2 Responses to rg87wilander_becker

1. Voo de Mar says:

   May 26, 2023 at 1:10 pm

   Points won by each set: | 34-28, 32-17, 30-15 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   20 % Wilander – 16 of 79
   14 % Becker – 11 of 77

   A reminder that surfaces mattered a lot in the 80s & 90s. Becker [2] had defeated Wilander [4] four times in a row, but first on a hard court, then thrice on carpet. Becker’s powerful serve couldn’t do similar damage on clay, nevertheless the (West) German began the semifinal full of vigour, he led 4:2* when occurred a game which completely changed the complexion of the match: four deuces (Becker had a few mini-set points) – the longest that day, and Becker somehow lost the plot. Wilander took nine games in total, almost ten because he led 5:0* (40/15) in the 2nd set. The 3rd set was similarly one-sided, the Swede already led 5:1* (40/0) when Becker finally played entertaining tennis again, but it was too late. It’s strange that Becker, possessing big array of shots, didn’t change anything in the 2nd set when his chances to reach the final seemed evaporating. He was outplayed in each department, even in the service one which was tough to expect in a contest between them.

   Serve & volley: Wilander 8/10, Becker 1/3

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   May 26, 2023 at 3:15 pm

   In their first meeting, on the same Centre Court in 1985, Wilander defeated Becker 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in the second round

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