Bjorn Borg beat Jimmy Connors 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3 in the semi-final of the Masters (Year End Championship/ World Tour Final) 1980 on carpet
Borg would go on to defeat Ivan Lendl in the final to lift his second Masters title
Borg won 119 points, Connors 103 (corrected - previously read Borg 117 points)
(Note: I'm missing partial data for 3 points)
Serve Stats
Borg....
- 1st serve percentage (76/127) 60%
- 1st serve points won (47/76) 62%
- 2nd serve points won (25/51) 49%
- Aces 8, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/127) 18%
Connors. ...
- 1st serve percentage (75/95) 79%
- 1st serve points won (41/75) 55%
- 2nd serve points won (6/18) 33%
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (7/95) 7%
(Connors had no aces, double faults or in my judgment, service winners)
Serve Pattern
Borg served...
- to FH 20%
- to BH 72%
- to Body 8%
Connors served...
- to FH 22%
- to BH 75%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Borg made...
- 88 (27 FH, 59 BH, 2 ??), including 6 runaround FHs
- 7 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (2 FH, 2 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 3 Forced (3 BH)
- Return Rate (88/95) 93%
Connors made...
- 101 (26 FH, 75 BH)
- 4 Winners (4 BH)
- 14 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (1 FH, 1BH)
- 12 Forced (3 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (101/124) 81%
Break Points
Borg 7/12 (8 games)
Connors 5/15 (8 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Borg 28 (5 FH, 11 BH, 4 FHV, 4 BHV, 3 OH, 1 BHOH)
Connors 30 (5 FH, 15 BH, 4 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 OH) + 1 unknown lob
- Borg had 13 passes (4 FH, 8 BH, 1 BHV)
- on FH passes, 2 were dtl, 1 cc and 1 lob on the run
- the non-pass FH was a S/V point hit at net
- on BH passes, 3 were dtl and 5 cc (1 cc a running shot played entirety 1 handed)
- 3 non-pass BHs were all dtl, one somewhat inside-out
- 3 FHVs were 1st volleys off s/v points, the other was a high volley
- 1 BHV was a 2nd volley off a s/v point and one other was to a very high ball
- Connors had 8 passes (1 FH, 6 BH, 1 unknown lob)
- the FH pass was cc
- 3 BH passes were returns (2 dtl), 2 other dtl and 1 running-down-a-drop-shot at net
- on non-pass FHs, 2 were cc, 1 dtl and one dtl/inside-out
- on non-pass BHs, 1 was an inside-out return that Borg misjudged and allowed to go through, 3 were dtl and 5 cc
- Connors stepped in for most of his groundstroke winners, occasionally as far as just behind the service line
- the OH was hit from the baseline
- 1 BHV was a well controlled low volley
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Borg 64
- Unforced 27 (12 FH, 10 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)
- Forced 37 (13 FH, 22 BH, 2 FHV)
Connors 67
- 48 Unforced (32 FH, 14 BH, 2 FHV)
- 19 Forced (5 FH, 9 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Borg was 26/45 (58%) at net, including 14/25 (56%) serve-volleying - all off 1st serves
He was 12/20 (56%) on all other approaches, including 0/2 when forced back from net
Connors was 21/42 (50%) at net, with no serve-volleys
He was 1/2 when forced back from the net
(Borg approached twice on the same point, which he lost. This has been counted as 2 'net points', 1 forced back point and 1 point lost)
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Match Report
With neither player gaining an overwhelming advantage with the serve shot alone, this match on a quick court proved to be a lively mix of everything
Quick baseline points, attacking tactical exchanges, serve-volleying from Borg and approaches from Connors and stellar returning from both.... a safe hold was not on the cards and anything could happen
Statistically, there are a few surprises. You can see Borg with almost as many winners as the significantly more aggressive Connors and the error count for both being similar (though the Forced/Unforced breakdown is along the expected lines)
I wouldn't say it was an even match, though. Borg was fairly clearly (though slightly) the better player throughout. The difference that made the difference was...
