1 Response to wb96stoltenberg_ivanisevic

1. Voo de Mar says:

   December 27, 2022 at 10:07 pm

   Only tie-break sets (7/3, 3/7, 7/3) included to the stats… aces, double faults, break points are correct for the entire contest

   Points won by each set: | 25-21, 40-40, 43-43, 41-43 |
   Points won directly behind the serve in three TB sets:
   40 % Stoltenberg – 52 of 130
   42 % Ivanisevic – 52 of 121

   Shocking outcome on court no. 1 in a rain-interrupted match. Shocking not only because of the upset (Ivanisevic led 4:0 in their H2H), also the scoreline was very surprising because Ivanisevic knew how to efficiently play tie-breaks (57%) as opposed to Stoltenberg (45%), therefore it was tough to expect that the Australian [46] would win 2 out of 3 tie-breaks. Ivanisevic [7] led 6:5* (30-all) in both tie-break sets he lost, in the 3rd set he saved a match point at 4:5 with a backhand volley (his second serve landed on the line). The 4th set was entirely played the following day (suspended due to darkness) and it helped Stoltenberg. He could enter it with a clear mind that he needed to win just 1 of 2 potential sets. He saved break points at 1:2 (three) and 2:3, and when he was two points away from losing the set, Ivanisevic netted an easy forehand – it was a sudden twist of the plot – Stoltenberg won 8 consecutive points (prior to the tie-break Ivanisevic was serving like a machine), and ultimately converted his fifth match point with a service winner.
   It’s really remarkable that Stoltenberg, who was generally struggling to win tight matches, defeats Ivanisevic 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 a few months later in Davis Cup, and 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 when they meet in Indianapolis ’97… in the former the Australian was two points away from defeat, in the latter he saved a match point trailing *2:5 in the 2nd set!

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