1990 US Open SF Sampras McEnroe stats

[slice serve ace]

When Sampras upset Lendl in QF, McEnroe, who was at one of his last realistic pushes to win a grandslam, said "i cannot ask for more than to play Sampras in the semis". Actually. he couldn't. Ask for more dangerous player. Sampras was close to omnipotence for the most part of the match, threatening to destroy Mac before he realised what's happening, but McEnroe got himself going from the end of the second set. Result was very, very entertaining match, high quality throughout. Here are the stats.


Sampras def McEnroe 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3


1st serve %

sampras 56 ( 73, 50, 48, 57 )
mcenroe 63 ( 68, 71, 62, 50 )

1st serve pts won %

sampras 83 ( 94, 80, 73, 85 )
mcenroe 68 ( 71, 63, 72, 71 )

Sampras won 24 first serve pts in a row at one point, and 27 of first 28

2nd serve pts won %

sampras 54 ( 50, 35, 58, 90 )
mcenroe 49 ( 13, 40, 73, 57 )

total serve pts won %

sampras 70 ( 82, 58, 65, 87 )
mcenroe 61 ( 52, 56, 72, 64 )

aces

sampras 17 ( 2, 5, 2, 8 ) , 2 on a second serve
mcenroe 15 ( 7, 2, 3, 3 )

double faults

sampras 5 ( 1, 2, 2, 0 )
mcenroe 8 ( 2, 2, 1, 3 )

winners

sampras 59 ( 14, 18, 10, 17 )
mcenroe 38 ( 9, 11, 9, 9 )

Sampras had 18 backhand winners

unreturned serves

sampras 41 ( 10, 13, 6, 12 )
mcenroe 42 ( 9, 11, 15, 7 )

unreturned serves %

sampras 38.0 ( 45.4, 32.5, 26.1, 52.2 )
mcenroe 36.2 ( 36.0, 32.4, 51.7, 25.0 )

break points

sampras 5/15 ( 2/4, 2/7, 0/0, 1/4 )
mcenroe 2/6 ( 0/0, 1/5, 1/1, 0/0 )

total points won

sampras 121 ( 30, 38, 23, 30 )
mcenroe 103 ( 17, 36, 29, 21 )

sampras serve&volley

on every 1st serve except 1
on 9 second serves of 43 made = 20.9 %

 

[Moose Malloy]

these were my stats:

Sampras
60-108(55.5%)
1st serve pts won: 50-60(83%)
2nd serve pts won: 26-48(54%)
41 non service winners: 10 fh, 18 bh, 4 fhv, 5 bhv, 4 ov(all of his gs winners except one fh was a passing shot. most were return of serves)
17 aces, 5 df's
24 unreturned serves, 5 were service winners
5-15 on bp's
40-61 at net(66%)
32-49 on S&V pts(65%)
He served and stayed back on 33 serves(one was a 1st serve)
He made 2 of 6 1st serves when facing break point

Mac
74-116(64%)
1st serve pts won: 51-74(69%)
2nd serve pts won: 20-42(48%)
23 non service winners: 5 fh, 5 bh, 6 fhv, 6bhv, 1 ov
15 aces, 8 df's
27 unreturned serves, 1 was a service winner
2-6 on bp's
60-104 at net(58%)
54-89 on S&V pts(61%)
He served and stayed back on 3 serves(all 2nd serves)
He made 9 of 15 1st serves when facing break point

CBS wasn't counting aces in the winner counts.
they only gave Mac 2 winners for the 1st set, despite 7 aces. Thought it was interesting that Mac had 7 aces before Sampras had his first(including 4 in one game - the 5th game of set 1)

at 1-1 in the 3rd they had ace counts for the tournament for both players
sampras 82
mac 46

at 5-3 in the third
Sampras 33 winners, 10 unforced errors

 

[Laurie]

Great work guys, thanks for the stats.

I've always enjoyed watching Sampras hit return winners and passing shots, one of my favourite areas of his game - the sort of areas of his game those legion of lazy journalists ignore, unfortunately a lot of them actually get paid to be lazy, but that's another matter altogether.

Due to the age difference these guys only played eachother 3 times. I've got the 1984 US Open final v Lendl and McEnroe played Tennis that I admit was incredible, that would have been an interesting matchup if they were much closer in age.

