Stockholm Flashback: Boris Becker thumps Stefan Edberg to regain crown

Between 1986-1991, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg were the players to beat at the prestigious indoor event in Stockholm, sharing five titles and missing to lift the crown only in 1989 when Ivan Lendl went all the way. Becker failed to reach the quarter-final that season, making sure to return stronger a year later in the first edition of the Stockholm Masters, going all the way for the third title in the last four years in the Swedish capital. Becker and Edberg were the top seeds on the fast indoor carpet surface, kicking off the campaign in round two and toppling Mats Wilander and Darren Cahill. In the battle for the semis, Boris took down Goran Ivanisevic 6-4, 6-2, while Edberg lost a set against Brad Gilbert in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory, advancing into the last four where they stood strong to set the final clash. Boris Becker ousted Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-4 to arrange the meeting with Edberg, who defeated Alexander Volkov 7-6, 6-2, seeking the third crown in front of the home fans.

Facing each other for the 26th time, Boris earned the 17th victory after a dominant 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 win for the second straight triumph over the Swede who prevailed against the German in the final of Wimbledon in five sets earlier in July. In Stockholm, it was all about Becker, though, as the German never faced a break points and created 16 opportunities in the return games, converting six to race towards the finish line and lift his first Masters 1000 title. Controlling his strokes efficiently, Boris hit more than 30 winners and stayed on 15 unforced errors, forcing more than 40 mistakes from Stefan and dominating both the quickest and more extended rallies to take 40 points more than his prominent opponent.

In 1990, Boris Becker defeated Stefan Edberg in Stockholm in straight sets.

Edberg lost serve in the third game after a double fault, having nothing to work with on the return and facing five set points in the ninth game at 3-5. Becker failed to convert any of those, but the set was in his hands after a hold at 30 for 6-4, competing on a high level and looking eager to stay on that path.

The German opened the second set with a break, landing a forehand crosscourt winner and cementing the advantage with a hold at love. Stefan couldn't do anything in those moments, suffering another break in game three and finding himself 5-0 down following three straight double faults in the fifth game! Serving for the set, Boris delivered a hold at love with a service winner for only the second bagel on his tally against Stefan, earning the first one at Wimbledon a year ago. With his volleys acting miles from his best on that day, Stefan gave serve away once again in the first game of the third set, falling further and further behind and fending off two break chances in game seven to avoid an even bigger disaster. On the other hand, Becker lost two points behind the initial shot, sealing the deal with another break at 5-3 after forcing a volley error from the opponent and starting a massive celebration of the crown he lost a year ago. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32hhxL3