We've already posted a list of these instances, where someone breaks serve with 4 straight winners. We posted these, in the Krajicek-Sampras thread:
From American Lawn Tennis:
Post more if you have 'em.
Yes at 5-6, he had 4 straight passing shots, two from each wing. The last was a FH return of a first serve, but Sampras missed all three of his other first serves in that game.
On an old thread we were talking about other times that players have broken with 4 straight winners. Hoad did it to Cooper at '57 Wimbledon; Laver to Osuna at '62 US; Connors to Newcombe in their Challenge Match in '75; and Cash to Pernfors in 1986 Davis Cup.
Evert did that in the 6th game of the 2nd set vs Sukova in the '84 AO Final
^another one for Cash, vs Wilander at '87 Wimbledon. Broke with 4 passing shot winners(2 fh, 2 bh) for a 6-5 lead in 2nd set
Good find, I also found one recently from 1939. 4 straight passing shots by Vines, to break Budge in a match in Buffalo. Per a local report: “His passing shots were things of beauty in the first game [of the second set] as Budge rashly stormed the net and Vines scored four straight placements.”
You can add Fognini to the 'break with 4 straight winners' list. Game 9, 5th set vs Nadal. 3 fh, 1 bh.
Now let me go back just a few years. 1914 Davis Cup Challenge Round, fifth rubber, on grass at Forest Hills.One hell of a return game by Fabio, yes. Rafa played as well as I've seen him all year but Fognini still wouldn't be denied. The stats really can't do this match justice, that was fantastic hitting by both guys. Makes you wonder just how much more Fog could do with a better serve and cranium.
From American Lawn Tennis:
Most Remarkable Game on Record
(From ALT of September 1, 1914)
One game in the memorable McLoughlin-Wilding Davis Cup match will go thundering down the ages as the most remarkable ever played. It was the fifth game, each of them being a good service….McLoughlin led at 2 sets to 1 and 3-1, when Wilding began to serve. He sent over just four balls, the smallest possible number that could be served in a game, each of them being a good service. Each of these four balls was met by the American with a terrific clout on his forehand; and each landed in Wilding’s court with that worthy vainly striving to get his racket on it. Thus there was the minimum number of returns—four; and the ball was hit just eight times.
There is scarcely a doubt that this constitutes a record in the annals of lawn tennis, and also that it was the most remarkable exhibition of clean, tremendously hard and accurate hitting ever seen. McLoughlin aced the service four times in succession—not chance shots or near-flukes, but clean drives that were directed to a certain point in Wilding’s court and went there with unerring certainty. All four drives were unreturnable. Their pace and direction completely baffled Wilding’s efforts to return them.
The unique nature of the performance was contributed to by Wilding. He got his first delivery in on all four occasions. Had he erred only once the ball could not have been hit less than nine times. But everything conspired to bring about the result noted.
(From ALT of September 1, 1914)
One game in the memorable McLoughlin-Wilding Davis Cup match will go thundering down the ages as the most remarkable ever played. It was the fifth game, each of them being a good service….McLoughlin led at 2 sets to 1 and 3-1, when Wilding began to serve. He sent over just four balls, the smallest possible number that could be served in a game, each of them being a good service. Each of these four balls was met by the American with a terrific clout on his forehand; and each landed in Wilding’s court with that worthy vainly striving to get his racket on it. Thus there was the minimum number of returns—four; and the ball was hit just eight times.
There is scarcely a doubt that this constitutes a record in the annals of lawn tennis, and also that it was the most remarkable exhibition of clean, tremendously hard and accurate hitting ever seen. McLoughlin aced the service four times in succession—not chance shots or near-flukes, but clean drives that were directed to a certain point in Wilding’s court and went there with unerring certainty. All four drives were unreturnable. Their pace and direction completely baffled Wilding’s efforts to return them.
The unique nature of the performance was contributed to by Wilding. He got his first delivery in on all four occasions. Had he erred only once the ball could not have been hit less than nine times. But everything conspired to bring about the result noted.
Post more if you have 'em.
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