I vaguely remember seeing this match 25 years ago but regardless, it was enjoyable watching it again in May of 2020. It really showed the growing skills of Mark Philippoussis as an eighteen-year-old, even though he was a sort of relative unknown at the time. Playing the sixth seed of the '95 Aussie Open in the first round probably wasn't what Mark was hoping for but at least for the first set and a half, putting Stefan to the test in a spectacular fashion, gleaned what was in store with Mark as he matured as a player. 198 kph first serves were a long way off what they would become later in his career, however, both his sizzling forehand and backhand ground strokes and also his passing shots, even back then, were already quite exceptional. Despite the fact that Stefan won, you could see the look on his face throughout the match, as well as the relief on his face at the end. He knew that if Mark had won the set point in the second set, the outcome might have been very different. Of course that's tennis, the moments embraced and the moments lost and why experience so often wins out over youth. Anyway, it was a great match and so thank you, Samprasfan1987, for the nostalgic look back, it was very much appreciated.
I read somewhere Edberg even tried to flatten out his serve to remain competitive towards the end of his career. Also, Luxilon strings were introduced in 1991. ALU Power came out in 1994.
In this match you can see the clear fact that Edberg was a player from the past. His kickserve was not more strong enough to be in a good volley position against the modern powergame played from Philippoussis, Enqvist, Courier etc. for example. His forehand as well was to pressureless. He did not go with the time. Good decision to retire. Becker found a way to improve his game. Better serve, stronger baseline game etc. Becker won against these new generation in the years 1994 until end of 1996.
@@nizzam1 Edberg lost to Courier in Wimbledon 1993. On grass☝🏽He never reached the 3rd in Wimbledon. This match was 1995. In 1995 came a lot of raw power players. Agassi came back, Enqvist, Medvedev, Kafelnikov etc. 1995 was the reason that Edberg played his last year 1996. Courier‘s time was also over in 1994. Becker developed his game. He won WM in 1995 and Australian Open 1996.
@@Marc443 Yes, Edberg was a player in decline from let's say 1993 onwards. Regardless that he still had good results here and there (Australian Open final 1993, Wimbledon semifinal 1993, tournament wins in Doha, Washington, Stuttgart indoors 1994, etc.). As you said the main reason for that certainly was his kick-service not being good enough anymore (often too slow, too short) to compete with the top players of the new power generation.
@@Marc443 I agree. His decline started in 1993. Only players with a powerful serve started to dominate and especially he second serve got super weak. And baseline players like Courrier could deal with his serve too easily. But tennis got pretty lousy as of 1993. Most games were unwatchable.
@@Marc443 I take your points but Edberg was in personal decline by this point(1995). The fact he could still dispatch young Phillipoussis pretty much says it all. The Edberg of 1985 to 1992/early 93 would have handled a 1999 Philipoussis anytime.
Yes partly agree. However Edberg needed a slower serve to allow him to come to net on time. So it was also due to his game tactics to serve how he did.
Just saw these comments from the Edberg Courier 1993 Wimbledon Match 9/9-on youtube: 1 year ago (edited) The real reason s+v died was kind of seen in this match. The string tech not really the grass allowed power and control so you could kill s+v players like Edberg that had average serves 5 months ago I agree as a huge Edberg fan, his serve looked very weak in this match..... I agree with both of these comments!
1985-1990-1995, a lot changed in tennis every 5 years. the game changed from serve volleyers without a lot of power to power ful all court hitters. two exceptions becker whose game was still relevant in 1996 was the first of the hig powerful all court players and tafter was more in the edberg mold who matured later in his career
@@z1az285 Nonsense. Edberg was past his personal best by early to mid 1993. That's all. It was standard practise back then for players to go down hill after 25.....Borg,Mac,Wilander,Agassi,Becker,Edberg....all did this. Some made a resurgence(like Becker in 95/96)...or Agassi in 99. But Becker is on record saying his best years were 1989-1991. Only Lendl and perhaps Connors were able to remain competitive past 25.....Sampras would also buck that trend. But Philpoussis is no Edberg......and this match proves it. And Edberg was an all court player...........hence his near miss at the French in 1989. How many times did the all courter(Mark).....make it past the 4th round at Roland Garros? That's right.....not once.
lol! Mark was nothing more than a big server with competent volleys. Edberg at his peak(1985-1991/92) was an exceptional vollyer(with a great kick serve). And you can still see that difference in this match, despite Stefan being well past his best. The Edberg of 1985-1991 would have slaughtered Mark.
