2 Responses to uo97rusedski_bjorkman

1. Voo de Mar says:

   April 25, 2024 at 3:11 pm

   Points won by each set: | 24-12, 15-27, 24-33, 30-22, 36-35 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   35 % Rusedski – 47 of 131
   27 % Bjorkman – 35 of 127

   Super quick (2 hours 30 minutes) five-setter of two serve-and-volleyers using “Wilson” racquets (Rusedski was more willing to attack the net behind his second serves). Very strange progress given their styles; the first four sets were lopsided, in the 4th Bjorkman [17] lost his serve thrice, the first time in quite peculiar circumstances – the first point of the 3rd game was replayed twice. A deciding tie-break seemed inevitable because in the 5th set they both were finally serving efficiently at the same time. Rusedski [20] led 6:5* (15/40) and stayed in a corner after his return being at peace with the tie-break, but the Swede played a volley at him and the Brit made a forehand passing-shot winner – he did the same three points later on his first match point. It was a lifetime opportunity for them both. Their rivalry ended with 7-5 for Bjorkman, but Rusedski won their all three “best of five” encounters which is counter-intuitive because the Swede was a better five-set player in general.

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   May 3, 2024 at 2:54 pm

   Rusedski almost pulled out before his fourth round match against Daniel Vacek due to news that Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash. “There was a discussion about whether I should pull out and I talked it through with Lucy [his wife]. In the end we decided it was right to play and I would wear a black ribbon on my sleeve as a mark of respect. Of course the tragedy was very upsetting and you could not help think of Diana’s young children, but it was my choice to continue.” Following the princess death, Rusedski, with surprising ease, defeated two powerful serve-and-volleyers: Vacek & Krajicek before facing Bjorkman, a technical serve-and-volleyer.

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