Match Stats/Report - Wheaton vs Chang, Grand Slam Cup final, 1991

[Waspsting]

David Wheaton beat Michael Chang 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 in the Grand Slam Cup final, 1991 on carpet in Munich, Germany

It would be 7th seeded Wheaton’s only title at the event. Chang was unseeded and would be runner-up the following year also

Wheaton won 127 points, Chang 110

Wheaton serve-volleyed off all but 1 first serve and majority of seconds, Chang serve-volleyed off about a third off first serves

[Note: I’m missing an unknown number of points, confidently guessed and included in points total to be 6
Set 1, Game 4 freezes after 10 points for about 5 minutes and resumes with last point of the hold
Possibly, just 1 missing point, that server Wheaton won
Or some multiple of 2 - each player winning 1 point of the pair - plus 1 point that server Wheaton won
Based on time elapsed and break point figures given later in telecast, 5 points have been added to points total (3 for Wheaton, 2 for Chang), i.e. game was 16 points long
Based on presented break point figures, Chang won points 11 and 13, Wheaton 12 and 14, with Wheaton winning point 15 confirmed. Point 16 is recorded. An additional 2 break points have been added to Chang’s tally, in line with telecast stats

Set 1, Game 9, Point 2 - a Chang service point that he won. Very likely and marked a first serve point based on time lapsed during video freeze and post-point footage]

Serve Stats
Wheaton...
- 1st serve percentage (66/116) 57%
- 1st serve points won (44/66) 67%
- 2nd serve points won (26/50) 52%
- ?? serve points won (3/5) 60%
- Aces 18, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (45/116) 39%

Chang...
- 1st serve percentage (62/116) 53%
- 1st serve points won (38/62) 61%
- 2nd serve points won (24/54) 44%
- Aces 3
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (26/115) 23%

Serve Patterns
Wheaton served...
- to FH 43%
- to BH 46%
- to Body 11%
(raw 48-52-12)

Chang served...
- to FH 43%
- to BH 44%
- to Body 13%
(raw 48-49-15)

Return Stats
Wheaton made...
- 86 (47 FH, 39 BH), including 8 runaround FHs, 1 runaround BH & 22 return-approaches
- 6 Winners (3 FH, 3 BH)
- 23 Errors, comprising...
- 11 Unforced (4 FH, 7 BH), including 1 runaround BH
- 12 Forced (4 FH, 8 BH)
- Return Rate (86/112) 77%

Chang made...
- 67 (32 FH, 35 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 3 return-approaches
- 12 Winners (7 FH, 5 BH)
- 26 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- 21 Forced (10 FH, 11 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- Return Rate (67/112) 60%

Break Points
Wheaton 6/20 (8 games)
Chang 2/17 (7 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Wheaton 41 (8 FH, 8 BH, 13 FHV, 8 BHV, 4 OH)
Chang 40 (16 FH, 14 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 3 OH, 1 BHOH)

Wheaton had 13 from serve-volley points -
- 6 first 'volleys' (3 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH, 1 FH at net)
- 7 second volleys (4 FHV, 3 BHV)

- 9 from return-approach points (4 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH, 1 FH at net)... 1 BHV was a swinging volley

- 1 other FHV was a non-net pass and 1 OH was on the bounce from the baseline

- FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl return passes, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in return, 1 lob
- BHs - 3 cc (1 return, 2 passes), 3 dtl (1 return, 2 passes - 1 at net), 1 inside-out/dtl pass (net chord flicker), 1 net chord dribbler return

Chang had 20 passes - 11 returns (6 FH, 5 BH) & 9 regular (3 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV)
- FH returns - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out, 1 inside-out/down-the-middle (that hits Wheaton), 1 inside-in
- BH returns - 1 dtl, 4 inside-out
- regular FHs - 3 cc
- regular BHs - 2 cc, 2 dtl, 1 inside-out
- the FHV was a swinging cc from the baseline

- regular (non-pass) FHs - 1 cc return, 4 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out, 1 inside-out
- regular BHs - 2 cc, 2 dtl

- 3 from serve-volley points (1 FHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 BHOH), all second 'volleys'
- 1 from a return-approach point, a swinging BHV
- 1 other OH was on the bounce

