Pete Sampras beat Boris Becker 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 in the Paris Indoor final, 1995 on carpet
The win was instrumental in Sampras finishing the year at number 1
Sampras won 132 points, Becker 116
Sampras serve-volleyed on all but 1 first serve point and very rarely on the second. Becker serve-volleyed on all first serves and frequently off the second
Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (56/111) 50%
- 1st serve points won (46/56) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (28/55) 51%
- Aces 12, Service Winners 4
- Double Faults 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (41/111) 37%
Becker....
- 1st serve percentage (64/137) 47%
- 1st serve points won (45/64) 70%
- 2nd serve points won (36/73) 49%
- Aces 19 - including 1 second serve, Service Winners 6
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (44/137) 32%
Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 37%
- to BH 61%
- to Body 2%
Becker served....
- to FH 33%
- to BH 61%
- to Body 6%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 87 (22 FH, 65 BH), including 2 runaround FHs and 2 return-approaches
- 9 Winners (3 FH, 6 BH)
- 25 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 21 Forced (12 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (87/131) 66%
Becker made...
- 65 (21 FH, 44 BH), including 4 return-approaches
- 4 Winners (2 FH, 2 BH)
- 25 Errors, comprising...
- 9 Unforced (2 FH, 7 BH)
- 16 Forced (7 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (65/106) 61%
Break Points
Sampras 3/15 (8 games)
Becker 1/7 (4 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 40 (15 FH, 16 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 3 OH, 2 BHOH)
Becker 27 (9 FH, 6 BH, 7 FHV, 3 BHV, 2 OH)
Sampras had 11 from serve-volley points
- 6 from first 'volleys' (2 BHV, 3 FH @ net, 1 BH @ net)
- 5 from second volleys (2 FHV, 1 OH, 2 BHOH)
- 20 passes (6 FH, 14 BH)
- FH passes - 3 cc (2 returns), 1 dtl, 1 inside-in return and 1 lob
- BH passes - 6 cc (3 returns), 6 dtl (2 returns), 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in return
- 6 non-pass FHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-in and 1 net chord dribbler
- 1 BH @ net, running-down-a-drop-shot
Becker had 9 from serve-volley points
- 5 first 'volleys' (2 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH, 1 FH @ net)
- 3 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 FHV)
- 8 passes (5 FH, 3 BH)
- FH passes - 4 cc (2 returns) and 1 dtl
- BH passes - 3 dtl (1 return)
- 3 non-pass FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl and 1 inside-in
- 3 non-pass BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl 1 inside-in return
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 39
- 18 Unforced (7 FH, 6 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 21 Forced (5 FH, 11 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.8
Becker 45
- 21 Unforced (8 FH, 7 BH, 3 FHV, 3 BHV)
- 24 Forced (7 FH, 8 BH, 5 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 51.4
(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
Sampras was...
- 35/56 (63%) at net, including...
- 30/41 (73%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 29/39 (74%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/2 (50%) off second serve
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- 0/2 return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back from net
Becker was...
- 47/86 (55%) at net, including...
- 37/62 (60%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 26/45 (58%) off 1st serve and...
- 11/17 (65%) off second serve
--------------------------------
- 1/4 (25%) return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back from net
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Match Report
A high quality performance from Sampras and a streaky one from Becker on a quick carpet court
Becker starts horrifically. He's made 5/21 first serves (and been broken once) when yet another serve is called out. Sampras sportingly concedes it to be an ace, and Becker's fortunes change from there. Sampras himself is just 22/48 first serves in for the set himself. The whole set showcases the problems of covering these two players with stats.
Both hit fine shots, but the errors in between are dreadful. Hitting regulation groundstrokes half way up the net. Missing easy put-away volleys. Hitting pass attempts miles out of court. Missing highly makeable passes. Whacking returns way out
In the book, it all goes down as 1 error (forced or unforced)…. no less so than one that hits the very top of the tape or misses the line by a centimetre... but the way Sampras and Becker make their errors does enhance the impression of streaky play.
The next two sets are better fortunately. With both men serve-volleying on all first serves, Sampras always staying back on seconds (Becker mixes it up on his second delivery)…. there's scope to see the full repertoire of tennis.
