1 Response to stuttgart95krajicek_stich

1. Voo de Mar says:

   February 1, 2023 at 1:02 pm

   Points won by each set: | 49-44, 28-23, 41-42, 11-24, 36-26 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   40 % Krajicek – 63 of 155
   31 % Stich – 53 of 169

   # The last part of their 5-set trilogy. Two fastest servers among right-handed players in the first half of the 90s, their matches on fast surfaces always went to one break a set or a tie-break was required. That pattern was finally broken in the Stuttgart ’95 final: Krajicek lost his serve as many as 4 times (!) in the 4th set and he broke the German twice in the decider. The progress of the 1st set tie-break was rather unusual: 2:0 – 2:4 (Krajicek’s two double faults) – 7/4. In the second tie-break, Krajicek [16] led 6:3 with two serves to come – his lead evaporated quickly: Stich [9] saved the first two match points with forehand returns and the third one with an ace. The Dutchman didn’t seem interested in the 4th set after committing a double fault trying to save a third set point (the first two saved at 4:5). He had in his memory recent matches that he won losing match point sets (against Siemerink at US Open ’94 he led 6:0 in the 4th set tie-break, but lost seven match points before winning in five!; two days before the Stich meeting, he wasted two match points against Larsson). As opposed to the Siemerink & Larsson matches, Krajicek had a cushion of a set which wasn’t deciding, he took that option conserving his energy for the decider (in the 4th set his 1st serves had speed of his normal 2nd serves while his volleys were deprived of standard accuracy). He trailed *2:3 in the decider before taking the last four games; no. 7 proved to be crucial – the longest of the final, 7 deuces, Stich squandered four game points, at two of them he missed easy forehand volleys… Krajicek was committed to play an all serve-and-volley contest, Stich stayed on the baseline a few times behind his second serves.

   Krajicek’s route to his 8th title:
   1 Slava Dosedel 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
   2 Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 7-6(0)
   Q Magnus Larsson 6-3, 6-7(9), 7-6(5)
   S Martin Damm 6-2, 6-3
   W Michael Stich 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-7(6), 1-6, 6-3

   # Comparison of their three 5-setters:
   Aus Open ’92 (QF): Krajicek d. Stich 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4… 3 hours 35 minutes… Total points: 183-177 (aces: 23-14)… Breaks: 2-1
   Stuttgart ’93 (F): Stich d. Krajicek 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 3-6, 7-5… 3 hours 46 minutes… Total points: 167-165 (aces: 12-14)… Breaks: 3-3
   Stuttgart ’95 (F): Krajicek d. Stich 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3… 3 hours 2 minutes… Total points: 165-159 (aces: 23-12)… Breaks: 5-5

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