1 Response to rg88wilander_zivojinovic

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 18, 2026 at 7:46 pm

   Points won by each set: | 27-18, 49-54, 28-34, 30-23, 33-30 |
   Unreturned serves:
   20 % Wilander – 35 of 171
   31 % Zivojinovic – 49 of 155

   Wilander won something I’d call an ‘informal Grand Slam’ in 1988: Australian Open, Key Biscayne, Roland Garros and US Open – four tournaments where 7 ‘best of five’ matches were required; among 28 matches that led him to the titles, the closest to lose (it lasted 4 hours 13 minutes) he was on Centre Court in Paris against Slobodan “Bobo” Zivojinovic [25]. The big Yugoslav (194 cm, ~100 kg) didn’t have any hole in his game, he claimed just two Grand Prix titles, but he was able to raise his tennis facing the best players in the world which manifested itself in several tight five-setters against the best players of the 80s (Lendl, J.McEnroe, Wilander). Initially nothing indicated the match would be so dramatic, they were playing on Friday evening in a drizzle, Wilander [3] led 6-2, *3:1 when the drizzle turned to rain. The Swede wanted to halt the match immediately, but the umpire insisted to continue until the game is finished, and Wilander lost it (2:4 in points), then he smashed the ball into the stands after 55 minutes of play, his unusual moment of anger. Probably he knew that in better conditions ‘4:1’ instead of ‘3:2’ would be crucial for the rest of the match. And indeed, when the Sun was shining and the court wasn’t heavy the following day (Saturday), Zivojinovic was playing much better, mixing the pace with powerful serves, firm overheads and brilliant stop-volleys. At 5-all he wasted six mini-set points, but it didn’t bother him at all, and he built a 6:2* lead in the ensuing tie-break. Wilander saved a triple set point, but on the fourth occasion his backhand DTL passing-shot hit the net-cord and stayed on his side. Zivojinovic took the momentum, and raced to a 3:0* lead in the 3rd set after three ‘deuce’ games. In the 4th set Wilander established a *3:1 lead. When the Yugoslav was 5:2* ahead in the decider it seemed only a miracle would save the two-time French Open champion. And that miracle happened. There was 5:3 (30-all), Zivojinovic had won six service games in a row quite convincingly, the ball high over the net at his backhand volley and…. Wilander, like a goalkeeper who tries to save penalties, chose his left side, exactly where Zivojinovic directed his volley. The Swede won the point with a passing-shot, and collected the last five game of the third round contest. After the match, the Yugoslav (Serb) admitted, “I’ll remember that point for the rest of my life”, referring to the high-BH-volley which should have given him the match point with his skills at the net. He took part in eight editions of the French Open, it was the only time he played in the third round.

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