1 Response to tokyo05moodie_ancic

1. Voo de Mar says:

   February 7, 2025 at 2:49 pm

   One of the tallest finals in the ATP history at the time (both ~196 cm), the stats include 20 out of 30 games (66%);
   numbers of aces, double faults and break points are OK for the entire match.

   Shocking tournament of the 26-year-old serve-and-volleyer from South Africa, the sensational reigning Wimbledon champion in doubles at the time. Moodie [98] won his only title in singles saving match points in two consecutive matches! In the final (tie-break), he attacked at *5:6, when Ancic lob landed just ~10 centimetres behind the baseline. On the second match point (6:7*) Moodie played a forehand passing-shot down the line beyond his standard level… He was also trailing *3:4 in the 3rd set to win the last three games; against Nieminen, he saved match points in two different games on serve: “It’s great to win, especially being down match points. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I thought it was all over. Mario was playing much better than I was but at second match point I just went for broke. That shot fired me up.” said Moodie, who struck 76 aces in that week of his life (8, 11, 20, 9, 17, 11) – on average 12.6. Ancic was in tears after the final.

   Moodie’s route to his lone title:
   1 Jimmy Wang 6-1, 6-4
   2 Mikhail Youzhny 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
   3 Luis Horna 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 6-4
   Q Radek Stepanek 7-6(2), 7-6(6)
   S Jarkko Nieminen 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) – 4 m.p.
   W Mario Ancic 1-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 – 2 m.p.

   Ancic lost his third final to a player, for whom it was the only ATP title… Milan ’04 and Scottsdale ’05

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