Decisive Factor? - Connors poor approaching
Can you guess how many would be approach shot unforced errors Connors made?
16. 12 forehands (4 each set) and 4 backhands (at least 1 each set)
These were routine balls that Borg dropped short amidst hectic rallies, as he tends to occasionally. Short with no great power behind them.
Connors ran up to meet the ball as he does... and netted the ball. Over and over again.
It was strange. Its the kind of shot that draws groans from the crowd (and many did)... the kind of error you don't expect to see a top player make often.
Yet he made these errors at regular intervals from start to finish. He didn't seem to be going for too much on the shots (was just trying to ease the ball over and get to net) and nor did I judge Borg to be baiting him into trying the shot (though you couldn't blame him if he did)
Possibly something wrong with Connors' technique... a bit of top spin helps to get the ball up and over and he off course prefers to hit flat as possible, but I found such elementary errors and technical problems from such a player to be very strange
No Serve-Volleying from Connors
This was a deliberate choice from the American, which I found a bit strange as well.
I've seen him use a delayed serve-volley technique where after serving he'll hop into the court and take a step or two forward as he waits to see what the return is like and if its weak, run up to volley
With Borg standing well behind the baseline to return, I thought Connors' delayed S/V technique would be a good option here, given how far back Borg stood to return.
He didn't try even once. Given the whole point of the technique is to leave yourself the option of staying coupled with Connors' keenness to get to net in the match in general, I thought it was worth a definite shot.
Borg's serve/volleying and Passing
Borg mostly saved serve-volleying for important points and beefed up his serve on them. It worked - mostly by forcing return errors, but his net play was below par. He put away a few but also missed a number of routine ones - including 2 straightforward put-aways.
By contrast, he was excellent on the pass all match. Connors' volleying wasn't the best either, but I would credit Borg's passing more than discredit Connor' returning for the American's relatively low 50% at net stat
Returning
From both men was outstanding. Borg got almost everything back. Connors was up against a heftier serve and an occasionally net-rushing opponent, but also missed precious little... and his return was more apt to give him the initiative on the point
Baseline Dynamics
This made up the bulk of the action.
Borg was ready to open up the court with his FH while on the BH, he looked to play safe with standard, loopy crosscourt shots.
Connors looked to move Borg around from both wings. He made more errors on the FH trying to do so than he did the BH... hence Borg seemingly content to thwart the Connors FH with his secure BH and wait for errors
Connors hits an impressive BH (and to a lesser degree, the FH too) when forced back. With Borg mixing his depth and Connors standing close to the baseline, occasionally a deeper ball would hop up at the American, forcing him to hop back a step as he played his groundstroke. Its an awkward position, but he made it look routine
An interesting tactic employed by Connors 5-6 times was hitting a virtual FH cc moonball. I think the idea behind it was to tempt Borg to go for too much in putting it away or have him come to net
Borg did neither. Invariably, he ran around the shot to hit a big FH, but not so big as to be a winner (partially due to Connors' retrieval abilities - but no doubt Borg would have played the shot knowing this) - and only once did he come into net behind the shot. So the only thing the tactic achieved was Borg's position in the baseline rally was strengthened.
One senses Borg's confidence in his ability to outlast Connors from the baseline. If the court opens up, he can run down the balls and play equally sharp angles and if it doesn't, he can wait for the error.
Connors by contrast seems a bit hectic, throwing everything at his opponent and hoping it goes his way
Note on Borg's style
If I were designing the perfect baseliner, I would use Borg's game as a template.
I've heard much about his GOAT-ish forehand, but it seems to me the backbone of his game (at least, when facing Connors) is the backhand
It is rock solid and gives him a way to stay in control - which he loves to do. We hear about dangerous and deadly backhands...that's mostly poetic exaggeration and fancy
A good backhand should first and foremost be solid and dependable and Borg's is as secure as a bank
He can rock and roll with the forehand if pushed or necessary (should be added that despite that, its just as secure as the backhand) but his game seems to flow from the BH... especially since the emphasis of his play is on percentages
Borg would go on to defeat Ivan Lendl in the final to lift his second Masters title
Borg won 119 points, Connors 103 (corrected - previously read Borg 117 points)
(Note: I'm missing partial data for 3 points)
Serve Stats
Borg....
