1 Response to rg90gomez_muster

1. Voo de Mar says:

   December 11, 2023 at 7:54 am

   Points won by each set: | 45-40, 28-11, 34-31 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   30 % Gomez – 30 of 98
   8 % Muster – 8 of 91

   The first all left-handed French Open semifinal since 1984, and similarly one-sided encounter. Expectations were high because a few weeks before they met in the Rome semifinal, and Muster prevailed 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(2) withstanding three match points. Gomez [7] had a better serve and the net-game, Muster better backhand & movement, their forehands were at the same level, so on paper [9] Muster’s only chance was to make it long to wear down the 7 years older opponents – under these circumstances Gomez couldn’t ask for more beneficial draw – in the fourth round a dangerous Gustafsson gave him a walkover, in the quarterfinal Gomez faced Champion for whom it was the career highlight, and the experienced Ecuadorian won that match easily, finally surpassing the major quarterfinal on his sixth attempt. “I had a bit of luck in the draw. And even if I don’t believe in luck, sometimes you want some. To play Champion in the quarterfinals of the French Open was too good to let it go by. He’s not going to hurt me with any shot.” Gomez admitted.
   He began the semifinal being fresh and raced to a 3:0* lead after three competitive games. At 4-all Muster had a mini-set point, but Gomez responded with a BH stretch-volley. It was a pivotal moment, just like a year before in his first major semifinal, Muster got only six games in the first two sets. Repeating of the Lendl meeting seemed plausible as Muster came back from 2:4 to 5:4* in the 3rd set, but Gomez won the last three games (Muster had a game point to lead 6:5), the last two points after spectacular rallies (first an exchange of volleys at the net, then a backhand passing-shot DTL from a relatively tough position). Muster will have to wait five years for his another Slam semifinal in which he do to Kafelnikov basically the same what Gomez did to him.

   Serve & volley: Gomez 9/14, Muster 0

   Log in to Reply