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Why Dominating 1st-Round Matches is Crucial for Top Players at the US Open
Published: September 2, 2015
What is this pattern of success, and is its simplicity enough to forecast the U.S. Open winner?
The Pattern
At the 2000 U.S. Open final, talented young Marat Safin steamrolled aging superstar Pete Sampras. While many view this as a transitional time for tennis with one generation getting ready to replace another, it was also the last time the U.S. Open champion lost even one set in the first round. Since 2000, all U.S. Open champions have been straight-sets winners in the first round.
Is that really important? The short answer is that it’s probably much more important now than it was when Sampras’ quick-strike game more often than not stifled the sport’s top baseline players.
As Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray have mostly ruled the modern scene in tennis, the sport has become more physical, more vertical and with generally longer, more grueling matches and deeper fields of fit veterans.
The eventual champion needs to be talented and great, but he must also persevere with his mind and body. It’s a war of attrition by the end of the tournament, and much of his energy reserve and fighting resolve might be determined by how easily he could dispatch his opening opponents.
For instance, Federer won his 2005 opening match with three breadsticks (that’s three sets of 6-1) over Ivo Minar. Not surprisingly, he went on to complete another dominating championship, highlighted by his superior youth, energy and strength over 35-year-old Andre Agassi (who also won his opener in s...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis
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