@@birdoffire983 Its not nonsense. yes edberg was definitely past his best, but his game wasn't like Becker's or krajicek. he didn't have the firepower to play long rallies on rebound ace or clay. Hell, even courier beat him at Wimbledon. yes, he had the movement on clay to attack the net like lightning but once he lost his speed, he was a sitting duck. Becker never had speed or edbergs movement especially on clay, but he added fitness and always had the firepower and both he and lendl set the blueprint for the modern power game. yes, the edberg of 1991 was lethal and would have destroyed mark. Becker's baseline game had improved tremendously but he had too many injuries and in all honesty his play in 1996 was far superior to 1991. check his match stats (aces, baseline winners, return winners, serve % etc). his power on serve and groundstrokes (with consistency and lest you forget optimal power, he didn't hit the ball as hard as 1991 but he could turn it on when needed ). lets not forget rafter, he was like edberg but he was more athletic and his game slightly more powerful. but he returned and passed extremely well like edberg even if his volleys weren't as good as Stefan though close. mark was more like becker, they were more power baseliners than serve volleyers though becker was definitely better at the net. why don't you tell me why becker won two titles on rebound ace in 1991 and 1996 (the same as lendl, courier, sampras) while edberg couldn't despite being far more consistent at the Australian open? the answer lies in front of you only you refuse to acknowledge it
@@z1az285 Fine points but I would respectfully disagree that Edberg did not have the fitness to play long rallies like Krajicek......especially as it was Stefan who put the very same Krajicek to the sword in that 1992 gruelling 5 setter at the US Open. Edberg also outlasted(and quite frankly outclassed) peak Becker in the 1989 French Open semi......and Becker has gone on record saying that there was nothing he could do in that particular match to turn it around despite battling bravely. Not bad for Stefan considering that 1989 was by far and away Becker's best individual year on a technical aswell as productive level(Wimby and the US Open wins back to back) Becker has stated explicitly that: "I played my best tennis between 1989-1991". Becker also conforms in the recent documentary "Boom Boom Becker Against The World" that he used his experience in the second half of his career as opposed to his waning power. In his 1996 Ozzie Open winning speech he conceded that: "To be honest, in the last few years , I did not think that I had another grand slam win left in me". That's hardly the epitome of a player who is operating at his optimal level.....especially a player of Becker's calibre. 1995/96 was Becker's indian summer. He did the best with what he had left in his locker.......but no way was he at the same level of 1985-1991. As for Phillipoussis, he fit the mould of many big boys in the mid to late 90s....a big serve and perfunctory volleying skills.....as evidenced by his quasi - negligible Wimby runs...the one final apart ,against a young Fed in 2003. You bring up Rafter..... a fine vollyer no doubt...but not in Becker's or Edberg's class by any stretch.....as evidenced by the fact he has a 0-3 head to head deficit with Stefan......and his only win against Becker was Boris's last match at Wimby in 1999.....when he was bloated, slow and short of match practise. All those guys from the mid to late 90s(Rosset,Ivanisevic,Krajicek,Rusedeski,HenmanPlilipoussis,Martin,Stich.....ect ect.....were good, solid , yet unspectacular players....and defintely not special.....like Sampras, Mac,Becker and Edberg when it came to the S &V department.
Look how Edberg got the ball and served. The pace of play was so much better then.
I vaguely remember seeing this match 25 years ago but regardless, it was enjoyable watching it again in May of 2020. It really showed the growing skills of Mark Philippoussis as an eighteen-year-old, even though he was a sort of relative unknown at the time. Playing the sixth seed of the '95 Aussie Open in the first round probably wasn't what Mark was hoping for but at least for the first set and a half, putting Stefan to the test in a spectacular fashion, gleaned what was in store with Mark as he matured as a player. 198 kph first serves were a long way off what they would become later in his career, however, both his sizzling forehand and backhand ground strokes and also his passing shots, even back then, were already quite exceptional. Despite the fact that Stefan won, you could see the look on his face throughout the match, as well as the relief on his face at the end. He knew that if Mark had won the set point in the second set, the outcome might have been very different. Of course that's tennis, the moments embraced and the moments lost and why experience so often wins out over youth. Anyway, it was a great match and so thank you, Samprasfan1987, for the nostalgic look back, it was very much appreciated.
