Boris Becker beat Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1 in the Year End Championship round robin, 1991 on carpet in Frankfurt, Germany
Becker needed to win in straight sets to advance to the semi-finals, whereas Sampras just needed to win one set. Sampras would go on to win the first of his 5 YEC titles
Becker serve-volleyed off all but 1 first serve and rarely off the second. Sampras serve-volleyed off all but 2 first serves
(Note: I'm missing 1 Sampras first serve point, won by Sampras)
Becker won 100 points, Sampras 77
Serve Stats
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (46/80) 58%
- 1st serve points won (39/46) 85%
- 2nd serve points won (22/34) 65%
- Aces 17 (1 second serve), Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (35/80) 44%
Sampras....
- 1st serve percentage (58/97) 60%
- 1st serve points won (42/58) 72%
- 2nd serve points won (16/39) 41%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (29/97) 30%
Serve Patterns
Becker served...
- to FH 38%
- to BH 58%
- to Body 4%
Sampras served....
- to FH 31%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 6%
Return Stats
Becker made...
- 65 (24 FH, 40 BH, 1 ??), including 2 runaround FHs and 3 return-approaches
- 5 Winners (3 FH, 2 BH)
- 22 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (1 FH, 4 BH)
- 17 Forced (3 FH, 14 BH)
- Return Rate (65/94) 69%
Sampras made...
- 43 (15 FH, 28 BH)
- 3 Winners (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 13 Forced (3 FH, 10 BH)
- Return Rate (43/78) 55%
Break Points
Becker 3/9 (5 games)
Sampras 0
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 30 (12 FH, 8 BH, 6 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Sampras 24 (3 FH, 9 BH, 2 FHV, 8 BHV, 2 OH)
Becker had 8 from serve-volley points
- 5 first volleys (4 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 3 second volleys (1 FHV, 2 OH)
- 8 passes (5 FH, 3 BH)
- FHs - 1 lob at net, 1 longline (a block off an OH), 1 cc return, 1 inside-in return and 1 dtl
- BHs -1 cc, 1 inside-out and 1 dtl return
- regular FHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out and 1 inside-in
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 3 dtl and 1 longline return
Sampras had 11 from serve-volley points
- 5 first volleys (2 FHV, 3 BHV)
- 5 second volleys (4 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 OH)
- 11 passes (3 FH, 8 BH)
- FHs - 2 cc (1 return) and 1 inside-out
- BHs - 2 cc (1 net chord clipper), 4 dtl (2 returns), 1 dtl/longline, 1 inside-out
- regular groundstrokes - 1 BH dtl
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Becker 21
- 6 Unforced (5 FH, 1 BH)
- 15 Forced (8 FH, 5 BH, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.3
Sampras 32
- 11 Unforced (3 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV)
- 21 Forced (8 FH, 9 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50
(Note 1: All 1/2 volleys refer to such shots played at net. 1/2 volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke numbers)
(Note 2: the Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is an indicator of how aggressive the average UE was. The numbers presented for these two matches are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Becker was...
- 33/46 (72%) at net, including...
- 27/38 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 20/27 (74%) off 1st serve and...
- 7/11 (64%) off second serve
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- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
Sampras was...
- 39/56 (70%) at net, including...
- 35/49 (71%) serve-volleying, all first serves...
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Match Report
The backdrop is that Becker needed to win in straight sets to advance to the semi-finals, while Sampras - win or lose - just needed 1 set to do the same. Hence, the match can be divided into 2 - the first two sets, when something is on the line, and the complete match. Either way you slice it.... its a great performance from Becker, one of his cleanest. Should be noted that in 1991, needing to beat Sampras in straights on carpet wouldn't have been seen as a hopeless task (particularly for Becker), the way it would be considered a year or two later
85% first serve points won, 65% second serve points won, 44% unreturned serves, outacing Sampras17-5, 0 break points faced, 30 winners to 6 unforced errors.... the numbers look great. They look less great, but still great - if you take out the third set, when Sampras, having qualified for the semis, phones it in a bit.
Becker looks fired up and plays the first two sets like a man on a mission. The impression is enhanced by the home crowd enthusiastically cheering his play and Sampras' more than usual detached demeanour.
First set is a typical Becker-Sampras carpet match. Both players serve-volleying off first serves and staying back on seconds (Becker does s/v off seconds occasionally as a surprise, Sampras not once in the whole match). So there are aces and forced return errors and volleys and passes on first serve points and baseline rallies on seconds.
There's little in it between the two. At 4-4, Becker's won two more points. Neither returner has reached deuce. Becker turns it on the next game to break. He strikes 3 return winners - 2 off them to second serves (meaning, when Sampras was on the baseline). The last one he hits so hard that it goes through cleanly despite not being far from Pete. He forces an volleying error - hard hit, but high - to gain the break. The sort of forced volley that's 'makeable'. and serves out the set.
