Duel Match Stats/Reports - Becker vs Mayotte, Wimbledon fourth round, 1985 & Becker vs Stich, Wimbledon quarter-final, 1993

[Waspsting]

Boris Becker beat Tim Mayotte 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-2 in the Wimbledon fourth round, 1985 on grass

Becker would go onto win the tournament, beating Kevin Curren in the final. He was an unseeded 17 year old and the then youngest winner of a Slam event. Mayotte was seeded 16th

Becker won 165 points, Mayotte 149

Both players serve-volleyed off all serves, with the exception of 1 Becker first serve

(Note: I’m missing 1 point - Set 3, Game 8, Point 1 - a Becker service point that he won
I’ve guessed serve type for other 1 point)

Serve Stats
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (89/151) 59%
- 1st serve points won (74/89) 83%
- 2nd serve points won (38/62) 61%
- ?? serve points won (1/1)
- Aces 6 (1 not clean)
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (58/151) 38%

Mayotte...
- 1st serve percentage (107/162) 66%
- 1st serve points won (82/107) 77%
- 2nd serve points won (28/55) 51%
- Aces 4 (1 not clean)
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (56/162) 35%

Serve Patterns
Becker served...
- to FH 40%
- to BH 48%
- to Body 12%

Mayotte served...
- to FH 37%
- to BH 55%
- to Body 8%

Return Stats
Becker made...
- 102 (37 FH, 65 BH), including 6 return-approaches
- 12 Winners (5 FH, 7 BH)
- 52 Errors, all forced...
- 52 Forced (25 FH, 27 BH)
- Return Rate (102/158) 65%

Mayotte made...
- 89 (31 FH, 58 BH), including 2 return-approaches
- 11 Winners (7 FH, 4 BH)
- 52 Errors, all forced...
- 52 Forced (24 FH, 28 BH)
- Return Rate (89/147) 61%

Break Points
Becker 3/6 (5 games)
Mayotte 1/5 (3 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 52 (15 FH, 12 BH, 3 FHV, 10 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 11 OH)
Mayotte 50 (14 FH, 8 BH, 11 FHV, 9 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 7 OH)

Becker had 27 from serve-volley points -
- 8 first 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH, 3 FH at net, 1 BH at net)
- 16 second 'volleys' (2 FHV, 5 BHV, 9 OH)... 1 OH was on the bounce from near the baseline (a forced back net point)
- 3 third volleys (2 BHV, 1 OH)

- 1 from a return-approach point, a BHV

- 24 passes - 12 returns (5 FH, 7 BH) & 12 regular (7 FH, 4 BH, 1 BHV)
- FH returns - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in
- BH returns - 3 dtl, 1 inside-out, 3 inside-in
- regular FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out, 1 longline (that hits Mayotte), 1 lob
- regular BHs - 3 dtl, 1 inside-out
- BHV - played net-to-net

Mayotte had 31 from serve-volley points -
- 10 first 'volleys' (5 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 2 FH at net, 1 BH at net)
- 17 second volleys (5 FHV, 8 BHV, 4 OH)
- 4 third volleys (1 FHV, 3 OH)

- 19 passes - 11 returns (7 FH, 4 BH) & 8 regular (5 FH, 3 BH)
- FH returns - 2 cc, 3 inside-out, 2 inside-in
- BH returns - 1 dtl, 3 inside-out
- regular FHs - 3 cc (1 at net), 1 dtl, 1 inside-out
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 1 lob

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Becker 39
- 7 Unforced (2 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)... with 1 BH at net & 1 BH pass attempt
- 32 Forced (7 FH, 12 BH, 7 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 4 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 55.7

Mayotte 50
- 13 Unforced (5 FH, 1 BH, 3 FHV, 4 BHV)... with 2 FH at net, 2 FH pass attempts & 1 FH pass attempt at net
- 37 Forced (13 FH, 11 BH, 2 FHV, 11 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 53.8

(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 are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Becker was...
- 111/152 (73%) at net, including...
- 105/140 (75%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 67/82 (82%) off 1st serve and...
- 38/58 (66%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/6 (33%) return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back

Mayotte was...
- 108/160 (68%) at net, including...
- 106/154 (69%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 78/103 (76%) off 1st serve and...
- 28/51 (55%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/2 return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back

Match Report
Great match, one of the best server dominated, serve-volley encounters I’ve seen. Both players with powerful serves, but shy of overwhelming. Both players volley superbly. Chances for both returners are few and far between. Becker wins because someone has to. Luck as much as anything pushing his way

