2 Responses to paris87mayotte_gilbert

1. Voo de Mar says:

   April 17, 2024 at 11:53 am

   Points won by each set: | 18-27, 31-20, 39-29, 45-43, 36-28 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   23 % Mayotte – 36 of 153
   24 % Gilbert – 40 of 163

   The second edition of Paris-Bercy (carpet) and despite $200K prize money more than a year before, arguably the weakest field in its history because the same week an other indoor event (hard) took place in Stockholm – at the time there were several Swedes in the Top 20. Nonetheless nine Top 20ers arrived in Paris. Becker – the best indoor player at the time & defending champion – didn’t play that week due to injury, also the best player in the world Lendl, who was tired after two weeks in the Eastern Hemisphere (triumphed in Sydney, lost the final in Tokyo). Those circumstances opened the draw for an unpredictable all-American final in Paris, umpired by an American (Richard Kauffman). Mayotte [15] and Gilbert [14] were the best US players born in the 60s, that final it was a chance for them both to win the biggest title of their careers, so they were fighting ferociously for 3 hours 30 minutes (the second longest final in tournament history) mainly attacking the net; Mayotte was doing it with higher frequency. In the 3rd set there were more breaks (7) than holds (5). In the 4th set Mayotte broke to lead 4:3 but lost his serve immediately. In the tie-break he led 5:3*, at 5-all he missed a backhand volley which should have guaranteed him a match point, and he dramatically fell on the court not showing too many gestures until that point. Gilbert held for 3-all in the decider after the longest game of the final (5 deuces) and created a break point in the following game – up to that moment he had almost 100% efficiency of break point conversion, Mayotte played a forehand volley which – according to linesman and umpire – landed on the baseline… Gilbert couldn’t agree, he went furious. Even sitting at the change of ends didn’t soothe his negative emotions. He played poorly the last two games and Mayotte jumped into the air celebrating his success. Being asked after the match if it was his biggest title, he replied: “No question. Right up with Delray Beach. They are both big to me, but this one right up on the top.” It’s not easy to make a direct parallel between ‘Mercedes Super 9’ events of the 90s and ‘Masters 1K’ of the 21st Century, but I’d say that those two titles mentioned by Mayotte he claimed in the 80s, may be considered as his two titles of this “Mercedes/Masters1K” magnitude. He was unable to add another such a prestigious title to his resume (he won six more titles). In terms of money, Mayotte’s title in Paris was bigger ($140,000) than Delray Beach where he earned $112,500.

   Mayotte’s route to his 6th title:
   1 Gilad Bloom 6-1, 7-5
   2 Slobodan Zivojinovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
   Q Amos Mansdorf 6-4, 6-2
   S Henri Leconte 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
   W Brad Gilbert 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-3

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   April 17, 2024 at 1:39 pm

   It was the best period in Mayotte’s career. One week after his Parisian triumph, he captured a title in Frankfurt and began the year 1988 triumphing in his beloved event in Philadelphia. Mayotte’s 15-match winning streak was snapped at Indian Wells ’88 by Kriek. Mayotte and Gilbert met in Paris ’88 and it’s the only time in their 9 meetings when the one year younger Gilbert left the court as a victor

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