1 Response to paris90becker_svensson

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 22, 2025 at 1:23 pm

   Points won by each set: | 26-32, 41-44, 24-12 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   31 % Becker – 30 of 95
   25 % Svensson – 21 of 84

   Svensson [16] loved Paris: among five titles he collected, none had an “ATP 500” status (he lost two finals at this level), thus it’s legitimate to claim that his career-best results come from the French capital (he played two semifinals at Roland Garros, and two at Paris-Bercy). Once he was close to reach the Parisian final, in that match against Becker, who appeared to be tired playing his fourth tournament within five weeks (two titles in four finals). Becker [2] led 4:3* (30/0) in the opener, but the Swede almost got six straight games as he led 2:0* (40/15). At that juncture it seemed impossible Becker would survive because he retreated from attacking the net behind his first serves. Yet he somehow saved the double break point with two baseline rallies, he also avoided the second break in the 2nd set trailing *1:3 (15/30). The crucial moment of that encounter came at *4:3 (30/15) for Sevensson – he netted a smash from a position he should have hit a winner (it wasn’t a super easy ball though). Becker came from the dead: once he broke back, he was more energetic again, and his serves big, well placed. Only one mini-break decided the tie-break: Becker raced to a 4:2 lead after Svensson’s forehand passing-shot called “out” which could have caught the sideline. Svesson saved two set points, but at 5:6 he missed his passing-shot from a relatively good position. Initially nothing indicated that the decider would be anticlimactic. Svensson held at ‘love’ his first service game, then he lost six games in a row despite holding firmly throughout two sets except that one game when he missed the smash. The match cost Becker a lot, and the following day with body pain (especially left thigh) he decided to retire playing the “the best of five” final which would have given him the No. 1 in the ATP ranking. He was a clear favourite having outplayed Edberg in their recent two indoor finals. “What’s delayed won’t run away” Becker might have said – he becomes the best player in the world three months later conquering Melbourne. # He defeats Svensson in almost an identical scoreline 1.5 years after their Paris meeting.

   # Comparison of their two similar matches:
   Paris 1990 (SF): Becker d. Svensson 4-6, 7-6, 6-1… 2 hours 13 minutes… Total points: 91-88… Breaks: 4-2
   Stuttgart 1992 (1R): Becker d. Svensson 4-6, 7-5, 6-2… 2 hours 44 minutes… Total points: 115-101… Breaks: 5-3
   

   Log in to Reply