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Wheaton 37
- 16 Unforced (2 FH, 5 BH, 5 FHV, 4 BHV)
- 21 Forced (2 FH, 8 BH, 6 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 2 BHV, 2 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 51.3 (raw 4-6-6)

Chang 35
- 6 Unforced (3 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)... the FHV was a swinging baseline shot
- 29 Forced (12 FH, 12 BH, 1 FH1/2V, 4 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.3 (raw 3-1-2)

(Note 1: All 1/2 volleys refer to such shots played at net. 1/2 volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke numbers)

(Note 2: the Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is an indicator of how aggressive the average UE was. The numbers presented are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Wheaton was...
- 70/112 (63%) at net, including...
- 41/75 (55%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 25/46 (54%) off 1st serve and...
- 16/29 (55%) off 2nd serve
---
- 16/22 (73%) return-approaching
- 1/2 forced back/retreated

Chang was...
- 28/47 (60%) at net, including...
- 16/26 (62%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 12/18 (67%) off 1st serve and...
- 4/8 (50%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
- 0/2 forced back

Match Report
Devastating second returning by Wheaton - pounded return-approaches, usually moving forward and often around to either side - is most important result determinant in a relatively long, tough and high quality straight setter on fast court. Big serves from the serve-volleying winner has a hand too. Chang is strongly solid, his returning is worthy competition against the strong serve-volleying its up against, but his serve is a problem - first serve is often harmless and second a liability that’s exploited

Wheaton’s 16/22 return-approaching or 73%. To compare, he wins just 55% serve-volleying off either serve and Chang wins 62% serve-volleying, which he’s largely forced into by the assault on his second serve

These aren’t chip-charges; they’re move-around and forward and belted shots. Most would put Chang on defensive and at least, neutralize any potential third ball advantage. Yet negligible amount of them are potential winners. Would expect Chang to make the third ball, even if challenged, almost every time were Wheaton not taking net

In other words, virtually perfectly balanced of force and risk; Any more aggressive, probably leads to a few errors (he has 0 errors going for them, despite the regularity), any less, then Chang probably makes the pass more often (Chang passes very well all match)

Wheaton moves towards center of court off both sides to play them. Move-around FHs in deuce court, move-around BHs in ad. Move-around and forward to be more precise

Its most akin to a savage John McEnroe showing. More controlled and powerful hits, less focus on charging and forward momentum. The move-around BHs (he has just 1 bona fida runaround BH return, but otherwise regularly moves over to swat body second serves early) is all his own

Wheaton’s return-approaches shapes the whole match
He’s 3/9 on the play in first set due to Chang passing superbly. And that’s the tightest set, with both players playing as they’d like to. Chang in fact, getting into return games more often
He’s 13/13 in the next 2 sets. The shellacking gets too much for Chang, whose thrashed in second set. And Chang adjusts to serve-volleying, even second serve-volleying from end of second set to end of match to protect against the play. Not bad serve-volleying from Chang, but its likely to (and does) get him broken sooner rather than later

Second most important shot in the match is Wheaton’s first serve. He’s got 18 aces, 1 service winner (Chang has 3 aces). Hefty, troubling first serve from Wheaton, and he serve-volleys off all but 1 first serve and 63% of the time off seconds (doing so more and more off second serves as match goes on), but Chang’s return-passing is extremely good, and Wheaton’s volley alone isn’t so solid as to leave him too secure

Just 54% first serve-volley and 55% second serve-volley points won by Wheaton. Figures, at his frequency of serve-volleying, almost certain to get him broken in time
But for 18 aces, 1 service winner or an unreturnable 29% off first serves, at in count of 57%

Harmless serve is Chang’s burden. He eventaully cranks it up to what’s probably maximum for him in third set and even then, its not too troubling. Otherwise, he plays very well. His return is a match for Wheaton’s excellent serve, his passing probably shades Wheaton’s quality volleying too. Both players are solidly strong from the baseline, Chang more so

