1 Response to rg81lendl_clerc_

1. Voo de Mar says:

   November 29, 2022 at 8:52 am

   Points won by each set: | 23-28, 35-31, 40-46, 44-45, 32-20 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   20 % Lendl – 39 of 186
   11 % Clerc – 18 of 158

   One of the most dramatic French Open semifinals (lasted 4 hours 23 minutes), and one of the most important wins in career of a young Lendl [5]. The 21-year-old Czechoslovak had never before played a Grand Slam semifinal (eight major appearances) and his record against Clerc [7] was poor, 1:5, including a demolition in the same event three years before when Lendl took part in his first main-level event. At 5-all in the 4th set, Lendl withstood a triple mini-match point, and saved a match point at 5:6 in the tie-break with a service winner (9/7 in the end). Clerc led 2:1* in the decider, not being forced to save many break points before, but the 4-hour mark caused his tiredness which allowed the two-year younger man to win the last five games (he shouted “Yes!” after a BH passing-shot giving him a break at 2-all). Lendl, who has won the most five-setters in the Open Era behind Djokovic, had just a modest 5:3 record after the Clerc victory. ”My physical condition made a difference,” Lendl said. ”I think he got a little tired at the beginning of the fifth set. I tried to take advantage of it.” 36 years later, Wawrinka defeats Murray on the same court in the semifinal, after a similar encounter when Lendl is Murray’s coach.

   Serve & volley: Lendl 0/3, Clerc 1/4

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