Comparison of no-break three-set tie-break matches of the tallest players in the world:
Karlovic & Opelka (211 cm), Isner (208 cm), Anderson (203 cm)
Points won by each set: | 40-36, 35-39, 36-36 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
50 % Anderson – 52 of 104
53 % Karlovic – 63 of 118
Six years after co-creating a record for the tallest ATP final, Anderson improved it facing 3 cm taller opponent than the previous one. It was almost a repeat of the Atlanta ’13 final: Anderson was a better player overall, but he didn’t find a way to break the giant, then he miraculously avoided almost the same defeat. The South African [6] needed five set points to win the opener. In the 2nd set he wasted a triple break point at 4-all and another one at 5-all. In the 3rd set he led 6:5* (40/15) when Karlovic [100] responded with two aces. At *4:2 in the deciding tie-break the Croat played a BH volley above his standards to build a seemingly insurmountable advantage. Who knows, maybe if Anderson’s second serve (167 kph) hadn’t hit the line he could have lost two consecutive tie-breaks 2/7, exactly like in the final against Isner. Anderson survived a point at 2:5 though, forcing Karlovic’s error at the net, and obtained another two points with passing-shots (FH & BH) as well. On his third match point he fired an ace out-wide.
Anderson’s route to his 6th title:
2 Laslo Djere 7-6(3), 7-6(6)
Q Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-3
S Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-6(3)
W Ivo Karlovic 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 7-6(5)
Points won by each set: | 39-37, 45-43, 41-36 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
60 % Opelka – 70 of 116
60 % Isner – 75 of 125
An all-serve battle between two of the three tallest players in the world, both playing in very similar styles, so basically it was a match of just two strokes: serve and forehand. Isner [9] led 5:2* in the second tie-break, then he squandered six match points as he led 6:4 (BH & FH winners), 8:7 (service winner), 10:9 (ace), 12:11 (FH winner) & 14:13 (FH error). Opelka was a few centimetres from losing on second MP when his FH clipped the line. The only games with break points occurred at the beginning of the 3rd set, first for Isner, then for Opelka – on his second BP the ball was in play.
Comparison of no-break three-set tie-break matches of the tallest players in the world:
Karlovic & Opelka (211 cm), Isner (208 cm), Anderson (203 cm)
Points won by each set: | 40-36, 35-39, 36-36 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
50 % Anderson – 52 of 104
53 % Karlovic – 63 of 118
Six years after co-creating a record for the tallest ATP final, Anderson improved it facing 3 cm taller opponent than the previous one. It was almost a repeat of the Atlanta ’13 final: Anderson was a better player overall, but he didn’t find a way to break the giant, then he miraculously avoided almost the same defeat. The South African [6] needed five set points to win the opener. In the 2nd set he wasted a triple break point at 4-all and another one at 5-all. In the 3rd set he led 6:5* (40/15) when Karlovic [100] responded with two aces. At *4:2 in the deciding tie-break the Croat played a BH volley above his standards to build a seemingly insurmountable advantage. Who knows, maybe if Anderson’s second serve (167 kph) hadn’t hit the line he could have lost two consecutive tie-breaks 2/7, exactly like in the final against Isner. Anderson survived a point at 2:5 though, forcing Karlovic’s error at the net, and obtained another two points with passing-shots (FH & BH) as well. On his third match point he fired an ace out-wide.
Anderson’s route to his 6th title:
2 Laslo Djere 7-6(3), 7-6(6)
Q Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-3
S Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-6(3)
W Ivo Karlovic 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 7-6(5)
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Tie-breaks: 8/10, 16/14, 7/4
Points won by each set: | 39-37, 45-43, 41-36 |
Points won directly behind the serve:
60 % Opelka – 70 of 116
60 % Isner – 75 of 125
An all-serve battle between two of the three tallest players in the world, both playing in very similar styles, so basically it was a match of just two strokes: serve and forehand. Isner [9] led 5:2* in the second tie-break, then he squandered six match points as he led 6:4 (BH & FH winners), 8:7 (service winner), 10:9 (ace), 12:11 (FH winner) & 14:13 (FH error). Opelka was a few centimetres from losing on second MP when his FH clipped the line. The only games with break points occurred at the beginning of the 3rd set, first for Isner, then for Opelka – on his second BP the ball was in play.
Serve & volley: Opelka 1/2, Isner 3/5