- 1st serve percentage (76/127) 60%
- 1st serve points won (47/76) 62%
- 2nd serve points won (25/51) 49%
- Aces 8, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/127) 18%
Connors. ...
- 1st serve percentage (75/95) 79%
- 1st serve points won (41/75) 55%
- 2nd serve points won (6/18) 33%
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (7/95) 7%
(Connors had no aces, double faults or in my judgment, service winners)
Serve Pattern
Borg served...
- to FH 20%
- to BH 72%
- to Body 8%
Connors served...
- to FH 22%
- to BH 75%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Borg made...
- 88 (27 FH, 59 BH, 2 ??), including 6 runaround FHs
- 7 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (2 FH, 2 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 3 Forced (3 BH)
- Return Rate (88/95) 93%
Connors made...
- 101 (26 FH, 75 BH)
- 4 Winners (4 BH)
- 14 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (1 FH, 1BH)
- 12 Forced (3 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (101/124) 81%
Break Points
Borg 7/12 (8 games)
Connors 5/15 (8 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Borg 28 (5 FH, 11 BH, 4 FHV, 4 BHV, 3 OH, 1 BHOH)
Connors 30 (5 FH, 15 BH, 4 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 OH) + 1 unknown lob
- Borg had 13 passes (4 FH, 8 BH, 1 BHV)
- on FH passes, 2 were dtl, 1 cc and 1 lob on the run
- the non-pass FH was a S/V point hit at net
- on BH passes, 3 were dtl and 5 cc (1 cc a running shot played entirety 1 handed)
- 3 non-pass BHs were all dtl, one somewhat inside-out
- 3 FHVs were 1st volleys off s/v points, the other was a high volley
- 1 BHV was a 2nd volley off a s/v point and one other was to a very high ball
- Connors had 8 passes (1 FH, 6 BH, 1 unknown lob)
- the FH pass was cc
- 3 BH passes were returns (2 dtl), 2 other dtl and 1 running-down-a-drop-shot at net
- on non-pass FHs, 2 were cc, 1 dtl and one dtl/inside-out
- on non-pass BHs, 1 was an inside-out return that Borg misjudged and allowed to go through, 3 were dtl and 5 cc
- Connors stepped in for most of his groundstroke winners, occasionally as far as just behind the service line
- the OH was hit from the baseline
- 1 BHV was a well controlled low volley
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Borg 64
- Unforced 27 (12 FH, 10 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)
- Forced 37 (13 FH, 22 BH, 2 FHV)
Connors 67
- 48 Unforced (32 FH, 14 BH, 2 FHV)
- 19 Forced (5 FH, 9 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Borg was 26/45 (58%) at net, including 14/25 (56%) serve-volleying - all off 1st serves
He was 12/20 (56%) on all other approaches, including 0/2 when forced back from net
Connors was 21/42 (50%) at net, with no serve-volleys
He was 1/2 when forced back from the net
(Borg approached twice on the same point, which he lost. This has been counted as 2 'net points', 1 forced back point and 1 point lost)
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Match Report
With neither player gaining an overwhelming advantage with the serve shot alone, this match on a quick court proved to be a lively mix of everything
Quick baseline points, attacking tactical exchanges, serve-volleying from Borg and approaches from Connors and stellar returning from both.... a safe hold was not on the cards and anything could happen
Statistically, there are a few surprises. You can see Borg with almost as many winners as the significantly more aggressive Connors and the error count for both being similar (though the Forced/Unforced breakdown is along the expected lines)
I wouldn't say it was an even match, though. Borg was fairly clearly (though slightly) the better player throughout. The difference that made the difference was...
