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MONTE CARLO MASTERS | TENNIS
A Bagel That Boris Becker Would Not Want to Remember
The 0–6 score is ironic in more ways than one.
Boris Becker played six finals on the clay courts during his illustrious career. Three of them happened to be in one tournament, the Monte-Carlo Masters.
It’s been three decades since the legendary German made it to the decider at the Monte Carlo Country Club for a third (and final) time in his career. He was up against Austrian Thomas Muster, a player he had got the better of in both their previous meetings. The 1995 Monte-Carlo Masters final is regarded as one of the best matches in the tournament’s history.
To put things into context, Becker was the only remaining seed (at No. 2) from the top eight in the draw. Despite clay not being his favored surface, the German had a decent record (16–8) in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, making three finals in his first nine appearances. Most importantly, he was a point away from winning the title in the 1995 edition.
Yet it was not meant to be. Becker missed a match point on his own serve with a double-fault in the fourth-set tiebreaker. It’s the helping hand that his opponent was hoping for. Muster saved two championship points and came back from two sets down to win 4–6, 5–7, 6–1, 7–6(6), 6–0…
