1 Response to rg00norman_squillari

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 10, 2025 at 5:47 am

   Points won by each set: | 26-15, 31-21, 41-31 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   21 % Norman – 15 of 70
   12 % Squillari – 12 of 95

   In the 80s, 90s and early 00s there were many clay-court specialists whose native language was Spanish, they came either from Iberian Peninsula, or from South America. One of them, Squillari [45], was quite lucky advancing to the French Open semifinal because his results didn’t generally predispose him to do this comparing to many other Latin players occupying a similar level in tennis hierarchy (including his coach Horacio de la Pena, who reached the fourth round at Roland Garros ’86). Still, the Argentine’s baseline-game was reminiscent of Muster, who was the best left-handed player on clay courts in the 1990s; lefty Squillari – just like Muster – was imposing the pace with his heavy topspin forehands while his one-handed backhand was good enough to sustain him in gruelling rallies (Muster possessed a better serve, volley, on top of that his physically-mental component was incomparable). As expected, this game-style couldn’t threaten Norman [3], who enjoyed a form of his life at the time, being rock solid off both wings and very efficient in defence, serving big. Squillari got the only break trailing 1:2 in the 2nd set, and fought off break points in two games of the 3rd set, avoiding a more one-sided scoreline.

   Serve & volley: Norman 1/1, Squillari 0

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