Sampras d. Ivanisevic, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (11-9), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
This match actually had more winners from ground strokes than from volleys/overheads, which I think is one reason I enjoyed it more than their 1995 semifinal -- but that doesn't necessarily mean that this match was higher quality.
This was Pete’s 5th Wimbledon and 11th Slam title. It was the only fifth set he ever played in a Slam final. 1998 was his last year finishing #1 on the computer.
Ivanisevic twice had points to go up by two sets, both in the second-set tiebreak. On each one he got a second serve and returned it into the net with his two-hander. He also saved two set points held by Sampras, by drawing return errors. Sampras then got another set point, but this time he got to serve. And the pattern held: another return error. All five set points in the tiebreak were decided that way.
Ivanisevic had beaten Krajicek 15-13 in the fifth set in the semis.
By my count:
Sampras had 12 aces and 8 doubles.
Ivanisevic had 32 aces and 20 doubles.
Sampras got a return error from Ivanisevic with 59 serves -- of which I judged 11 as service winners.
Ivanisevic got a return error from Sampras with 51 serves -- of which I judged 14 as service winners.
Sampras hit 40 clean winners apart from service: 7 FH, 12 BH, 6 FHV, 14 BHV, 1 OH.
Ivanisevic hit 40 clean winners apart from service: 9 FH, 13 BH, 11 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 OH.
Sampras hit 8 service return winners. He got Goran’s first serve with one forehand and one backhand. The other winners were all backhands off Goran’s second serve.
All the returns were passes. On top of those he had 9 passing shots (five from the forehand).
Ivanisevic hit 8 service return winners, too. He got Pete’s first serve with one forehand and two backhands. The other winners were all backhands off Pete’s second serve: and this was the shot that failed him twice on set point in the second tiebreak.
All the returns were passes. On top of those he had 13 passing shots (7 from the backhand).
Ivanisevic pulled off four passing shots out of five points to break Sampras at 2-3 in the fourth set. That was probably the most exciting game of the match.
So Goran ended up with more winners from ground strokes than from volleys, by 22 to 18. Sampras himself almost had that distinction, too, with 19 and 21.
Overall the match featured more ground stroke winners than overheads/volleys, 41 to 39. Some of the overheads – I did not mark them – may have been taken on a bounce rather than in the air, but that would not have changed the big picture.
In their 1995 semifinal, only a third of Pete’s winners, and slightly less than half of Goran’s, were ground strokes.
In '98, each man had fewer aces and more doubles than in '95.
In break points the only significant difference was that Ivanisevic faced 14 in ’98 compared to only 5 in 1995.
This match actually had more winners from ground strokes than from volleys/overheads, which I think is one reason I enjoyed it more than their 1995 semifinal -- but that doesn't necessarily mean that this match was higher quality.
This was Pete’s 5th Wimbledon and 11th Slam title. It was the only fifth set he ever played in a Slam final. 1998 was his last year finishing #1 on the computer.
Ivanisevic twice had points to go up by two sets, both in the second-set tiebreak. On each one he got a second serve and returned it into the net with his two-hander. He also saved two set points held by Sampras, by drawing return errors. Sampras then got another set point, but this time he got to serve. And the pattern held: another return error. All five set points in the tiebreak were decided that way.
Ivanisevic had beaten Krajicek 15-13 in the fifth set in the semis.
By my count:
Sampras had 12 aces and 8 doubles.
Ivanisevic had 32 aces and 20 doubles.
Sampras got a return error from Ivanisevic with 59 serves -- of which I judged 11 as service winners.
Ivanisevic got a return error from Sampras with 51 serves -- of which I judged 14 as service winners.
Sampras hit 40 clean winners apart from service: 7 FH, 12 BH, 6 FHV, 14 BHV, 1 OH.
Ivanisevic hit 40 clean winners apart from service: 9 FH, 13 BH, 11 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 OH.
Sampras hit 8 service return winners. He got Goran’s first serve with one forehand and one backhand. The other winners were all backhands off Goran’s second serve.
All the returns were passes. On top of those he had 9 passing shots (five from the forehand).
Ivanisevic hit 8 service return winners, too. He got Pete’s first serve with one forehand and two backhands. The other winners were all backhands off Pete’s second serve: and this was the shot that failed him twice on set point in the second tiebreak.
All the returns were passes. On top of those he had 13 passing shots (7 from the backhand).
Ivanisevic pulled off four passing shots out of five points to break Sampras at 2-3 in the fourth set. That was probably the most exciting game of the match.
So Goran ended up with more winners from ground strokes than from volleys, by 22 to 18. Sampras himself almost had that distinction, too, with 19 and 21.
Overall the match featured more ground stroke winners than overheads/volleys, 41 to 39. Some of the overheads – I did not mark them – may have been taken on a bounce rather than in the air, but that would not have changed the big picture.
In their 1995 semifinal, only a third of Pete’s winners, and slightly less than half of Goran’s, were ground strokes.
In '98, each man had fewer aces and more doubles than in '95.
In break points the only significant difference was that Ivanisevic faced 14 in ’98 compared to only 5 in 1995.
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