.... and he was a total stud!
I read somewhere Edberg even tried to flatten out his serve to remain competitive towards the end of his career. Also, Luxilon strings were introduced in 1991. ALU Power came out in 1994.
the only match I've seen with Armitraj's commentary
I watched this live on star tv back then
Wow, dos de los jugadores que mas he admirado, Phillipousis, gran atleta y Edberg jugador con mucha clase
It was the day when Philippoussis talent was discovered!
In this match you can see the clear fact that Edberg was a player from the past. His kickserve was not more strong enough to be in a good volley position against the modern powergame played from Philippoussis, Enqvist, Courier etc. for example. His forehand as well was to pressureless. He did not go with the time. Good decision to retire. Becker found a way to improve his game. Better serve, stronger baseline game etc. Becker won against these new generation in the years 1994 until end of 1996.
What are you saying Edberg destroyed courier in us open 91 , beat Sampras in us open 92, Australian sf in 93,he finished in top 8 from 1990-1994
@@nizzam1 Edberg lost to Courier in Wimbledon 1993. On grass☝🏽He never reached the 3rd in Wimbledon. This match was 1995.
In 1995 came a lot of raw power players. Agassi came back, Enqvist, Medvedev, Kafelnikov etc. 1995 was the reason that Edberg played his last year 1996. Courier‘s time was also over in 1994. Becker developed his game. He won WM in 1995 and Australian Open 1996.
@@Marc443 Yes, Edberg was a player in decline from let's say 1993 onwards. Regardless that he still had good results here and there (Australian Open final 1993, Wimbledon semifinal 1993, tournament wins in Doha, Washington, Stuttgart indoors 1994, etc.). As you said the main reason for that certainly was his kick-service not being good enough anymore (often too slow, too short) to compete with the top players of the new power generation.
@@Marc443 I agree. His decline started in 1993. Only players with a powerful serve started to dominate and especially he second serve got super weak. And baseline players like Courrier could deal with his serve too easily. But tennis got pretty lousy as of 1993. Most games were unwatchable.
@@Marc443
I take your points but Edberg was in personal decline by this point(1995).
The fact he could still dispatch young Phillipoussis pretty much says it all.
The Edberg of 1985 to 1992/early 93 would have handled a 1999 Philipoussis anytime.
Four years later he would play the greatest game of tennis i ever saw, against Michael Chang at the 1999 Australian Open. Five sets. Latest for hours.
Yes partly agree. However Edberg needed a slower serve to allow him to come to net on time. So it was also due to his game tactics to serve how he did.
Thanks You for vídeo 👏👏👏🎾🎾🎾 Greatest
wow and to think philippoussis beat sampras the next year at the australian open in straight sets
this was when AO were cool, like the stadium much better than nowadays. prize money is four times higer today, ridiculous
Bugger Vijay Amritraj never liked Edberg.. look how happy he was when Mark won the points as compared to Edberg winning
Just saw these comments from the Edberg Courier 1993 Wimbledon Match 9/9-on youtube:
1 year ago (edited)
The real reason s+v died was kind of seen in this match. The string tech not really the grass allowed power and control so you could kill s+v players like Edberg that had average serves
5 months ago
I agree as a huge Edberg fan, his serve looked very weak in this match.....
I agree with both of these comments!
I remember this shirt of Edberg.. guess he lost to Aaron Krickstien after being 2 sets to love up..
1995 was a terrible year for Stefan
Bizarre meeting of era's. Edberg's game looks old compared to marks!!
1985-1990-1995, a lot changed in tennis every 5 years. the game changed from serve volleyers without a lot of power to power ful all court hitters. two exceptions becker whose game was still relevant in 1996 was the first of the hig powerful all court players and tafter was more in the edberg mold who matured later in his career
@@z1az285
Nonsense.