Anyway, I made these clips two years ago, this was what Sampras could do to McEnroe, and on his birthday in 1991, enjoy these great forehand improvised passing shots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP46aafP_EQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNpCUL8G834&feature=related

 

[Moose Malloy]

sampras 59 ( 14, 18, 10, 17 )

I have the same winner counts except for set 2.
I have Sampras with 12 non service winners & 5 aces, 17 total winners. do you have a winner breakdown for the set? I have 4 fh, 6 bh, 1 fhv, 1 overhead for the set.

mcenroe 62 ( 68, 71, 62, 46 )

I have 68, 73.5, 62, 50

mcenroe 7 ( 2, 2, 1, 2 )

I have Mac with 3 df's in 4th set.

 

[big ted]

interesting how high mcenroes 1st service percentage was and still lost. the early saying in the mid-80s used to be "if mac can serve at 65% or higher, he wins".. not the case here..

 

[Datacipher]

interesting how high mcenroes 1st service percentage was and still lost. the early saying in the mid-80s used to be "if mac can serve at 65% or higher, he wins".. not the case here..

,.....and his aces. I always remember him serving notice in the first game with a few big serves!

It wasn't 84 vintage Mac, but the tennis Mac was playing would have beaten most....I think he would have had an even money chance against Lendl (especially since Lendl was a touch off), and though Agassi matched up well against Mac, the nervous finals empty-shell Agassi would have lost to Mac also.

 

[krosero]

Can't find any published stats (apart from aces and df's) but here's an excerpt from the NY Times:

The teen-ager from California bombarded the unseeded McEnroe with 17 aces and tripped him up with innumerable down-the-line passing shots.

''I didn't really expect to be in the position I'm in,'' said Sampras, whose powerful serve-and-volley game proved too taxing for McEnroe, who did not perform with the same mena;ce he had displayed in earlier rounds. Instead, McEnroe backed up and backed off and let Sampras slam out sufficient winners to take a commanding two-sets-to-none lead.

''His pace put me off a little bit,'' McEnroe said. ''He seems to be very cool, cool as a cucumber.''

Sampras said after the match that one of his strategies was to remain as unemotional as possible, quite the contrast to McEnroe's heart-on-sleeve method of conducting his business on the stadium court.

McEnroe managed to use his racquet like a slingshot in the third set, where his steamy crosscourt forehand broke Sampras in the eighth game after the younger player made a break point available with one of his five double-faults.

But Sampras, a level-headed serve-volleyist who scoffs at the notion of entourages, dominated in the final set, where he sealed the match with his 17th ace.

 

[Datacipher]

Can't find any published stats (apart from aces and df's) but here's an excerpt from the NY Times:

It's interesting to me that Mcenroe, and I've heard the quote before, said Pete's power put him off. And i'm sure it did....Sampras was hitting such a pure ball back then...

But I feel one of the big keys to the match-up was Mac's inability to get SAMPRAS out of his groove. I think a big part of that was Sampras relaxed, and somewhat improvisational groundstrokes.

Sampras backhand, especially then, was simple, sweet, and relaxed. He wount up, and whatever happened, he simply hit through the ball. The forehand was always a bit of an improvisational shot, in that Sampras didn't have an exact routine or contact point the way some other players try to set up again and again, exactly the same way. Sampras wound up, and then, depending on the bounce, he was able to brush up or through, the ball and make the shot. He'd work his body around it.

Because of that, I think Mac had trouble hitting groundies that he was sure would give him an opening on Pete. He had trouble getting it to uncomfortable spots for Pete, and since Pete adapted in such a relaxed way to the ball, and could generate such power if he chose, Mac just couldn't be sure when an opening was there. It's much easier (FOR MAC) when he played a "grooved" hitter....Mac can sense what kind of ball they won't like, and when he works one in, he knows that it's a time to look to attack. It's hard to come in on Pete, because he handles everything in such a relaxed manner, and is capable of hitting improvised winning angles, and with big power, at any given time.

 

[krosero]

It's interesting to me that Mcenroe, and I've heard the quote before, said Pete's power put him off. And i'm sure it did....Sampras was hitting such a pure ball back then...

But I feel one of the big keys to the match-up was Mac's inability to get SAMPRAS out of his groove. I think a big part of that was Sampras relaxed, and somewhat improvisational groundstrokes.

