1 Response to wb03philippoussis_grosjean

1. Voo de Mar says:

   November 9, 2025 at 5:46 pm

   Points won by each set: | 35-34, 30-24, 31-20 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   42 % Philippoussis – 36 of 85
   21 % Grosjean – 19 of 89

   Almost five years waited Philippoussis to play his second major final. Despite his much lower ranking [48 vs 14] he was a favorite to beat Grosjean after a superb performance in the fourth round against Agassi. It was a semifinal of contrasting styles: Philippousssis was constantly attacking the net behind each and every serve, not playing too many volleys because of his powerful serve while Grosjean was constructing the majority of points on serve from the baseline (only four S/V actions in the opener, two in the tie-break – both unsuccessful). They both were holding with extreme ease until 6:5 when the Australian finally improved his ground-strokes and created a double set point. He failed to convert, but in the ensuing tie-break he won five points in a row from 2:3*. The Frenchman began the 2nd set losing his serve with casual errors, he was on back foot throughout the match but remained calm, and had a break point at 3-all in the 3rd set after his trademark shot – super fast forehand (return winner). Philippoussis responded with an ace, took the last three games and became the last (so far) Wimbledon finalist applying the classical serve-and-volley game-style.

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