wimbledon86lendl_zivojinovic
By Voo de Mar	| Published October 20, 2018 | Full size is × pixels
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Points won by each set: [ 25-15, 41-35, 34-22, 36-39, 35-27 ]
Points won directly behind the serve:
38 % Lendl – 51 of 131
36 % Zivojinovic – 65 of 178
The big-serving Zivojinovic [36] of Yugoslavia – the man for special occasions… After Wimbledon '86 he had notched two Grand Slam semifinals (previously Aus Open '85) not having participated even in one ATP final! That Zivo's intriguing semifinal against Lendl [1] – who was a big favorite having won their only previous meeting 6-4, 6-0 – it's an exemplification that with the help of tie-breaks it's possible to play a five-setter being optically an inferior opponent constantly through four sets (Lendl was two & three points away to win sets Nos. 2 & 4, leading 5:4* in the tie-break and 6:5* (30/40) respectively). The player needs to gather 31 points at least to win a tie-break set, "Bobo" collected only 35 points in the 13-game second set to level at one set apiece. He also won three points fewer when they entered the second tie-break, but it didn't prevent him from winning it easily. He was so relaxed that leading *5:1 in that tie-break he stayed on the back on the court behind his 2nd serve (he did it a couple of times, Lendl didn't once) and hit casual forehand which rolled over the net. A huge surprise hung in the air as he created a break point leading 1:0 in the 5th set, but Lendl fought it off convincingly and got the decisive break at 3-all with a backhand return winner. The Czechoslovak finished the contest with a +33-point difference: a rare disproportion in a five-setter… Many years later he will experience almost identical match as a coach of Murray during Australian Open '13 semifinal #
# Comparison of almost identical (in terms of the scorelines) major semifinals:
Wimbledon '86: Lendl d. Zivojinovic 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-4… 3 hours 25 minutes… Total points: 171-138… Aces: 18-20… Lendl 2 & 3 points away from winning sets he lost
Aus Open '13: Murray d. Federer 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2… 4 hours 1 minute… Total points: 177-151… Aces: 21-5… Murray 2 & 2 points away from winning sets he lost