Decisive Factor? - Connors poor approaching
Can you guess how many would be approach shot unforced errors Connors made?
16. 12 forehands (4 each set) and 4 backhands (at least 1 each set)
These were routine balls that Borg dropped short amidst hectic rallies, as he tends to occasionally. Short with no great power behind them.
Connors ran up to meet the ball as he does... and netted the ball. Over and over again.
It was strange. Its the kind of shot that draws groans from the crowd (and many did)... the kind of error you don't expect to see a top player make often.
Yet he made these errors at regular intervals from start to finish. He didn't seem to be going for too much on the shots (was just trying to ease the ball over and get to net) and nor did I judge Borg to be baiting him into trying the shot (though you couldn't blame him if he did)
Possibly something wrong with Connors' technique... a bit of top spin helps to get the ball up and over and he off course prefers to hit flat as possible, but I found such elementary errors and technical problems from such a player to be very strange
No Serve-Volleying from Connors
This was a deliberate choice from the American, which I found a bit strange as well.
I've seen him use a delayed serve-volley technique where after serving he'll hop into the court and take a step or two forward as he waits to see what the return is like and if its weak, run up to volley
With Borg standing well behind the baseline to return, I thought Connors' delayed S/V technique would be a good option here, given how far back Borg stood to return.
He didn't try even once. Given the whole point of the technique is to leave yourself the option of staying coupled with Connors' keenness to get to net in the match in general, I thought it was worth a definite shot.
Borg's serve/volleying and Passing
Borg mostly saved serve-volleying for important points and beefed up his serve on them. It worked - mostly by forcing return errors, but his net play was below par. He put away a few but also missed a number of routine ones - including 2 straightforward put-aways.
By contrast, he was excellent on the pass all match. Connors' volleying wasn't the best either, but I would credit Borg's passing more than discredit Connor' returning for the American's relatively low 50% at net stat
Returning
From both men was outstanding. Borg got almost everything back. Connors was up against a heftier serve and an occasionally net-rushing opponent, but also missed precious little... and his return was more apt to give him the initiative on the point
Baseline Dynamics
This made up the bulk of the action.
Borg was ready to open up the court with his FH while on the BH, he looked to play safe with standard, loopy crosscourt shots.
Connors looked to move Borg around from both wings. He made more errors on the FH trying to do so than he did the BH... hence Borg seemingly content to thwart the Connors FH with his secure BH and wait for errors
Connors hits an impressive BH (and to a lesser degree, the FH too) when forced back. With Borg mixing his depth and Connors standing close to the baseline, occasionally a deeper ball would hop up at the American, forcing him to hop back a step as he played his groundstroke. Its an awkward position, but he made it look routine
An interesting tactic employed by Connors 5-6 times was hitting a virtual FH cc moonball. I think the idea behind it was to tempt Borg to go for too much in putting it away or have him come to net
Borg did neither. Invariably, he ran around the shot to hit a big FH, but not so big as to be a winner (partially due to Connors' retrieval abilities - but no doubt Borg would have played the shot knowing this) - and only once did he come into net behind the shot. So the only thing the tactic achieved was Borg's position in the baseline rally was strengthened.
One senses Borg's confidence in his ability to outlast Connors from the baseline. If the court opens up, he can run down the balls and play equally sharp angles and if it doesn't, he can wait for the error.
Connors by contrast seems a bit hectic, throwing everything at his opponent and hoping it goes his way
Note on Borg's style
If I were designing the perfect baseliner, I would use Borg's game as a template.
I've heard much about his GOAT-ish forehand, but it seems to me the backbone of his game (at least, when facing Connors) is the backhand
It is rock solid and gives him a way to stay in control - which he loves to do. We hear about dangerous and deadly backhands...that's mostly poetic exaggeration and fancy
A good backhand should first and foremost be solid and dependable and Borg's is as secure as a bank
He can rock and roll with the forehand if pushed or necessary (should be added that despite that, its just as secure as the backhand) but his game seems to flow from the BH... especially since the emphasis of his play is on percentages
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