In this sense, the baseline play is disappointing. Both players hit hard (without going overboard with it) and both look to open the court. But its the errors that catch the eye... many poor ones and in short rallies. Not great consistency in the baseline encounters. And Becker's movement, which is slow by any standard (he looks like an injured player), is another drawback. Its probably movement that is the decisive factor in Sampras getting the better of the backcourt exchanges
While both have ordinary first serve percentages, Sampras' first delivery is clearly more powerful. Boris struggles to return it - and most Sampras first serve points seem to end up unreturned.
On the other hand, Sampras is able to return Becker's serve quite well. Naturally, the German sends down his share of unreturned serves - but Sampras also knocks away return winners regularly. Plus, Becker isn't at his best at net. He's slow to get there, poor at covering the net (so he's virtually forced to do big damage with his first volley - if not, he finds himself in trouble) and overall, his volleying is ordinary. Misses a few easy ones, doesn't do enough with a large number of the of the highly makeable ones he does get over. Not many volleys from Boris in this match that one looks at and says, "wow" to.
Sampras does much better at the front. Makes the low volleys consistently, placing them well.
The passing is a no-contest. Sampras is far superior (partially because Becker's volleying is less precise). A similar story to how the two stack up in serving-returning.... each part connected to the other, with Sampras coming up ahead
Good clutch play shown by both. Sampras can only break 3 times, though he had break points in 8 games. Becker only once in four games.... I'd predominantly attribute both to the server stepping up when it mattered
Statistically, its clearly the American on top. He leads in every single area - first serves in (50% to 47%), first serves won (82% to 70), second serves won (51% to 49%), unreturned serves (37% to 32%). The last mentioned is particularly relevant since Becker was serve-volleying a lot more than Pete - and the German leading on aces/service winners (20 to 16)
Sampras also has more winners (40 to 27), makes fewer unforced errors (18 to 20) and forces more errors (24 to 21). Again, the last mentioned is surprising, given Becker is at the net 30 more times
Summing up, a hit or miss match with good shot making interspersed with random errors. Sampras superior in just about every way - serve, return, passing, volleying and baseline play. Pete's biggest advantage is in movement. He's quick, Becker is not. Close scoreline, but its always clear who the better player is.
That might be a bit deceptive, since Becker is quite capable of winning matches in which he is not the "better player", but he needs to be clutch to do that. But here, Sampras is also more clutch than him
So final verdict - Sampras the better player in all areas and also more clutch. Biggest difference between the two is movement - Becker is sluggish
The win was instrumental in Sampras finishing the year at number 1
Sampras won 132 points, Becker 116
Sampras serve-volleyed on all but 1 first serve point and very rarely on the second. Becker serve-volleyed on all first serves and frequently off the second
Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (56/111) 50%
- 1st serve points won (46/56) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (28/55) 51%
- Aces 12, Service Winners 4
- Double Faults 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (41/111) 37%
Becker....
- 1st serve percentage (64/137) 47%
- 1st serve points won (45/64) 70%
- 2nd serve points won (36/73) 49%
- Aces 19 - including 1 second serve, Service Winners 6
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (44/137) 32%
Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 37%
- to BH 61%
- to Body 2%
Becker served....
- to FH 33%
- to BH 61%
- to Body 6%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 87 (22 FH, 65 BH), including 2 runaround FHs and 2 return-approaches
- 9 Winners (3 FH, 6 BH)
- 25 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 21 Forced (12 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (87/131) 66%
Becker made...
- 65 (21 FH, 44 BH), including 4 return-approaches
- 4 Winners (2 FH, 2 BH)
- 25 Errors, comprising...
- 9 Unforced (2 FH, 7 BH)
- 16 Forced (7 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (65/106) 61%
Break Points
Sampras 3/15 (8 games)
Becker 1/7 (4 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 40 (15 FH, 16 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 3 OH, 2 BHOH)
Becker 27 (9 FH, 6 BH, 7 FHV, 3 BHV, 2 OH)
Sampras had 11 from serve-volley points
- 6 from first 'volleys' (2 BHV, 3 FH @ net, 1 BH @ net)
- 5 from second volleys (2 FHV, 1 OH, 2 BHOH)
- 20 passes (6 FH, 14 BH)
- FH passes - 3 cc (2 returns), 1 dtl, 1 inside-in return and 1 lob
- BH passes - 6 cc (3 returns), 6 dtl (2 returns), 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in return
- 6 non-pass FHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-in and 1 net chord dribbler
- 1 BH @ net, running-down-a-drop-shot
Becker had 9 from serve-volley points
- 5 first 'volleys' (2 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH, 1 FH @ net)
- 3 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 FHV)
- 8 passes (5 FH, 3 BH)
- FH passes - 4 cc (2 returns) and 1 dtl
- BH passes - 3 dtl (1 return)
- 3 non-pass FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl and 1 inside-in
- 3 non-pass BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl 1 inside-in return
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 39
- 18 Unforced (7 FH, 6 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 21 Forced (5 FH, 11 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.8
Becker 45
- 21 Unforced (8 FH, 7 BH, 3 FHV, 3 BHV)
- 24 Forced (7 FH, 8 BH, 5 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 51.4
(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
Sampras was...
