Stats for Hoad-Trabert (1953 Davis Cup)

krosero · 09-25-2012, 05:35 PM

I have found a wealth of stats on this famous match, including service percentages, break points, winners, errors and rally lengths. The Sydney Morning Herald provided them as part of a full-page spread in their paper, with Adrian Quist writing the main report: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...6924%2C4624565.

Hoad d. Trabert 13-11, 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, 7-5

Powerful services and volleying were features of the Lewis Hoad–Tony Trabert Davis Cup match.

This type of play was so consistent that there were only six rallies in the 62 games of the five sets. The longest rally had only seven strokes.

For the type of game played both required the maximum stamina and speed around the court.

Trabert was more accurate with his first services and, though Hoad served 11 aces to six, the American had a far greater percentage of successful first services.

Hoad had 210 services. He faulted 96 times on the first service.
[A service percentage of 54.3%].

Trabert served 180 times and got 124 first services into the court.
[A service percentage of 68.9%].

The figures show that, because of his greater accuracy, Trabert had less trouble in holding his services than Hoad.

It was often only Hoad’s amazing ability to pull out a clean ace or a perfect placement which got him out of serious trouble.

During the match he saved nine game points, mainly with aces or strong serves.

These "nine game points" are a reference to break points. Hoad saved 9 of 12 break points, Trabert 6 of 9.

In the first two sets Hoad saved 7 of 7 break points, and won both sets. In the next two sets he saved only 1 of 4 breakers. In the fifth set he saved the only break point he faced: at 1-all, in a game that went to three deuces.

Stats from Frank Tierney's article:

Hoad admitted to being nervous at the start, though by the way in which he went into the game this was not apparent.

He also confessed to being “a little worried” at the end of the fourth set.

“Tony was playing well at that stage and I was having some serving worries,” he said.

Hoad’s statement on “service worries” was bound up with his inability to get his big service functioning well enough to keep Trabert defending on the service.

In the fourth set, Hoad, in his four deliveries, served 28 balls but only got 12 first ones in.
[A service percentage of 42.9%].

He did better in the fifth set, and showed that he was in touch with powerful first services in the ninth and eleventh games when he kept Trabert back to take bullet-like deliveries.

A Stroke Analysis was given as well:

Hoad had 11 aces, 9 double-faults, 78 winners, 66 outs, 64 nets.
Trabert had 6 aces, 4 double-faults, 63 winners, 68 outs, 44 nets.

The heavy coverage devoted to this tie shows what a huge event Davis Cup was back then. I am very surprised to see service percentages calculated in a match this old; and I never expected to see rally lengths given. The statisticians and journalists went all out on this.

By contrast I have not been able to find very many stats for the 1986 Davis Cup final (Australia d. Sweden) -- to give just one example of how Davis Cup has declined in prestige.

krosero · 09-25-2012, 05:36 PM

See here for the Herald's report on the first day's play, in which Hoad d. Seixas and Trabert d. Rosewall, all in straight sets: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...7172%2C4458600

krosero · 09-25-2012, 05:52 PM

The New York Times gave some indication of how and when Trabert got his service percentage so high:

Trabert was set back in the first set when he had two opportunities to break through his opponent. Standing about a yard behind the baseline to handle Hoad’s cannonball service with a maximum of effect, Trabert went to deuce in the seventh game before losing and took a 30-0 margin in the ninth. Both times Hoad pulled it out.

That seemed to discourage Tony and he was not nearly as effective the rest of the way. Finally, after the match had followed service down the line, Hoad broke through in the twenty-fourth game for the set.

In the second set, Hoad broke through in the fourth game. That spelled Trabert’s undoing. The American ace kept fighting, however, and the Australian captain, Harry Hopman, came out to talk to Hoad. The American captain, Billy Talbert, also stepped on the court to advise his star and to give him some rosin.

Trabert Changes Tactics

Then the tide of the match changed entirely. Trabert, finding his “big” service doing little good in the rain, was content merely to get the ball in play and wait for Hoad to err.

