Wimbledon: Andre vs Goran

[Orion3]

Just watched this again on ESPN classic and realised how much I miss the contrast of styles.

Great entertainment! Even had my 14 year old Joker fanatic captivated. He could believe how Goran used to serve; effortless, power and placement. A bit more consistency and it would've been the best serve of all time (IMHO).

Found myself watching lots of Borg and McEnroe on YouTube recently - reliving my youth and going soft as I get older.

I do marvel at today's stars; genuine athletes but they are so, so similar.

[Xavier G]

Goran with his big serve was a threat at Wimbledon throughout the 90's. Agassi-Ivanisevic was a contrast in styles alright. Goran beat Sampras in 92, I think, before losing to Andre, but Pete thwarted Goran on a number of occasions after. Goran finally winning in 2001 when most people had considered his chance had gone, was an amazing story, full of drama and five set classics.

[Mustard]

Goran was a strong favourite in this final. He had beaten Lendl in the fourth round without even facing a break point, beat Edberg (the tournament favourite) in the quarter finals in 5 sets, only once dropping serve. And Goran beat Sampras in 4 sets in the semi finals, without even facing a break point, and hit 36 aces to Sampras' 13.

What cost Goran the final were his poor opening service games in both the second and third sets, failing to take his break point chance at 3-3 in the fifth set, and opening up his service game at 4-5 in the fifth set with 2 double faults to go 0-30 down. Goran served 37 aces in this final, taking his tournament total up to a then record 206, and he still lost.

Had Goran won this final, I think he would have ended up with around 4 Wimbledon titles, but there wouldn't have been that amazing 2001 Wimbledon story.

[kiki]

Agassi´s returns never looked more spectacular.It was like Connors vs Tanner 15 years earlier: the biggest serve against one of the best all time greats returns ( and the best of the last 20 yrs in my opinion)

[MrCLEAN]

Show him the Agassi-McEnroe semi from the day before. The whole match is on YT now. THAT is pure magic.

[Jack Romeo]

Goran was one of my favorites from the 90's, along with Rafter and Stich.

The main thing that held him back was definitely the mental side because, although he had a much-feared serve, he wasn't a clutch server in the way that Sampras was. He had a good return and ground game, but he didn't go after the ball when the chances were there. Other big servers like Sampras and Becker went for broke on their returns when they had crucial break point chances.

[Macro80]

Originally Posted by Jack Romeo

Goran was one of my favorites from the 90's, along with Rafter and Stich.

The main thing that held him back was definitely the mental side because, although he had a much-feared serve, he wasn't a clutch server in the way that Sampras was. He had a good return and ground game, but he didn't go after the ball when the chances were there. Other big servers like Sampras and Becker went for broke on their returns when they had crucial break point chances.

Tell that to Chris Bailey whom Goran second served aced when match point down.

[Jack Romeo]

Originally Posted by Macro80

Tell that to Chris Bailey whom Goran second served aced when match point down.

who's the more credible player? agassi or chris bailey?

as the op said, goran served 37 aces on agassi but had crucial double faults in the 5th set.

also, going by your argument, you would have to say that azarenka was a clutch server because she hit a second serve ace against brianti which started her comeback from a set and 0-4 down the other day.

[vive le beau jeu !]

Originally Posted by Macro80

Tell that to Chris Bailey whom Goran second served aced when match point down.

i still remember the face of this guy when goran aced him to save a match point...

[SoBad]

Cannot help but feel sorry for tall journeymen. How do they fit into the seat in economy flights I cannot even imagine. Good to see that the tour is increasingly dominated, outside of Nadal, by guys like Nishikori, Dolgopolov, and Donskoy..

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by vive le beau jeu !

i still remember the face of this guy when goran aced him to save a match point...

That Bailey match point was legendary. Goran misses the first serve, clips the net with the second serve and it just lands inside the service box for a let, and then Goran hits a second serve ace right on the centre line. Brilliant

[vive le beau jeu !]

Originally Posted by Mustard

That Bailey match point was legendary. Goran misses the first serve, clips the net with the second serve and it just lands inside the service box for a let, and then Goran hits a second serve ace right on the centre line. Brilliant

didn't remember about the let on 2nd serve... even better like this !