wb85bobo_wilander

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1 Response to wb85bobo_wilander

  1. Voo de Mar says:
    Points won by each set: | 30-19, 34-40, 41-33, 26-13 |
    Points won directly behind the serve:
    38 % Zivojinovic – 44 of 113
    34 % Wilander – 42 of 123

    Wilander [4], as a double Australian Open champion (1983-84), was among favorites to claim the Wimbledon ’85 title, but the 22-year-old Zivojinovic [77] stunned him on Centre Court. The tall Yugoslav (195 cm) belonged to the most dangerous floaters in the second half of the 80s. He was playing on equal terms facing the elite players, but he was inconsistent against lower ranked players and collected only two minor titles despite two Grand Slam semifinals and defeating several much higher opponents. That day in London, he trailed *4:5 (deuce) in the 3rd set when obtained nine straight games! Wilander didn’t want to attack the net behind the serve and his opponent took advantage of it with the chip-and-charge. “Bobo” wasn’t afraid of Wilander because knew him since the junior days (there they met thrice, and once in a Challenger when they both were still teenagers). Wilander said: “The courts are softer and very fast the first few days. I knew to win this match, I’d have to be lucky.” A few months later they face each other in the Aussie Open semifinal, and on a slower grass Wilander takes a revenge 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.

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