- 35/56 (63%) at net, including...
- 30/41 (73%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 29/39 (74%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/2 (50%) off second serve
----------------------------------
- 0/2 return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back from net
Becker was...
- 47/86 (55%) at net, including...
- 37/62 (60%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 26/45 (58%) off 1st serve and...
- 11/17 (65%) off second serve
--------------------------------
- 1/4 (25%) return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back from net
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Match Report
A high quality performance from Sampras and a streaky one from Becker on a quick carpet court
Becker starts horrifically. He's made 5/21 first serves (and been broken once) when yet another serve is called out. Sampras sportingly concedes it to be an ace, and Becker's fortunes change from there. Sampras himself is just 22/48 first serves in for the set himself. The whole set showcases the problems of covering these two players with stats.
Both hit fine shots, but the errors in between are dreadful. Hitting regulation groundstrokes half way up the net. Missing easy put-away volleys. Hitting pass attempts miles out of court. Missing highly makeable passes. Whacking returns way out
In the book, it all goes down as 1 error (forced or unforced)…. no less so than one that hits the very top of the tape or misses the line by a centimetre... but the way Sampras and Becker make their errors does enhance the impression of streaky play.
The next two sets are better fortunately. With both men serve-volleying on all first serves, Sampras always staying back on seconds (Becker mixes it up on his second delivery)…. there's scope to see the full repertoire of tennis.
In this sense, the baseline play is disappointing. Both players hit hard (without going overboard with it) and both look to open the court. But its the errors that catch the eye... many poor ones and in short rallies. Not great consistency in the baseline encounters. And Becker's movement, which is slow by any standard (he looks like an injured player), is another drawback. Its probably movement that is the decisive factor in Sampras getting the better of the backcourt exchanges
While both have ordinary first serve percentages, Sampras' first delivery is clearly more powerful. Boris struggles to return it - and most Sampras first serve points seem to end up unreturned.
On the other hand, Sampras is able to return Becker's serve quite well. Naturally, the German sends down his share of unreturned serves - but Sampras also knocks away return winners regularly. Plus, Becker isn't at his best at net. He's slow to get there, poor at covering the net (so he's virtually forced to do big damage with his first volley - if not, he finds himself in trouble) and overall, his volleying is ordinary. Misses a few easy ones, doesn't do enough with a large number of the of the highly makeable ones he does get over. Not many volleys from Boris in this match that one looks at and says, "wow" to.
Sampras does much better at the front. Makes the low volleys consistently, placing them well.
The passing is a no-contest. Sampras is far superior (partially because Becker's volleying is less precise). A similar story to how the two stack up in serving-returning.... each part connected to the other, with Sampras coming up ahead
Good clutch play shown by both. Sampras can only break 3 times, though he had break points in 8 games. Becker only once in four games.... I'd predominantly attribute both to the server stepping up when it mattered
Statistically, its clearly the American on top. He leads in every single area - first serves in (50% to 47%), first serves won (82% to 70), second serves won (51% to 49%), unreturned serves (37% to 32%). The last mentioned is particularly relevant since Becker was serve-volleying a lot more than Pete - and the German leading on aces/service winners (20 to 16)
Sampras also has more winners (40 to 27), makes fewer unforced errors (18 to 20) and forces more errors (24 to 21). Again, the last mentioned is surprising, given Becker is at the net 30 more times
Summing up, a hit or miss match with good shot making interspersed with random errors. Sampras superior in just about every way - serve, return, passing, volleying and baseline play. Pete's biggest advantage is in movement. He's quick, Becker is not. Close scoreline, but its always clear who the better player is.
That might be a bit deceptive, since Becker is quite capable of winning matches in which he is not the "better player", but he needs to be clutch to do that. But here, Sampras is also more clutch than him
So final verdict - Sampras the better player in all areas and also more clutch. Biggest difference between the two is movement - Becker is sluggish