Here are two matches I took stats for several weeks ago. First Wilander's match, then Edberg's.
Becker d. Wilander 6-2, 6-0, 6-2
Becker said, “Today I played the best match of my life.”
Wilander said, “This is the best someone’s ever played against me.”
In Davis Cup play, Wilander had lost a 6-0 set only once, in his Davis Cup debut against Paul McNamee in 1981.
Wilander had a large bandage around his right leg, but I noticed nothing really wrong with his movement; and I’ve never read anything indicating that something was wrong.
Wilander did what he was to do (a few times) against Edberg in Australia a month later: he put an ordinary ball over the baseline on break point against him.
But in Australia, Wilander did get revenge on Becker in straight sets.
The win here gave West Germany a 3-1 lead in the tie. (Edberg went on to beat Steeb in a meaningless rubber, 6-2, 6-4). Becker participated in all three of West Germany's wins. Said Niki Pilic, the German captain, “Being objective, I never saw anyone play that kind of tennis for three days in such an important match.”
SERVICE
Becker served 13 aces and 6 doubles.
Wilander served 1 ace and 2 doubles.
Becker got a return error from Wilander 20 times -- of which I judged 3 as service winners.
Wilander got a return error from Becker 13 times -- of which I judged none as service winners.
Becker served at 57%, making 38 of 67 first serves.
Wilander served at 59%, making 45 of 76 first serves.
Becker’s first-serve percentage by set: 65, 58, 40
Wilander’s first-serve percentage by set: 63, 47, 63
Becker won 50 of 67 service points (74.6%)
Wilander won 33 of 76 service points (43.4%)
Becker converted 7 of 11 break points, Wilander 0 of 3.
Becker got his first serve into play on 2 of 3 break points, Wilander on 6 of 11.
Becker won 93 points overall, Wilander 50.
WINNERS
Becker hit 27 winners apart from service: 10 FH, 4 BH, 7 FHV, 3 BHV, 3 overheads. If you add his 13 aces, his rate of winners per game is 1.82, the highest rate I have found for him.
Wilander hit 16 winners part from service: 4 FH, 7 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 overhead.
Becker is nicely balanced, with 14 winners from ground strokes and 13 from volleys/smashes. But his most destructive single stroke was a ground stroke.
Becker had 4 forehand return winners, and a backhand winner that was a pass. On top of these, he had one forehand passing shot.
Wilander had 4 return winners (3 from the backhand). All of these were passes. In addition, he had 4 passes (3 from the backhand).
Wilander really had a large number of winners for someone who won only four games. He reacted well enough at times, when Becker produced the power. But he produced little power or aggression of any kind on his own. On such a potent surface, it looked ineffective – bordering on suicidal – for Wilander to try rallying with Becker.
Errors (forced and unforced)
Subtracting the aces and clean winners from the total points won:
Becker made 33 total errors. Of those I counted 13 return errors and 6 double-faults. That leaves him making 14 errors in points that had at least a successful return, that is, in rallies.
Wilander made 53 total errors. Of those I counted 20 return errors and 2 double-faults. That leaves him making 31 errors in rallies.
(Edited with slight correction to Becker's service numbers.)
Becker d. Wilander 6-2, 6-0, 6-2
Becker said, “Today I played the best match of my life.”
Wilander said, “This is the best someone’s ever played against me.”
In Davis Cup play, Wilander had lost a 6-0 set only once, in his Davis Cup debut against Paul McNamee in 1981.
Wilander had a large bandage around his right leg, but I noticed nothing really wrong with his movement; and I’ve never read anything indicating that something was wrong.
Wilander did what he was to do (a few times) against Edberg in Australia a month later: he put an ordinary ball over the baseline on break point against him.
But in Australia, Wilander did get revenge on Becker in straight sets.
The win here gave West Germany a 3-1 lead in the tie. (Edberg went on to beat Steeb in a meaningless rubber, 6-2, 6-4). Becker participated in all three of West Germany's wins. Said Niki Pilic, the German captain, “Being objective, I never saw anyone play that kind of tennis for three days in such an important match.”
SERVICE
Becker served 13 aces and 6 doubles.
Wilander served 1 ace and 2 doubles.
Becker got a return error from Wilander 20 times -- of which I judged 3 as service winners.
Wilander got a return error from Becker 13 times -- of which I judged none as service winners.
Becker served at 57%, making 38 of 67 first serves.
Wilander served at 59%, making 45 of 76 first serves.
Becker’s first-serve percentage by set: 65, 58, 40
Wilander’s first-serve percentage by set: 63, 47, 63
Becker won 50 of 67 service points (74.6%)
Wilander won 33 of 76 service points (43.4%)
Becker converted 7 of 11 break points, Wilander 0 of 3.
Becker got his first serve into play on 2 of 3 break points, Wilander on 6 of 11.
Becker won 93 points overall, Wilander 50.
WINNERS
Becker hit 27 winners apart from service: 10 FH, 4 BH, 7 FHV, 3 BHV, 3 overheads. If you add his 13 aces, his rate of winners per game is 1.82, the highest rate I have found for him.
Wilander hit 16 winners part from service: 4 FH, 7 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 overhead.
Becker is nicely balanced, with 14 winners from ground strokes and 13 from volleys/smashes. But his most destructive single stroke was a ground stroke.
Becker had 4 forehand return winners, and a backhand winner that was a pass. On top of these, he had one forehand passing shot.
Wilander had 4 return winners (3 from the backhand). All of these were passes. In addition, he had 4 passes (3 from the backhand).
Wilander really had a large number of winners for someone who won only four games. He reacted well enough at times, when Becker produced the power. But he produced little power or aggression of any kind on his own. On such a potent surface, it looked ineffective – bordering on suicidal – for Wilander to try rallying with Becker.
Errors (forced and unforced)
Subtracting the aces and clean winners from the total points won:
Becker made 33 total errors. Of those I counted 13 return errors and 6 double-faults. That leaves him making 14 errors in points that had at least a successful return, that is, in rallies.
Wilander made 53 total errors. Of those I counted 20 return errors and 2 double-faults. That leaves him making 31 errors in rallies.
(Edited with slight correction to Becker's service numbers.)
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