1 Response to rosmalen95kucera_jarryd

1. Voo de Mar says:

   March 19, 2025 at 7:40 am

   Points won by each set: | 44-42, 48-44 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   38 % Kucera – 29 of 76
   24 % Jarryd – 25 of 102

   Very unexpected final of a former and future Top 10er: the 34-year-old Jarryd [93] was declining and hadn’t played an ATP final outdoors since 1984 (!) while his 13 years younger opponent [50] never won a professional match on grass before his trip to Rosmalen. In the first tie-break Jarryd had a set point at 6:5* when missed his backhand. The first game of the 2nd set was the longest – Jarryd held after 7 deuces, but was broken at 1-all. He immediately broke back, and another tie-break decided – this one was much more straightforward, Kucera raced to a 6:1* lead and converted his fourth match point with a high backhand volley winner. Both semifinals and the final were competed the same day due to rain on Saturday. On Friday, Jarryd stunned the home crowd by outplaying 6-4, 6-2 the defending champion Krajicek. The Swedish veteran played his last main-level final in the Netherlands (record: 8-16).

   Kucera’s route to his maiden title (34th main-level event):
   1 Eyal Erlich 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
   2 Arne Thoms 7-6(3), 7-5
   Q Paul Haarhuis 6-3, 6-2
   S Henrik Holm 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
   W Anders Jarryd 7-6(7), 7-6(4)

   It’s the first title for Slovakia as the independent nation. Before secession from Czechoslovakia in 1993, there were two Slovaks with Grand Prix titles (Mecir and Vajda). In the Davis Cup, Slovakia made its debut in May ’94 defeating Malta 3-0 in Group III. The first Slovakian team was consisted of Kucera, Kroslak, Stankovic and Vajda – his last professional year; Mecir as the team captain. Later that year Kucera became the first man under the Slovak flag to win a major match (Roland Garros) and play an ATP final (Umag).

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