umag96moya_mantilla

By | Published August 17, 2026 | Full size is 533 × 403 pixels

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2 Responses to umag96moya_mantilla

  1. Voo de Mar says:
    August 17, 2026 at 2:37 am
    Points won by each set: | 26-11, 41-37 |
    Unreturned serves:
    11 % Moya – 6 of 52
    6 % Mantilla – 4 of 63

    For the first time in the Open Era (the second case nine years later, also in a final between two Spaniards), the first “double bagel” of the main-level finals hung in the air as Moya [29] was leading 6-0, 4:0* because Mantilla [19] didn’t change anything in his game-style after dropping the opener; he was simply outplayed in baseline rallies – Moya’s forehand was much bigger as well as his movement more agile allowing him to defend better with the backhand slice. The tenacious Mantilla held at ‘love’ the fifth game, raised his arm with a broad smile, and the Croatian crowd began to cheer for him. Moya was two points away from the title at 6-0, 5:3* (30/15) to repeat the scoreline of their first mutual final # Moya failed to serve the championship out at 5:4 and 6:5, but his supremacy in the ensuing tie-break was unquestionable… The unknown Kuerten [116] reached his first ATP quarterfinal that week in Umag.

    Moya’s route to his 2nd title:
    1 Javier Sanchez 6-1, 7-6(8)
    2 Galo Blanco 6-3, 6-2
    Q Marcos Gorriz 6-2, 6-1
    S Christian Ruud 6-1, 6-2
    W Felix Mantilla 6-0, 7-6(4)

    Serve & volley: both 0

    # Comparison of their two finals played within a year:
    B. Aires ’95 (November): Moya d. Mantilla 6-0, 6-3… 59 minutes… Total points: 63-39… Breaks: 5-1
    Umag ’96 (August): Moya d. Mantilla 6-0, 7-6… 76 minutes… Total points: 67-48… Breaks: 6-3

  2. Voo de Mar says:
    August 17, 2026 at 2:06 pm
    ☆ Even though Félix Mantilla Botella is two years older than Carlos Moyá Llompart, their careers are correlated. They both began to play the ATP events on a regular basis at the same time, their progress was very similar, yet Moyá had all strokes better except backhand (Mantilla had a slight edge in this department), and ultimately their paths were separated in 1999 when Moyá reached the pinnacle of men’s tennis. His matches against Mantilla were very important during his climbing to the top. When they unexpectedly reached their first ATP final (Buenos Aires ’95), Moyá was ranked no. 89, Mantilla no. 113; it was a main-level tournament no. 8 for the former, no. 6 for the latter. Their another super important matches occurred at Slams: Aussie Open ’97 (quarterfinal) and French Open ’98 (semifinal) – Moyá won them both, Mantilla never reached the last “eight” at Slams again. Their H2H in the end: Moyá 9-5 (22:13 in sets)

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