Second set goes on serve and its Becker that's more of a threat on return. The end of the set is exciting stuff
Serving at 5-5, Sampras has a second serve down break point. Becker hammers a powerful, deep return (good enough to force an error), but Pete is able to half-volley the ball back. The rally continues until Becker misses a BH dtl winner attempt.... the shot was ok, just missed. Next point, Becker chip-charges and makes a full dive volley and the two players trade volleys net-to-net (Becker making the error). Point after that, Sampras makes a third ball error off exactly the same situation he had break point down. Then Becker unleashes a lovely, clean BH cc winner. Sampras' aces away the break point and finishes the game with a perfect, stop BHV off a powerful and low Becker return (and he'd started the game with a one almost as good, an inside-out stop FHV)
The momentum is with Becker starting the tiebreak. First point, a powerful Becker returns elicits a soft, unintentional drop volley from Sampras. Becker races in full speed to meet the ball - and lobs Sampras net-to-net. Great stuff. Pete then does a Pete and Becker can't win a single service point. There are forced return errors, 3 winning passes and a forced half-volleying error. In short, big time clutch stuff from Sampras to take the set and secure his place in the semis, while eliminating Boris.
Mission accomplished, Pete pseudo-tanks the final set. Still, credit to Becker, who hits lines with his serves, makes no UEs, (continues to) volley, return and pass well
Playing Dynamics & Stats
Both players play well, but Becker (even limited to the first two sets) is better. Both serve well (about the same), Becker returns slightly better, passes better and volleys more consistently (0 UEs, to 4 for Sampras on the volley). Baseline to baseline also, he comes off superior and hits some excellent winners or shots that force errors
What might Becker have done to take the match in straights? I think he gave it his all and Sampras' clutch play denied him a breakthrough. But if you have to pick one thing, it'd probably be Becker's returning the second serve
He has 5 UEs returning the second serve (I've also marked a few FEs - not surprising against Pete Sampras). These are mostly aggressive shots that he missed. He also makes a number of such shots (Pete won just 41% of second serve points) and successfully pressures Pete on these points. A few more like that, and maybe he could have got over the line.... but that's basically saying he could have been perfect.
Sampras' rigidity of game struck me. Look at his returns. Not one runaround shot, not one return-approach.... or even an attempt at one. 0 second serve-volleys (Becker has 11). He played a very 'pattern-ized' match.... but played it extremely well
Summing up - great match from both for two sets. Becker the better player - serves about equal, but in other areas (return, passing, groundies, volleys), Becker superior. Sampras still very good in all areas (perhaps not groundies, though he's not bad)…. and showing top notch clutch stuff when in trouble and in the tiebreak (not something he was known for around the time). A high quality match and one of Becker's best performances
Becker needed to win in straight sets to advance to the semi-finals, whereas Sampras just needed to win one set. Sampras would go on to win the first of his 5 YEC titles
Becker serve-volleyed off all but 1 first serve and rarely off the second. Sampras serve-volleyed off all but 2 first serves
(Note: I'm missing 1 Sampras first serve point, won by Sampras)
Becker won 100 points, Sampras 77
Serve Stats
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (46/80) 58%
- 1st serve points won (39/46) 85%
- 2nd serve points won (22/34) 65%
- Aces 17 (1 second serve), Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (35/80) 44%
Sampras....
- 1st serve percentage (58/97) 60%
- 1st serve points won (42/58) 72%
- 2nd serve points won (16/39) 41%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (29/97) 30%
Serve Patterns
Becker served...
- to FH 38%
- to BH 58%
- to Body 4%
Sampras served....
- to FH 31%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 6%
Return Stats
Becker made...
- 65 (24 FH, 40 BH, 1 ??), including 2 runaround FHs and 3 return-approaches
- 5 Winners (3 FH, 2 BH)
- 22 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (1 FH, 4 BH)
- 17 Forced (3 FH, 14 BH)
- Return Rate (65/94) 69%
Sampras made...
- 43 (15 FH, 28 BH)
- 3 Winners (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 13 Forced (3 FH, 10 BH)
- Return Rate (43/78) 55%
Break Points
Becker 3/9 (5 games)
Sampras 0
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 30 (12 FH, 8 BH, 6 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Sampras 24 (3 FH, 9 BH, 2 FHV, 8 BHV, 2 OH)
Becker had 8 from serve-volley points
- 5 first volleys (4 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 3 second volleys (1 FHV, 2 OH)
- 8 passes (5 FH, 3 BH)
- FHs - 1 lob at net, 1 longline (a block off an OH), 1 cc return, 1 inside-in return and 1 dtl
- BHs -1 cc, 1 inside-out and 1 dtl return
- regular FHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out and 1 inside-in
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 3 dtl and 1 longline return
Sampras had 11 from serve-volley points
- 5 first volleys (2 FHV, 3 BHV)
- 5 second volleys (4 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 OH)
- 11 passes (3 FH, 8 BH)
- FHs - 2 cc (1 return) and 1 inside-out
- BHs - 2 cc (1 net chord clipper), 4 dtl (2 returns), 1 dtl/longline, 1 inside-out
- regular groundstrokes - 1 BH dtl
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Becker 21
- 6 Unforced (5 FH, 1 BH)
- 15 Forced (8 FH, 5 BH, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.3
Sampras 32
- 11 Unforced (3 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV)
- 21 Forced (8 FH, 9 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50
(Note 1: All 1/2 volleys refer to such shots played at net. 1/2 volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke numbers)
(Note 2: the Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is an indicator of how aggressive the average UE was. The numbers presented for these two matches are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Becker was...
