2 Responses to wb96krajicek_stich

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 29, 2023 at 3:24 pm

   Points won by each set: | 33-28, 43-44, 30-24 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   47 % Krajicek – 47 of 98
   36 % Stich – 38 of 104

   Court no. 1 and a meeting of two Wimbledon champions: former [Stich, 12] and soon-to-be [Krajicek, 13]. They had very similar skills and enjoyed similar careers overall (Stich 18 titles, 10 times in major quarterfinals… Krajicek 17 titles, 9 times in major quarterfinals), no doubt that Stich was more gifted though. They were Top 5 players in terms of serving and playing at the net in the 90s, Stich had a better backhand, Krajicek a better forehand, both were similarly dealing with tight situations; not strange that three times they needed five-setters to choose the winner facing each other. Another five-set meeting could be anticipated at Wimbledon, but on that day Krajicek played better at the end of each set which was particularly visible in the first two sets. In the opener as he led 5:4 he manged to break after the longest game of the match (six deuces) finishing it with two return winners. At the beginning of the 2nd set the Dutchman withstood break points in two games, he needed two deuces also at 5-all while Stich had no problems to hold six times despite not serving an ace. In the tie-break Krajicek played a bit above his standards hitting two backhand return winners to clinch it 7/5 with a powerful serve. Stich, never a fighter, seemed discouraged in the 3rd set, in two service games consisted of ten points each, he decided to play from the baseline behind his second serves (first held, then was broken). Krajicek already led *5:2 in the last set when he lost his concentration and quickly two games. Serving for the second time to win the match, he had no trouble and finished it with a big second serve forcing a FH return error.

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   June 29, 2023 at 3:57 pm

   Including that match, Krajicek won their last three encounters not dropping a set, but Stich edged their H2H rivalry 8-6 in the end (23-21 sets)

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