This strategy worked to perfection for two sets and Hoad was not sure of his ground strokes or volleys. Tony never was in trouble for these two sets and most of the Australians present seemed ready to admit that they would be in the United States next year to try to bring the cup back here.

But not Hoad. A fighter, the youngster played it down to the end. Finally in the twelfth game, Hoad broke through at love.

The players, on the court for three hours, did not show any signs of strain as they headed for the locker room.

krosero · 09-26-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krosero

Hoad had 11 aces, 9 double-faults, 78 winners, 66 outs, 64 nets.
Trabert had 6 aces, 4 double-faults, 63 winners, 68 outs, 44 nets.

According to this, Hoad won fewer points than Trabert did (205-208 ).

pc1 · 09-26-2012, 02:57 PM

From accounts I have read, the whole country of Australia seemed to stop to listen to the match. I would say that Davis Cup was huge.

Dan Lobb · 09-30-2012, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pc1

From accounts I have read, the whole country of Australia seemed to stop to listen to the match. I would say that Davis Cup was huge.

Kramer attempted to sign Hoad to pro contracts immediately after the Davis Cup final, although he had just turned only 19.
Hoad replied that he wanted to win a couple of Wimbledons first, and made Kramer wait four more years.

krosero · 10-01-2012, 05:20 PM

Trabert and Hoad played a similar five-setter at Forest Hills in '57, in the Tournament of Champions. Trabert won it, 6-4, 10-12, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

In that match as in the '53 meeting, Trabert had a service percentage significantly higher than Hoad's.

McCauley:

The narrow margin came through the American’s greater ability to get his first serve in and better use of his return of service. As expected, it was a match of tremendous serves and thunderous volleys.

Dan Lobb · 10-02-2012, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krosero

Trabert and Hoad played a similar five-setter at Forest Hills in '57, in the Tournament of Champions. Trabert won it, 6-4, 10-12, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

In that match as in the '53 meeting, Trabert had a service percentage significantly higher than Hoad's.

McCauley:

The narrow margin came through the American’s greater ability to get his first serve in and better use of his return of service. As expected, it was a match of tremendous serves and thunderous volleys.

They also played an historic Davis Cup match on television in the 1955 final.
This was the very first color broadcast for NBC of any kind, and attracted 10 million viewers, the first mass television audience for a tennis match.
Vice-President Nixon awarded the trophy and stated that Hoad and Trabert "have shown that tennis is not a game for sissies". Historic, indeed!

kiki · 10-02-2012, 12:57 PM

Trabert is also a pretty undervalued player.But this guy was one of the best pros in the possibly toughest pro tour (Gonzales,Sedgman,Hoad,Rosewall,Trabert and Segura)

