1 Response to marseille02enqvist_escude

1. Voo de Mar says:

   August 25, 2026 at 4:13 pm

   Points won by each set: | 40-44, 33-24, 27-11 |
   Unreturned serves:
   37 % Enqvist – 33 of 87
   40 % Escude – 37 of 92

   An anticlimactic turnaround. For a set and a half, Escude [27] was holding quite comfortably, serving very well (he had to save a triple break point at 2:3 in the opener). He could count on the support of the French crowd, but from 3:2* in the 2nd set onwards, he collected just one game, losing ten! Escude’s two successive double faults at 3:3 (30-all) completely changed the complexion of the final. Enqvist [24] was playing the entire match in his typical style, hitting flat shots off both wings from the baseline, and they were very successful as returns and passing-shots in the last half of the contest. Escude’s only break chance occurred as he led 2:1 (40/30) in the 2nd set, Enqvist fought it off with a forehand winner. Enqvist’s third title in Marseille after the years 1997-98. He was 28 at the time so tough to expect then he wouldn’t win another title, but this is what happened in the last three years of his career. He didn’t even reach a final.

   Enqvist’s route to his 19th and last title:
   1 Francisco Clavet 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
   2 Gregory Carraz 7-6(3), 6-7(6), 7-6(5)
   Q Sebastien Grosjean 6-3, 7-5
   S Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-7(1), 7-6(10), 6-4 – 2 m.p.
   W Nicolas Escude 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1

   Serve & volley: Enqvist 0, Escude 17/49

   # Comparison of Enqvist’s first and last finals (19-7 record), both against the Frenchmen, Davis Cup heroes:
   Bolzano ’92 (indoors): Enqvist d. Boetsch 6-2, 1-6, 7-6… 2 hours 5 minutes… Total points: 99-99… Breaks: 3-4
   Marseille ’02 (indoors): Enqvist d. Escude 6-7, 6-3, 6-1… 1 hour 53 minutes… Total points: 100-79… Breaks: 4-0

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