Points won by each set: | 30-20, 34-28, 41-42, 42-40 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
46 % Rusedski – 61 of 130
27 % Haas – 41 of 147
The last match in history of this specific tournament which featured the 1990s. In the second half of the 90s it was obvious that Nicolas Kiefer (b. 1977) and Tommy Haas (b. 1978) would be successful, but nowhere near to the achievements of Boris Becker (b. 1967) & Michael Stich (b. 1968), thus the natural downfall of tennis interest in Germany led to the last edition when both Stich (July ’97) and Becker (July ’99) were already retired. The same applied to “Masters” held in the 90s in Germany (Frankfurt, Hannover).
Given Rusedski’s sudden development in 1997 when he improved his volley skills and (slightly) backhand, it could be expected one big title from him, the fastest server in the world – he got two: after Paris ’98 he also triumphed in Munich ’99 to get a cheque for $1.3 million (career-best). He took advantage of a relatively poor draw in the last edition, as many as 5 players withdrew due to injuries, and all of them indoor specialists (T.Martin, Sampras, Pioline, Rafter, Henman) while Rusedski’s toughest opponent Ivanisevic was irrelevant at majors for the first time in the 90s, and couldn’t qualify. Therefore Rusedski [6], just no. 17 in the “Grand Slam” ranking, entered the 12-draw event. In the final against the local favorite Haas [11], he was surprisingly efficient for an hour, breaking early in two opening sets he led 6-3, 5:3* when Haas held after 4 deuces attacking the net more often, and it changed the complexion of the final. In the 3rd set Rusedski saved four set points at *4:5, then squandered a mini-match point at 5-all (Haas’ backhand volley). In the tie-break Haas converted his seventh set point. Rusedski led 5:2* in the 4th set after a game in which he struck 4 aces and 2 double faults (four aces he had also struck to lead 4:2 in the 2nd set, that time in succession) – in the following game Haas saved a match point with a backhand passing-shot and broke for the first time in game no. 9 (at love). In the tie-break Rusedski raced to a 6:3* lead before converting his fourth match point with a FH-drop-volley (one of a few points on his serve without S/V), celebrating against the rules before the second bounce – Haas didn’t protest. “I thought about Todd Martin for a fraction of a second,” Rusedski said, referring to his recent loss at the US Open when he also dropped a tie-break having a two-set cushion. “I said to myself, ‘I don’t want that to happen to me again’.”
(alt.)Rusedski’s route to his 8th title:
1 Gustavo Kuerten 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Q Yevgeny Kafelnikov 7-5, 7-6(6)
S Andrei Medvedev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-5
W Tommy Haas 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(5)
* Rusedski saved SP vs Kafelnikov in TB, fired 27 aces against Medvedev
Points won by each set: | 30-20, 34-28, 41-42, 42-40 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
46 % Rusedski – 61 of 130
27 % Haas – 41 of 147
The last match in history of this specific tournament which featured the 1990s. In the second half of the 90s it was obvious that Nicolas Kiefer (b. 1977) and Tommy Haas (b. 1978) would be successful, but nowhere near to the achievements of Boris Becker (b. 1967) & Michael Stich (b. 1968), thus the natural downfall of tennis interest in Germany led to the last edition when both Stich (July ’97) and Becker (July ’99) were already retired. The same applied to “Masters” held in the 90s in Germany (Frankfurt, Hannover).
Given Rusedski’s sudden development in 1997 when he improved his volley skills and (slightly) backhand, it could be expected one big title from him, the fastest server in the world – he got two: after Paris ’98 he also triumphed in Munich ’99 to get a cheque for $1.3 million (career-best). He took advantage of a relatively poor draw in the last edition, as many as 5 players withdrew due to injuries, and all of them indoor specialists (T.Martin, Sampras, Pioline, Rafter, Henman) while Rusedski’s toughest opponent Ivanisevic was irrelevant at majors for the first time in the 90s, and couldn’t qualify. Therefore Rusedski [6], just no. 17 in the “Grand Slam” ranking, entered the 12-draw event. In the final against the local favorite Haas [11], he was surprisingly efficient for an hour, breaking early in two opening sets he led 6-3, 5:3* when Haas held after 4 deuces attacking the net more often, and it changed the complexion of the final. In the 3rd set Rusedski saved four set points at *4:5, then squandered a mini-match point at 5-all (Haas’ backhand volley). In the tie-break Haas converted his seventh set point. Rusedski led 5:2* in the 4th set after a game in which he struck 4 aces and 2 double faults (four aces he had also struck to lead 4:2 in the 2nd set, that time in succession) – in the following game Haas saved a match point with a backhand passing-shot and broke for the first time in game no. 9 (at love). In the tie-break Rusedski raced to a 6:3* lead before converting his fourth match point with a FH-drop-volley (one of a few points on his serve without S/V), celebrating against the rules before the second bounce – Haas didn’t protest. “I thought about Todd Martin for a fraction of a second,” Rusedski said, referring to his recent loss at the US Open when he also dropped a tie-break having a two-set cushion. “I said to myself, ‘I don’t want that to happen to me again’.”
(alt.)Rusedski’s route to his 8th title:
1 Gustavo Kuerten 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Q Yevgeny Kafelnikov 7-5, 7-6(6)
S Andrei Medvedev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-5
W Tommy Haas 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(5)
* Rusedski saved SP vs Kafelnikov in TB, fired 27 aces against Medvedev