Match is gruelling. 237 points in 30 games comes to 7.9 per game. In words, average game is deuce game. Both players suffer it (Wheaton serves 8.1 points per game, Chang 7.7) and its reflected in break points figures - Wheaton 6/20 (8 games), Chang 2/17 (7 games)

Who has better of things varies across match. Briefly for now, Chang has run of play in first set, Wheaton in second and things are about even in third. The two key shots - Wheaton’s second returning and his serve - are largely behind the break point numbers. Big serves keeping him from getting broken, big returns getting him breaks

Other notable/memorable incident in match is Wheaton copping a Chang return right in the nuts. Ouch

 

[Waspsting]

Wheaton’s serve game
Wheaton serve-volleys 98% off first serves (all but 1) and 63% off second serves. Initially, he stays back off second serves, but starts doing so more and more as match goes on
He’s got a serve that hovers between ‘big’ and ‘hefty’. Straight serve in Chang’s swing zone is fast enough to be troubling

18 aces, 1 service winner comes to 29% off first serves being aces.
Just 4 double faults, or 8% second serves being double faults.
Both excellent figures, especially the ace rate. And that’s what keeps him a nose ahead of trouble

He wins 54% first serve-volley points, 55% second serve-volleying and 59% staying back off second serve; Numbers that’d probably get him broken before long, sans host of aces or with a few more doubles in there

Serve-volley vs return-pass contest is high end one
Wheaton’s movements around net are about average. And Chang returns powerfully. Makes for slightly wide return being troubling
Good quality, punishing volleys from Wheaton though. Well punched and widely placed. Chang of course still scampering for the pass but can rarely make unlikely ones. And doesn’t see many good look ones

Wheaton on the ‘volley’ has 26 winners, 9 UEs, 11 FEs
Chang has 12 return pass winners at return rate of 60% (of Wheaton with 39% unreturned serves)
Chang on follow-up pass has 9 (3 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV) winners, 22 FEs (11 of each side)

These are all net points, not just serve-volleys
Wheaton wins 55% of 75 serve-volley points, 73% of 22 return-approaches and 87% of 15 rallying to net ones - so pure serve-volley ones are a lot more in Chang’s favour then total figures

Just looking at winners -
50% of Wheaton’s volleys come from serve-volleys, which make up 67% of his net points
35% of winners come from return-approaches, which make up just 26% net points

… gives some idea of the how weighed the numbers are by net point type (serve-volley, return-approach or rally to net)

Just on serve-volley
- hefty-big serve from Wheaton, as befits a 29% first serves going for aces
- drawing 39% freebies with that is a middling outcome for both players, so sets platform for good contest. 5/26 Chang return errors are UEs (so not against serve-volleys), so the pure serve-volley serve-return contest more in Chang’s favour
- 12 return-pass winners or 18% of successful returns being winners is good for Chang. Again, rate is even higher against serve-volleying than that
- 9 volley UEs from by Wheaton isn’t great. He’s a little slow around the forecourt and Chang’s returns are testing
- however, good quality volleys from Wheaton, leaving Chang not much chance on pass

On top of serve-volleying, Wheaton winning 59% of stay back second serve-points, which is higher than he does serve-volleying off either serve. Chang with 5 return UEs doesn’t help, and Wheaton holds his own from the baseline

Gist - strong serve from Wheaton, and he serve-volleys behind vast bulk of it
Lot of aces, not many doubles
Chang returning with heat, Wheaton not quick around the forecourt and tested to get into prim volley position
Fair few routine and not-hard volley misses by Wheaton, but also very authoritive volleying, leaving Chang without much chance on the pass

Chang kept 2/17 (7 games) on break points. Fat lot of aces crucial for that, Wheaton holding his own from baseline to a lesser degree. Just serve-volleying, Chang has better of things

Chang’s serve game
Weak serve from Chang that’s unlikely to do damage or even give him much of an initiative for third ball. Seconds are correspondingly toned down - and gets rough return-approaching treatment from Wheaton

That’s how it starts. In first set, Chang passes fantastically to keep Wheaton’s return-approaching at bay and that’s not why he loses the set. In second set though, the move starts to overwhelm Chang