Sampras backhand, especially then, was simple, sweet, and relaxed. He wount up, and whatever happened, he simply hit through the ball. The forehand was always a bit of an improvisational shot, in that Sampras didn't have an exact routine or contact point the way some other players try to set up again and again, exactly the same way. Sampras wound up, and then, depending on the bounce, he was able to brush up or through, the ball and make the shot. He'd work his body around it.

Because of that, I think Mac had trouble hitting groundies that he was sure would give him an opening on Pete. He had trouble getting it to uncomfortable spots for Pete, and since Pete adapted in such a relaxed way to the ball, and could generate such power if he chose, Mac just couldn't be sure when an opening was there. It's much easier (FOR MAC) when he played a "grooved" hitter....Mac can sense what kind of ball they won't like, and when he works one in, he knows that it's a time to look to attack. It's hard to come in on Pete, because he handles everything in such a relaxed manner, and is capable of hitting improvised winning angles, and with big power, at any given time.

No question Mac couldn't get him out of his groove, and was certainly passed a lot. I like how you've identified specific ways in which Sampras was relaxed, because it's obvious that he was relaxed but it's not always easy to say specifically how that played out in his strokes and in the matchup.

Yet for all that, McEnroe's rate of success at the net was not too bad. It was 58%, not that much lower than Pete's 66% (using Moose's numbers).

And part of that difference is due to McEnroe coming in more than Pete and taking the risk of following second serves into net. If McEnroe had not done that, and had simply approached about as much as Pete did, mainly on first serves, their success rates at net might be equal, or closer to equal.

 

[slice serve ace]

I have the same winner counts except for set 2.
I have Sampras with 12 non service winners & 5 aces, 17 total winners. do you have a winner breakdown for the set? I have 4 fh, 6 bh, 1 fhv, 1 overhead for the set.

Counted again, 18 winners. There was one point, last one in a game at 1-2, Sampras serving, where Sampras played forehand volley that McEnroe maybe touched (i think he didn't)

I have 68, 73.5, 62, 50

I have Mac with 3 df's in 4th set.

counted 24 of 34 in a seceond set = 71%
14 of 28 in last set = 50%
3 double faults it is

posted changes in 1st post

 

[krosero]

1st serve pts won %

sampras 83 ( 94, 80, 73, 85 )
mcenroe 68 ( 71, 63, 72, 71 )

Sampras won 24 first serve pts in a row at one point, and 27 of first 28

Just wondering, at what stage did the streak occur? Not exactly, just more or less.

 

[jrepac]

No question Mac couldn't get him out of his groove, and was certainly passed a lot. I like how you've identified specific ways in which Sampras was relaxed, because it's obvious that he was relaxed but it's not always easy to say specifically how that played out in his strokes and in the matchup.

Yet for all that, McEnroe's rate of success at the net was not too bad. It was 58%, not that much lower than Pete's 66% (using Moose's numbers).

And part of that difference is due to McEnroe coming in more than Pete and taking the risk of following second serves into net. If McEnroe had not done that, and had simply approached about as much as Pete did, mainly on first serves, their success rates at net might be equal, or closer to equal.

Sampras played some fantastic tennis that year; let's face it, what pressure was he under? none at all. But, I think he was under-estimated. It might've been easy to say he beat lendl because he "knew his game" (they practiced together after all), but Pete was just amazing that year. Remember, he had beaten defending champ Wilander the year prior in a doozy of a match...kind of Pete's coming out party. But, I don't know if he ever played a USO again where he was as clean and superb as he was in 1990. Nervous or not, he made Agassi look like an amateur in that final. It was an amazing look at what was to come.

 

[Datacipher]

No question Mac couldn't get him out of his groove, and was certainly passed a lot. I like how you've identified specific ways in which Sampras was relaxed, because it's obvious that he was relaxed but it's not always easy to say specifically how that played out in his strokes and in the matchup.

Yet for all that, McEnroe's rate of success at the net was not too bad. It was 58%, not that much lower than Pete's 66% (using Moose's numbers).

And part of that difference is due to McEnroe coming in more than Pete and taking the risk of following second serves into net. If McEnroe had not done that, and had simply approached about as much as Pete did, mainly on first serves, their success rates at net might be equal, or closer to equal.

Good point. It was still a winning play, even with that volume of approaches....

I do love the way Mac was playing at that open...to me...even though his serve was still patchy in streaks from what I remember, he had a lot of his confidence back in his touch and feel. Realizing that his relaxed touch game could still get it done!

