup rubbers (Slovakia d. Argentina 3-2), and was a victim of a tough schedule in Munich. His quarterfinal against Ivanisevic (5-7, 6-4, 8-6… two points away) was finished late on Friday while his semifinal against Agassi the officials scheduled as the first one on Saturday. Kucera’s legs were sore, his attitude rather phlegmatic, he didn’t look like someone who thinks “If I don’t win it in 4, I will lose in 5”. He was doing squats almost from the beginning, but took a medical time-out when it was almost over (*0:3 in the decider). Two years later at Roland Garros they play a match with a similar progress, but this time Kucera finishes the job and wins 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 trailing 3:5 in the 2nd set (Agassi had a problem with foot blisters). The Slovak ultimately won their rivalry 4-3.

   Serve & volley: Agassi 2/2, Kucera 0/1

   # Comparison of their two ’98 five-setters played within a month:
   New York (4R): Kucera d. Agassi 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3… 3 hours 24 minutes… Breaks: 7-5
   Munich (SF): Agassi d. Kucera 7-6, 6-7, 2-6, 7-5, 6-0… 3 hours 40 minutes… Breaks: 9-7

   Log in to Reply