Chang adjusts by serving bigger and serve-volleying regularly
In all, he first serve-volleys 31% of the time and second serve-volleys 16%.
That’s mostly crammed into last set and a game
During that period, he first serve-volleys 60% of time, and second serve-volleys 35%
Also serves all 3 of his aces and has 2/3 of his double faults for the match then

His in count isn’t good, even bulk weak serving. Its 50% prior to the shift and 48% after he beefs it up

50% first serves in, with a serve that’s doing minimal damage and a second that’s taking a pounding isn’t a formula for holding readily in first phase
And even in beefed up serve, its still not a great serve. He does volley nicely, but Wheaton gets enough powerful return-passes off to be liable to break even then

On whole, Wheaton returning first serves cozily and brutally attacking seconds
With all that going on, Chang would have to vastly outplay Wheaton to be able to hold regularly. Which, he doesn’t

23% freebies for Chang. Just 15% in normal phase, 33% in beefed up, serve-volleying one
By whole or by parts, that’s not good

In baseline rallies (including Wheaton’s service games) -
Winners - Wheaton 6 (3 FH, 3 BH), Chang 11 (7 FH, 4 BH)
Errors forced - both 2
UEs - Wheaton 7 (2 FH, 5 BH), Chang 5 (3 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV)

11 winners (2 returns), 5 UEs is outstanding from Chang.
Meanwhile, 4/6 Wheaton winners are returns (1 a net chord dribbler). Once the rally gets underway, Chang’s simply better - more secure, more able to outmanuver and finish
Not to the extent it looks like though

Rallying to net - Wheaton 13/15, Chang 10/18
… cuts into Chang’s baseline superiority, and reflects smart play from Wheaton. If he gains ground in rallies, he comes in to finish and his success rate speaks for itself
Chang a lot less sucessful. Its due to Wheaton being strong on the pass, not Chang weak on the volley

Chang at net has 10 winners (including a BH1/2V and BHOH), 1 UE, 5 FEs
Wheaton on pass has 9 winners, 8 FEs (with couple of return winners, and a FHV from no-man’s land in there)
Good volley figures for Chang, outstanding passing ones Wheaton - another excellent contest

 

[Waspsting]

The 67% first serve-volley points wins is comfily better than Wheaton’s behind either serves (54% firsts and 55% seconds), but still, his serve is obviously vulernable to normal, good returning, which Wheaton delivers. Wheaton’s by contrast, needs exceptional returning to be threat - which Chang of course delivers

But just 50% second serve-volley points won for Chang. Its hell of a lot better than losing 16/22 when Wheaton return-approaches, so he’s almost forced into it

Wheaton 6/20 (8 games) on break points. Chang typically making things as hard as possible for opponent. Its uphill work, and he’s unflinching in it, but ultimately, its just a little bit too uphill for him

He does well to keep return-approach success down to 3/9 in first set. Those are tough passes, with the return shot pushing him back or wide or off-balance
13/13 after that. Its not for lack of scampering by Chang
And importantly, no return errors trying by Wheaton. Its not mindless assault, but he picks right ball, and executes superbly

Match Progression
Chang largely has better of first set, despite losing it. Wheaton’s 3/9 return-approaching in it
Wheaton serves 56 points in the set, Chang 38 (Wheaton wins 48 points, Chang 46)
Break points - Wheaton 2/4 (3 games), Chang 1/9 (3 games)
Its not return-approaches that get Wheaton his breaks

After Chang opens with love hold, next 3 games last 18 points (2 break points), 10 points (1 break point) and 16 points (6 break points)

Wheaton serve-volleys off first serves, stays back on seconds. He’s only got 2 UEs in the 18 point second game, with Chang delivering 4 return winners (3 passes). On the 2 break points, Wheaton delivers an ace and dispatches a first volley smash winner

Wheaton needs 3 volleys and Chang to miss a good look pass (which he doesn’t seem capable of doing) to raise his umpteenth game point, which he finally takes by second serve-volleying for first time, and drawing return error with a body serve

Wheaton’s next starts his return-approaching assault and he indulges against all 6 of Chang’s second serve points the game after. Some great passes from Chang, some inevitable Wheaton winners. Chang erases only break point of game with a third ball BH dtl winner. Last 2 points of the game are both return-approaches - Chang forces half-volley error on first, and Wheaton misses easy FHV on the next

