2 Responses to wb91edberg_champion

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 2, 2023 at 11:34 am

   The Frenchman was a shocking quarterfinalist because he didn’t play a serve-and-volley game which seemed to be a norm at the time to get good results on grass. Admittedly that year Agassi – who didn’t play it either – almost advanced to the semifinal, but he was known as the best returner on the tour. Champion simply felt more comfortable playing in “the best of five” format. He finished his career with a superb 11-4 record in five-setters, and four of them were substantial for his two unexpected advancements to the Slam quarterfinals despite the lack of an ATP title: French Open ’90 (defeated Forget & Novacek in five) and Wimbledon ’91 (defeated Cash & Rostagno in five).

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   July 2, 2023 at 11:17 am

   Points won by each set: | 27-19, 28-17, 41-35 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   42 % Edberg – 33 of 78
   22 % Champion – 20 of 89

   One of [1] Edberg’s best service performances in matches he won 3-0, emphasized by two aces in the first and last game of the match. Until he led *3:2 in the 3rd set he had no problem on serve, then a lousy service game occurred. At *4:5 he trailed 0/30, winning four points easily. In the last game of the match, Champion [90] was unable to return the ball onto Edberg’s side.
   

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