09-25-2012, 05:35 PM	#1
krosero Hall Of Fame Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,648	Stats for Hoad-Trabert (1953 Davis Cup) I have found a wealth of stats on this famous match, including service percentages, break points, winners, errors and rally lengths. The Sydney Morning Herald provided them as part of a full-page spread in their paper, with Adrian Quist writing the main report: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...6924%2C4624565. Hoad d. Trabert 13-11, 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, 7-5 Powerful services and volleying were features of the Lewis Hoad–Tony Trabert Davis Cup match. This type of play was so consistent that there were only six rallies in the 62 games of the five sets. The longest rally had only seven strokes. For the type of game played both required the maximum stamina and speed around the court. Trabert was more accurate with his first services and, though Hoad served 11 aces to six, the American had a far greater percentage of successful first services. Hoad had 210 services. He faulted 96 times on the first service. [A service percentage of 54.3%]. Trabert served 180 times and got 124 first services into the court. [A service percentage of 68.9%]. The figures show that, because of his greater accuracy, Trabert had less trouble in holding his services than Hoad. It was often only Hoad’s amazing ability to pull out a clean ace or a perfect placement which got him out of serious trouble. During the match he saved nine game points, mainly with aces or strong serves. These "nine game points" are a reference to break points. Hoad saved 9 of 12 break points, Trabert 6 of 9. In the first two sets Hoad saved 7 of 7 break points, and won both sets. In the next two sets he saved only 1 of 4 breakers. In the fifth set he saved the only break point he faced: at 1-all, in a game that went to three deuces. Stats from Frank Tierney's article: Hoad admitted to being nervous at the start, though by the way in which he went into the game this was not apparent. He also confessed to being “a little worried” at the end of the fourth set. “Tony was playing well at that stage and I was having some serving worries,” he said. Hoad’s statement on “service worries” was bound up with his inability to get his big service functioning well enough to keep Trabert defending on the service. In the fourth set, Hoad, in his four deliveries, served 28 balls but only got 12 first ones in. [A service percentage of 42.9%]. He did better in the fifth set, and showed that he was in touch with powerful first services in the ninth and eleventh games when he kept Trabert back to take bullet-like deliveries. A Stroke Analysis was given as well: Hoad had 11 aces, 9 double-faults, 78 winners, 66 outs, 64 nets. Trabert had 6 aces, 4 double-faults, 63 winners, 68 outs, 44 nets. The heavy coverage devoted to this tie shows what a huge event Davis Cup was back then. I am very surprised to see service percentages calculated in a match this old; and I never expected to see rally lengths given. The statisticians and journalists went all out on this. By contrast I have not been able to find very many stats for the 1986 Davis Cup final (Australia d. Sweden) -- to give just one example of how Davis Cup has declined in prestige. Last edited by krosero : 10-12-2012 at 08:05 PM. Reason: added break points

09-25-2012, 05:36 PM	#2
krosero Hall Of Fame Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,648	See here for the Herald's report on the first day's play, in which Hoad d. Seixas and Trabert d. Rosewall, all in straight sets: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...7172%2C4458600 Last edited by krosero : 09-25-2012 at 05:40 PM.

09-25-2012, 05:52 PM	#3
krosero Hall Of Fame Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,648	The New York Times gave some indication of how and when Trabert got his service percentage so high: Trabert was set back in the first set when he had two opportunities to break through his opponent. Standing about a yard behind the baseline to handle Hoad’s cannonball service with a maximum of effect, Trabert went to deuce in the seventh game before losing and took a 30-0 margin in the ninth. Both times Hoad pulled it out. That seemed to discourage Tony and he was not nearly as effective the rest of the way. Finally, after the match had followed service down the line, Hoad broke through in the twenty-fourth game for the set. In the second set, Hoad broke through in the fourth game. That spelled Trabert’s undoing. The American ace kept fighting, however, and the Australian captain, Harry Hopman, came out to talk to Hoad. The American captain, Billy Talbert, also stepped on the court to advise his star and to give him some rosin. Trabert Changes Tactics Then the tide of the match changed entirely. Trabert, finding his “big” service doing little good in the rain, was content merely to get the ball in play and wait for Hoad to err. This strategy worked to perfection for two sets and Hoad was not sure of his ground strokes or volleys. Tony never was in trouble for these two sets and most of the Australians present seemed ready to admit that they would be in the United States next year to try to bring the cup back here. But not Hoad. A fighter, the youngster played it down to the end. Finally in the twelfth game, Hoad broke through at love. The players, on the court for three hours, did not show any signs of strain as they headed for the locker room.

10-01-2012, 05:20 PM	#7
krosero Hall Of Fame Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,648	Trabert and Hoad played a similar five-setter at Forest Hills in '57, in the Tournament of Champions. Trabert won it, 6-4, 10-12, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. In that match as in the '53 meeting, Trabert had a service percentage significantly higher than Hoad's. McCauley: The narrow margin came through the American’s greater ability to get his first serve in and better use of his return of service. As expected, it was a match of tremendous serves and thunderous volleys.

10-02-2012, 12:57 PM	#9
kiki G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 10,511	Trabert is also a pretty undervalued player.But this guy was one of the best pros in the possibly toughest pro tour (Gonzales,Sedgman,Hoad,Rosewall,Trabert and Segura) __________________ " I have watched plenty of matches of the 70´s and 80´s" ABMK, the historian