Game after is like first Wheaton serve game. Off the 11 points accounted for, Wheaton with just the 1 UE and its not an easy one. All the rest is down to Chang with winning returns and passes, but again Wheaton manages to hold

Wheaton’s put through the hoop again to hold deuce game for 4-4

3 breaks in a row after that though, none of them long games

Chang’s comfily laced at 30-15 when he throws in a serve-volley’ he’d done so couple of times successfully in his last game, but is met with a return to his feet that he can’t handle. BH UE raises break point for Wheaton, on which he charges the return and bops it away BH cc for winner

Chang breaks back to love at once - an easy FHV miss by Wheaton to start, 2 half-volley FEs to finish and a running FH FE in between

And Wheaton grabs decisive break in another high quality game. 6 points of it comprise 5 winners and a passing FE. Couple of not good volleys from Chang on the final point and Wheaton finding the BH cc pass winner to end it

Wheaton serves out to love

Second set is brutally dominated by Wheaton the returner, but Chang is scrappy as ever
Wheaton serves 25 points, Chang 40 in it (with 6-2 scoreline not deceptive in how much better Wheaton has)
Break points - Wheaton 2/9 (2 games), Chang 0/1
Both games Chang holds to deuce as well. Is very much return-approaching that destroys him

Wheaton breaks to love to start. 2 FEs, 2 winners
He second serve-volleys more regularly in this set. Aces away the only break point he faces and holds pretty comfily (especially when contrasted with start of match)

Meanwhile, after the first love break, Chang’s games last 8, 18 and 10 points. He’s broken in the 18-pointer and down 5-1, turns to serve-volleying himself to hold the 10 pointer at end of set; its almost a forced a move as his first serve is readily neutralized and seconds heavily punished when he stays back

In third set, Chang continues serve-volleying regularly, including off second serves It’s the only set that’s balanced in terms of each players game length
Wheaton serves 40 points, Chang 38 (Wheaton wins 41 of them, Chang 37)
Breaks points - 2/7 (3 games), Chang 1/7 (3 games)

Beautiful opening love hold by Chang - all serve-volley (2 first serves, 2 seconds), including second volley winners from BHOH and BH1/2V
And he starts his next game with consecutive aces. But gets broken with Wheaton delivering winning returns and passes

Wheaton needs 14 points to consolidate for 3-1, with Chang delivering such returns that Wheaton stays back off a first serve for only time in the match (Chang hits a BH cc winner on it). Pass of the match in the game too, a full running BH dtl winner by Chang. He has 3 break points but can’t break through

Wheaton breaks again for 4-1, in a 10 point game. Second serve-volleys are punished and stay back second serves are punished by return-approaches

2 set and 2 break advantage sounds like curtains, but that’s not Chang’s way. Breaks back for 2-4 with winning returns and has 2 break points next go around to level. Wheaton delivers unreturned first serves on both of them (1 ace) and holds onto 1 break lead

Wheaton threatens to break to end the match and somewhat blows the game after, with Chang going back to playing on baseline (he’d done so previous service game also, which he held)

Winning BH dtl, and 2 points picked up flowing out of strong returns get Wheaton to 15-40. He misses routine returns on 3 of the next 4 points (once looking for a swatted winner) and misses an under-net regulation volley on the other

Wheaton serves out to 15, finishing with an ace

Summing up, both a high quality and a tough match with very long games; the latter surprisingly so in such fast conditions

Very strong all around from David Wheaton. Big serve, serve-volleying, damaging volley. His movements are tottering around average, but he has power off the ground, along with consistency too. Most importantly, brutal and beautifully judged power return-approaches, which he moves around off both wings, while moving forward to play. His powerful groundies translate to strong passing when needed too

Chang with good enough return-passing to challenge the big serve but often thwarted by the very best of those big serves. Quicker, stronger off the ground, typically tenacious. And no slouch at net himself

His serve though is liability and Wheaton’s handling and punishing of it is big difference between two players

 

[buscemi]

Man, Wheaton had so much potential. He was 22 here, having made the Australian Open and U.S. Open QF in 1990 and the Wimbledon SF earlier in the year, beating Lendl + Agassi and losing a competitive three setter against Becker. Here, his win against Chang came after he took down Stich, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 in the semifinals. Wheaton had a big serve, a big backhand, and a nice net game. And, as you note here, he could rip it off the return. At this point, Wheaton was 3-1 against Agassi, 3-1 against Chang, and 1-1 against Courier (with Wheaton winning their next match in Cincinnati).