- 33/46 (72%) at net, including...
- 27/38 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 20/27 (74%) off 1st serve and...
- 7/11 (64%) off second serve
----------------------------------
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
Sampras was...
- 39/56 (70%) at net, including...
- 35/49 (71%) serve-volleying, all first serves...
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Match Report
The backdrop is that Becker needed to win in straight sets to advance to the semi-finals, while Sampras - win or lose - just needed 1 set to do the same. Hence, the match can be divided into 2 - the first two sets, when something is on the line, and the complete match. Either way you slice it.... its a great performance from Becker, one of his cleanest. Should be noted that in 1991, needing to beat Sampras in straights on carpet wouldn't have been seen as a hopeless task (particularly for Becker), the way it would be considered a year or two later
85% first serve points won, 65% second serve points won, 44% unreturned serves, outacing Sampras17-5, 0 break points faced, 30 winners to 6 unforced errors.... the numbers look great. They look less great, but still great - if you take out the third set, when Sampras, having qualified for the semis, phones it in a bit.
Becker looks fired up and plays the first two sets like a man on a mission. The impression is enhanced by the home crowd enthusiastically cheering his play and Sampras' more than usual detached demeanour.
First set is a typical Becker-Sampras carpet match. Both players serve-volleying off first serves and staying back on seconds (Becker does s/v off seconds occasionally as a surprise, Sampras not once in the whole match). So there are aces and forced return errors and volleys and passes on first serve points and baseline rallies on seconds.
There's little in it between the two. At 4-4, Becker's won two more points. Neither returner has reached deuce. Becker turns it on the next game to break. He strikes 3 return winners - 2 off them to second serves (meaning, when Sampras was on the baseline). The last one he hits so hard that it goes through cleanly despite not being far from Pete. He forces an volleying error - hard hit, but high - to gain the break. The sort of forced volley that's 'makeable'. and serves out the set.
Second set goes on serve and its Becker that's more of a threat on return. The end of the set is exciting stuff
Serving at 5-5, Sampras has a second serve down break point. Becker hammers a powerful, deep return (good enough to force an error), but Pete is able to half-volley the ball back. The rally continues until Becker misses a BH dtl winner attempt.... the shot was ok, just missed. Next point, Becker chip-charges and makes a full dive volley and the two players trade volleys net-to-net (Becker making the error). Point after that, Sampras makes a third ball error off exactly the same situation he had break point down. Then Becker unleashes a lovely, clean BH cc winner. Sampras' aces away the break point and finishes the game with a perfect, stop BHV off a powerful and low Becker return (and he'd started the game with a one almost as good, an inside-out stop FHV)
The momentum is with Becker starting the tiebreak. First point, a powerful Becker returns elicits a soft, unintentional drop volley from Sampras. Becker races in full speed to meet the ball - and lobs Sampras net-to-net. Great stuff. Pete then does a Pete and Becker can't win a single service point. There are forced return errors, 3 winning passes and a forced half-volleying error. In short, big time clutch stuff from Sampras to take the set and secure his place in the semis, while eliminating Boris.
Mission accomplished, Pete pseudo-tanks the final set. Still, credit to Becker, who hits lines with his serves, makes no UEs, (continues to) volley, return and pass well
Playing Dynamics & Stats
Both players play well, but Becker (even limited to the first two sets) is better. Both serve well (about the same), Becker returns slightly better, passes better and volleys more consistently (0 UEs, to 4 for Sampras on the volley). Baseline to baseline also, he comes off superior and hits some excellent winners or shots that force errors
What might Becker have done to take the match in straights? I think he gave it his all and Sampras' clutch play denied him a breakthrough. But if you have to pick one thing, it'd probably be Becker's returning the second serve
He has 5 UEs returning the second serve (I've also marked a few FEs - not surprising against Pete Sampras). These are mostly aggressive shots that he missed. He also makes a number of such shots (Pete won just 41% of second serve points) and successfully pressures Pete on these points. A few more like that, and maybe he could have got over the line.... but that's basically saying he could have been perfect.
Sampras' rigidity of game struck me. Look at his returns. Not one runaround shot, not one return-approach.... or even an attempt at one. 0 second serve-volleys (Becker has 11). He played a very 'pattern-ized' match.... but played it extremely well
Summing up - great match from both for two sets. Becker the better player - serves about equal, but in other areas (return, passing, groundies, volleys), Becker superior. Sampras still very good in all areas (perhaps not groundies, though he's not bad)…. and showing top notch clutch stuff when in trouble and in the tiebreak (not something he was known for around the time). A high quality match and one of Becker's best performances
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