1 Response to uo91connors_krickstein

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 1, 2021 at 3:09 pm

   Points won by each set: | 25-34, 56-52, 10-27, 34-27, 54-50 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   15 % Connors – 27 of 172
   21 % Krickstein – 43 of 197

   One of the most memorable matches in the tournament history & one of the longest at the time. The 5-time US Open champion Connors [147], celebrating his 39th birthday on that day, faced an opponent he never lost against in their five previous meetings. Nevertheless, his titanic victory was like a miracle given the circumstances, because the 15 years younger Krickstein [47] had an incredible 5-set record at the time (19-5) & seemed to be in a great shape eliminating Agassi in round one. Who knows, maybe it would have been his straight sets win if he had converted a set point in the 2nd set. Connors already led *5:1 (40/15) in that set, so it’s tough to imagine he could have regrouped losing such a dramatic set against the five-set specialist. Krickstein had two set points in the tie-break on return: at 6:5 (Connors’ service winner) & 8:7 (Connors won three points in a row with volley winners then!). In the crazy deciding set, in which almost the entire Stadium Court rooted for the veteran, Krickstein led 5:2* after the longest game of the match (8 deuces, he saved 3 break points), but that game cost him blisters in the right hand. Connors, who was attacking the net almost on every occasion in the decider & extending breaks between the points to maximum, made ‘impossible’ – took the next three games being two points away from defeat in games nine & ten; he was two points away in the 12th game too! In the decisive tie-break, Krickstein improved from 2:5 to 4:5, and Connors obtained his first match point with a service winner to finish the marathon with a serve-and-volley action.

   Points won at the net:
   Connors – 86/134 (64 %)
   Krickstein – 10/20 (50 %)

   Three longest matches of the US Open 1991:
   4 hours 41 minutes: J.Connors d. A.Krickstein 3-6, 7-6(8), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4)
   4 hours 35 minutes: M.Chang d. J.McEnroe 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
   4 hours 19 minutes: J.Connors d. P.McEnroe 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

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