Edberg was past his personal best by early to mid 1993.
That's all.
It was standard practise back then for players to go down hill after 25.....Borg,Mac,Wilander,Agassi,Becker,Edberg....all did this.
Some made a resurgence(like Becker in 95/96)...or Agassi in 99.
But Becker is on record saying his best years were 1989-1991.
Only Lendl and perhaps Connors were able to remain competitive past 25.....Sampras would also buck that trend.
But Philpoussis is no Edberg......and this match proves it.
And Edberg was an all court player...........hence his near miss at the French in 1989.
How many times did the all courter(Mark).....make it past the 4th round at Roland Garros?
That's right.....not once.
lol!
Mark was nothing more than a big server with competent volleys.
Edberg at his peak(1985-1991/92) was an exceptional vollyer(with a great kick serve).
And you can still see that difference in this match, despite Stefan being well past his best.
The Edberg of 1985-1991 would have slaughtered Mark.
@@birdoffire983 Its not nonsense. yes edberg was definitely past his best, but his game wasn't like Becker's or krajicek. he didn't have the firepower to play long rallies on rebound ace or clay. Hell, even courier beat him at Wimbledon. yes, he had the movement on clay to attack the net like lightning but once he lost his speed, he was a sitting duck. Becker never had speed or edbergs movement especially on clay, but he added fitness and always had the firepower and both he and lendl set the blueprint for the modern power game. yes, the edberg of 1991 was lethal and would have destroyed mark. Becker's baseline game had improved tremendously but he had too many injuries and in all honesty his play in 1996 was far superior to 1991. check his match stats (aces, baseline winners, return winners, serve % etc). his power on serve and groundstrokes (with consistency and lest you forget optimal power, he didn't hit the ball as hard as 1991 but he could turn it on when needed ). lets not forget rafter, he was like edberg but he was more athletic and his game slightly more powerful. but he returned and passed extremely well like edberg even if his volleys weren't as good as Stefan though close. mark was more like becker, they were more power baseliners than serve volleyers though becker was definitely better at the net.
why don't you tell me why becker won two titles on rebound ace in 1991 and 1996 (the same as lendl, courier, sampras) while edberg couldn't despite being far more consistent at the Australian open? the answer lies in front of you only you refuse to acknowledge it
@@z1az285
Fine points but I would respectfully disagree that Edberg did not have the fitness to play long rallies like Krajicek......especially as it was Stefan who put the very same Krajicek to the sword in that 1992 gruelling 5 setter at the US Open.
Edberg also outlasted(and quite frankly outclassed) peak Becker in the 1989 French Open semi......and Becker has gone on record saying that there was nothing he could do in that particular match to turn it around despite battling bravely.
Not bad for Stefan considering that 1989 was by far and away Becker's best individual year on a technical aswell as productive level(Wimby and the US Open wins back to back)
Becker has stated explicitly that:
"I played my best tennis between 1989-1991".
Becker also conforms in the recent documentary "Boom Boom Becker Against The World" that he used his experience in the second half of his career as opposed to his waning power.
In his 1996 Ozzie Open winning speech he conceded that:
"To be honest, in the last few years , I did not think that I had another grand slam win left in me".
That's hardly the epitome of a player who is operating at his optimal level.....especially a player of Becker's calibre.
1995/96 was Becker's indian summer.
He did the best with what he had left in his locker.......but no way was he at the same level of 1985-1991.
As for Phillipoussis, he fit the mould of many big boys in the mid to late 90s....a big serve and perfunctory volleying skills.....as evidenced by his quasi - negligible Wimby runs...the one final apart ,against a young Fed in 2003.
You bring up Rafter..... a fine vollyer no doubt...but not in Becker's or Edberg's class by any stretch.....as evidenced by the fact he has a 0-3 head to head deficit with Stefan......and his only win against Becker was Boris's last match at Wimby in 1999.....when he was bloated, slow and short of match practise.
All those guys from the mid to late 90s(Rosset,Ivanisevic,Krajicek,Rusedeski,HenmanPlilipoussis,Martin,Stich.....ect ect.....were good, solid , yet unspectacular players....and defintely not special.....like Sampras, Mac,Becker and Edberg when it came to the S &V department.