1 Response to rg97dewulf_norman

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 1, 2026 at 6:59 pm

   Points won by each set: | 36-28, 39-43, 39-35, 32-25 |
   Unreturned serves:
   22 % Dewulf – 28 of 126
   25 % Norman – 38 of 151

   One of the most sensational pairs in the Slam quarterfinals of the 90s, two players who were looking similar (~the same height, both with baseball caps and stable two-handed backhands) and had similar game-styles. Dewulf [122] perhaps took advantage of playing on Centre Court in his preceding round (Corretja 3-1) while Norman [65], who ousted bigger names in tennis (Sampras, Rosset), did it on Suzanne Lenglen. The underdog was much more comfortable in baseline exchanges which forced Norman to seek other solutions after the opener. The Swede began serving faster, attacking the net behind the serve, and won the 2nd set 7/2 despite trailing 5:6, 0/30 as a receiver. As he led 3:1* (40/30) in the 3rd set it seemed he’d prevail, but he didn’t convert that break point as well as three mini-set points at 4-all. In the 4th set he was struggling with a minor left thigh injury, and 25 y.o. Dewulf playing casual, almost careless tennis, striking winner after winner off his forehand, became the third qualifier in history to advance to the major semifinal (following Giltinan and J.McEnroe in 1977) after 2 hours 43 minutes as he hit a backhand down the line winner. The last two games were played in rain… It was their only meeting.

   Serve & volley: Dewulf 0, Norman 3/10

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