1 Response to rg01kuerten_russell

1. Voo de Mar says:

   May 23, 2024 at 1:35 pm

   Points won by each set: | 29-32, 26-33, 50-46, 33-25, 28-16 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   19 % Kuerten – 30 of 155
   10 % Russell – 17 of 163

   A miracle match, one of the most memorable comebacks from two-sets-to-love in tennis history. 23-year-old Russell [122, qualifier], an American journeyman, should have been happy that he entered the main draw at all, because in the first qualifying round he was a match point down to lose in straight sets to Olivier Patience (4-6, 7-5, 6-0). And suddenly, with a considerable help of two-time former champion Bruguera who suffered an injury in their second round match, Russell found himself inside one of the biggest tennis stadiums (Philippe Chatrier) for the first time in career facing the defending champion. It was a gloomy, windy day (14°), Kuerten [1] couldn’t have found his normal rhythm. Russell was playing a smart match anyway, he was super quick, his sliding was turning into a split at times, and when Kuerten’s balls were shorter, he was able to accelerate them off both wings. 6-3, 6-4, 5:2* (30/15) – such a score could have been anticipated for the Brazilian, but it was Russell, who had such a big advantage. In the following game, after withstanding a double break point, Russell had a match point – then occurred the longest rally of the match (26 strokes), Kuerten hit the baseline with his shank forehand on stroke no. 16, and finished the rally with a forehand winner. The atmosphere was already different comparing to the first two sets, the clouds disappeared, and more people came to the stadium to witness the biggest French Open sensation in decades. That longest rally on match point, changed the complexion of the encounter, after that Kuerten was playing his normal tennis spreading winners all over the court. Admittedly he was two points away from defeat at 5:6 (30-all), but took the tie-break easily 7/3, and his domination in the following two sets was unquestionable; in the 4th set Russell saved break points in two different games to avoid two breaks down. Kuerten’s match point summed up the entire contest: Russell was running like crazy, but ultimately the Brazilian finished a spectacular rally with an overhead (12 stroke-rally). Kuerten drew a large heart with the frame of his racquet on the side he played the match point games, and knelt inside it, waving to the crowd, grateful for the outpouring of support he received when he needed it most. In another three matches he arguably played the best tennis in his life to capture his third French Open title .. It was a Slam no. 5 in Russell’s career, he played 29 times more in those biggest events for the remaining 14 years of his career, never even reaching the third round. # For Kuerten it was the second of three comebacks in a tie-break at ‘0-2’ in sets; among players born in the 70s, only Krajicek won as many matches of this type.

   Serve & volley: Kuerten 2/2, Russell 0

   # Comparison of Kuerten’s three “0-2” comebacks in the 3rd set tie-break:
   Davis Cup 1996: (p/o) Kuerten d. Hipfl 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-1… 3 hours 22 minutes…
   French Open ’01 (4R): Kuerten d. Russell 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1… 3 hours 25 minutes… Total points: 166-152
   US Open ’01 (2R): Kuerten d. Mirnyi 6-7, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-2… 3 hours 31 minutes… Total points: 191-178

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