I've said before, I do think the tennis Mac played in that semi would have been good enough against almost anybody. I recall Sampras even admitting it was the one match where he felt worried....felt that he could not let it go five lest the crowd raise Mac's game even more.

On the subject of the improvisational quality I was talking about, I'm always reminded of Mac and Becker commentating on the Sampras/Roddick USO match. At one point, Sampras hit a great forehand, and Mac asked Becker: how did he do that??! Looked like he was learning back off balance!! (Of course Mac I'm sure had some inkling, but he was setting Becker up) Becker seemed to struggle a bit to describe it, just as I did (lol), but said something like "yeah...but...he had his eye on the ball....if you know what I mean". And I believe I know exactly what he means, which is that Sampras has that ability to take a ball, focus on what outcome he wants, and even if set-up is not ideal, and even if has to use his body less than optimally, he can still move his body around the stroke he needs, whip the racquet through, and produce the shot. That isn't always the prettiest or most consistent looking way to produce shots, but it sure works if you can do it, and wow, does it make a player dangerous. Hard to read, hard to predict.

 

[NLBwell]

For the young guys who say the previous generations couldn't compete with the new guys because the power in the game has changed so much: McEnroe (6 years past his prime) had about as many aces as Sampras (15-17) - supposedly the best server ever on a day where he was very hot. An ace is an ace in any era. Don't do that: "McEnroe would get killed these days because he only served 110mph."
As far as serve and volley, that is a different discussion.

 

[magnut]

4th set Mac served for crap and missed some easy volleys and made some weak ones. That Match was pretty much all about the Sampras serve. Mac just couldnt get a bead on the first or second serve. He Broke Sampras in the third after Mac put on one of his fake temper tantrums which threw Pete off a little I suspect. Still a somewhat winable match for Mac if he would have been a little sharper in Key moments. Pete was hot but he was still pretty green then. His level was higher against Lendl in the quarters and Agassi in the finals.

It was a fun match because McEnroe was trying a lot of subtle gamesmanship but Pete wasnt really getting sucked into it. Hints of Petes early maturity in that match.

 

[1970CRBase]

It was a fun match because McEnroe was trying a lot of subtle gamesmanship but Pete wasnt really getting sucked into it. Hints of Petes early maturity in that match.

After staying over at Lendl's house and spending some time with his dogs, nothing ever after fazed Pete.

And yes, Pete hit an incredibly clean early ball in those days. Noone since then. I remember US open 1990 final and I was just astounded at his unbelievable clean smooth hitting that simply knocked Agassi out. Then 90 GS cup vs Gilbert. And I thought wow, I never seen anybody hit the ball like that. Pity that Pete's game changed after around 92 or so.

 

[slice serve ace]

Just wondering, at what stage did the streak occur? Not exactly, just more or less.

He won first 3, than missed easy backhand volley, all that in his first service game. After that the streak begun and lasted, i think, till the game he got broken in second set, at 4-3.

And just to add - two most beautifull service actions for me. I think it's no accident, because they turn their back to the court more than anyone. I used to call that "the back serve" I have one myself, mcenroe-like

 

[Laurie]

After staying over at Lendl's house and spending some time with his dogs, nothing ever after fazed Pete.

And yes, Pete hit an incredibly clean early ball in those days. Noone since then. I remember US open 1990 final and I was just astounded at his unbelievable clean smooth hitting that simply knocked Agassi out. Then 90 GS cup vs Gilbert. And I thought wow, I never seen anybody hit the ball like that. Pity that Pete's game changed after around 92 or so.

I would say that 1999, latter stages of Wimbledon, Los Angeles and Cincinnati, Sampras was also hitting the ball off the ground as clean and consistently. And many parts of 1994 and 1997 as well.

 

[krosero]

He won first 3, than missed easy backhand volley, all that in his first service game. After that the streak begun and lasted, i think, till the game he got broken in second set, at 4-3.

And just to add - two most beautifull service actions for me. I think it's no accident, because they turn their back to the court more than anyone. I used to call that "the back serve" I have one myself, mcenroe-like

Great, that's just the info I was looking for.

Funny, when I was first learning tennis in the mid-80s I tried "the back serve" myself, copying McEnroe. I didn't end up keeping the serve, I only tried it for a little while, but it was surprisingly easy to adopt. Not nearly as awkward to try as I thought it might be.

 

[krosero]

But, I think he was under-estimated.

He was, by both Mac and Agassi.