But he's on record as saying that his title at the Grand Slam Cup left him feeling empty and unfulfilled. Rather than take his game to the next level, everything kind of regressed. He'd have a great match here are there in the coming years, but he never reached this level again.

 

[Mustard]

Man, Wheaton had so much potential. He was 22 here, having made the Australian Open and U.S. Open QF in 1990 and the Wimbledon SF earlier in the year, beating Lendl + Agassi and losing a competitive three setter against Becker. Here, his win against Chang came after he took down Stich, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 in the semifinals. Wheaton had a big serve, a big backhand, and a nice net game. And, as you note here, he could rip it off the return. At this point, Wheaton was 3-1 against Agassi, 3-1 against Chang, and 1-1 against Courier (with Wheaton winning their next match in Cincinnati).

But he's on record as saying that his title at the Grand Slam Cup left him feeling empty and unfulfilled. Rather than take his game to the next level, everything kind of regressed. He'd have a great match here are there in the coming years, but he never reached this level again.

Was it the high prize money of winning the 1991 Grand Slam Cup? It was by far the highest in tennis at the time. Brad Gilbert's 1990 Grand Slam Cup semi final win over David Wheaton was a huge match by Gilbert's own admission, because of the sums of money involved.

I can see how winning the 1991 Grand Slam Cup, and the massive prize money, can potentially cause a motivational issue in those days. Wheaton was now supposed to be super-motivated to win tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open, but lesser prize money there, while the Grand Slam Cup had high prize money but no ranking points. It can cause a motivational crisis to a person of a certain mentality.

 

[jrepac]

Man, Wheaton had so much potential. He was 22 here, having made the Australian Open and U.S. Open QF in 1990 and the Wimbledon SF earlier in the year, beating Lendl + Agassi and losing a competitive three setter against Becker. Here, his win against Chang came after he took down Stich, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 in the semifinals. Wheaton had a big serve, a big backhand, and a nice net game. And, as you note here, he could rip it off the return. At this point, Wheaton was 3-1 against Agassi, 3-1 against Chang, and 1-1 against Courier (with Wheaton winning their next match in Cincinnati).

But he's on record as saying that his title at the Grand Slam Cup left him feeling empty and unfulfilled. Rather than take his game to the next level, everything kind of regressed. He'd have a great match here are there in the coming years, but he never reached this level again.

I thought more great things to come from Wheaton. Really liked his game. Was disappointed in his lack of results thereafter.

 

[HBK4life]

Wasn’t this match almost a fist fight

 

[jrepac]

Wasn’t this match almost a fist fight

with whom? Not Chang!?

 

[Waspsting]

Wasn’t this match almost a fist fight

That was Wheaton and Brad Gilbert. In 1990 I think

If I were Wheaton, i'd take a 'fist fight' (what was it exactly? a few shoves would be extent of it, I imagine) with Gilbert over the shot in the nuts he takes from Chang anyday

 

[Mustard]

That was Wheaton and Brad Gilbert. In 1990 I think

If I were Wheaton, i'd take a 'fist fight' (what was it exactly? a few shoves would be extent of it, I imagine) with Gilbert over the shot in the nuts he takes from Chang anyday

Gilbert referred to his 1990 Grand Slam Cup semi final match against Wheaton as "The Million Dollar Match: War with Wheaton". Gilbert won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4, and lost the final to Sampras. Wheaton came back to win the 1991 Grand Slam Cup.

 

[dryeagle]

I always thought of GS Cup as a glorified exhibition

 

[Mustard]

I always thought of GS Cup as a glorified exhibition

A lot of money.

 

[dryeagle]

A lot of money.

Like a lot of exos