1 Response to wb97sampras_becker

1. Voo de Mar says:

   December 7, 2022 at 3:06 pm

   Points won by each set: | 29-13, 35-34, 26-10, 33-28 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   47 % Sampras – 51 of 107
   33 % Becker – 34 of 101

   # Almost a copy of their Wimbledon ’95 final: also four sets with five breaks, Sampras unbroken, he lost a set in a tie-break having won more points, he was able to break Becker twice in two different sets, and once in the other one of the same score… Actually the American [1] should have won their ’97 meeting in straight sets, but he wasted a mini-set point at 4-all in the 2nd set and a 5:3 advantage in the ensuing tie-break – given how easily he was winning points on serve in that set, it was tough to expect he would lose two consecutive points on serve in a tie-break. Becker [18] fended off a break point to avoid a double break deficit in the 4th set which seemed his farewell set at majors at the time. The ~30-year-old German announced it would be his last Grand Slam appearance, but two years later he changed his mind and decided to play his last event at Wimbledon to finish his career.

   # Comparison of their two Wimbledon 4-setters:
   1995 (F): Sampras d. Becker 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, 6-2… 2 hours 29 minutes… Total points: 138-108
   1997 (QF): Sampras d. Becker 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4… 2 hours 6 minutes… Total points: 123-85

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