1 Response to stockholm89lendl_gustafsson

1. Voo de Mar says:

   October 21, 2023 at 1:51 pm

   Points won by each set: | 46-39, 24-8, 28-20 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   40 % Lendl – 31 of 77
   14 % Gustafsson – 13 of 88

   The last << Mercedes Super 9 >> event of the year before it really became the “Mercedes Super 9” series. The nine most prestigious regular events of the season behind the Grand Slams were actually established in 1989, it was a year when the prize money in the “Stockholm Open” was significantly increased (from $450K to $832K, cutting the draw from 56 to 48). The event was relocated that year from the Kungliga TennisHallen to the Ericsson Globe Arena where stayed until 1995 – that year was downgraded to the “ATP World Series” status (Germany took over the Mercedes Super 9 with Essen/Stuttgart).
   The year 1989 it was the last when Lendl could win big tournaments with ease. He was in a fearsome form that week, the 22-year-old Gustafasson [92] was doing everything he could (being supported by the crowd of 14,570 spectators) to make it competitive – in the opener he dived twice, saved break points in three different games, but from 5-all in the opener to *0:3 in the 3rd set he couldn’t win a game losing 11 in a row. More or less from that moment they both began to attack the net regularly behind the first serves, and both held thrice to the end in that style. “Honestly, I didn’t enjoy myself with the crowd here and if you ask me today, I say I won’t play here next year,” said Lendl, who hadn’t played in Stockholm since 1978. “I don’t expect them to cheer for me, but they could at least be fair and not applaud my double faults or shout when I toss up the ball or during play.” Indeed, Lendl skipped this event the following year. “Lendl hits deeper and harder than any opponent I have met,” Gustafsson said. “I will study a video of this match and then analyze what I must do better to beat him.” Gustafsson defeats Lendl twice when the Czechoslovako-American turns 30.

   Lendl’s route to his 83rd title:
   2 Mikael Pernfors 6-3, 6-2
   3 Anders Jarryd 6-0, 6-2
   Q Tim Mayotte 6-2, 6-2
   S Stefan Edberg 6-0, 2-6, 6-3
   W Magnus Gustafsson 7-5, 6-0, 6-3

   Serve & volley: Lendl 7/9, Gustafsson 6/8

   Log in to Reply