Only time one player has better of other is last set, where Boris breaks twice and has break point in another game. Rest of match, both players hold like clockwork

Sans last set, break points read Boris 1/3 (2 games), Mayotte 1/5 (3 games)
In final set, Boris has 2/3 (3 games), Mayotte 0
That final set turns match long stats slightly Boris’ way. 6-2 set is too small to make any large change to a match so long

Serving at 5-5 in fourth set (down 2 sets to 1), Boris finds himself down break point (last break point came 17 games ago). Mayotte spanks a hard, low return. Boris comes away with an uncontrolled BH1/2V drop winner against it. His half-volleying is one of many great things about the match. Not only has he made almost every one he’s faced (he ends match with 2 half-volley FEs, while facing approximately 12-15 of them), but he’s slinked them deep and with intentional direction. This winner isn’t that. He just gets racquet on ball not very cleanly, and it happens to go over for winner.

Point after, Mayotte misses an easy FH pass at net after drawing another 1/2 volley first up. And Boris holds

Boris turns his ankle next game and briefly sits down mid-game to shake the pain off. He sits for about 2 minutes, before resuming and losing the game. His movements are still a little ginger in the tiebreak that follows, but is able to capitilize on Mayotte volleying a little too safely to take it and the send match into decider

At changeover between sets, trainer tends to Boris’ ankle. He’s slightly, but noticeably still effected by it. He dominates fifth set to come away with win

Not sure what the rules were governing treatment for injuries at the time. Chair doesn’t seem the type to humour anything an inch out of line. Throughout match, any slight delay by either player is dealt with by Chair calling out “15 seconds” (as in, you have 15 seconds to start the next points). Mayotte gets this treatment when he changes racquets in middle of a game and seems surprised by it. Boris once or twice starts to complain about a call, and gets the same treatment

Would Boris have needed Mayotte’s ok to obtain treatment and/or sit down middle of game? Mayotte simply waits as Boris sits down. He doesn’t appear to actively give consent, though doesn’t seem to have any issue with the break either. The very point before the ankle turn, Boris had struck an at net Mayotte with a power pass from close to service line - which, if Boris needs opponents consent, probably wouldn’t increase chances of that consent being given

The match is a top drawer one - big serving and superb volleying from both players and thorough server domination

Boris has bigger serve, though Mayotte’s is big too. Power of Boris’ second serve in particular is good, though again, Mayotte’s is no gimme either. A lot of lunging, jamming down on the return at last instant in hope rather than with confidence going on. Taking a good swing at the return is exception and luxury. In line with Boris with bigger serve, Mayotte particularly is left to block returns most of the time

But, aces are very low
Aces - Boris 6, Mayotte 4 (both have 1 non-clean ace, included in their counts)
First serve ace rate - 7%, Mayotte 4%
Both have 4 double faults to go with the aces

3 of Boris’ aces are in short final set, including 1 in the serve-out when Mayotte’s resigned to the result
In previous round, Boris had 19 aces or 19% off first serves against Joakim Nystrom. In final against Kevin Curren, he’d have 22 or 26%

In that light, aces and ace rate are very, very low here. Its not for gentle serving, its not for either either returner being amazingly quick
Despite that, returning is a handful and then some

Unreturned rates - Boris 38%, Mayotte 35%
(Boris had 48% against Nystrom and would have 41% against Curren)

Neither returner is extraordinary in their movement to keep aces so low. Mayotte has a slightly turned to FH waiting position similar to Kei Nishikori that one imagines would leave him vulnerable to being aced on BH wing

No real explanation for the low ace counts, but stressing that despite it, the serving is good and returning is uphill work

Both players volley superbly
Just 1 non serve-volley point in match (Boris stays back and comes in 4th set tiebreak, while moving gingerly after rolling his ankle), so its all serve-volley vs return-pass action

Mayotte punches his volleys through as well as anyone. When not going wide, he volleys deep. Very good at the low and shoe-lace volley too. He’s most vulnerable to wide + lowish ones - and he’s not bad at those
Boris misses next to nothing on the volley. He also misses little around his feet and volleys deep. Punch isn’t as thorough as Mayotte, but more than good enough to leave scant passing chances

 

[Waspsting]

On the ‘volley’
- Winners - Boris 29, Mayotte 31
- UEs - Boris 6, Mayotte 10
- FEs - both 13

If there’s an area where either player is less than excellent, its Mayotte, with 4 groundstroke at net UEs - 1 of them earlier mentioned crucial pass near end of fourth set. Uncommon situation - he has 3 first ‘volley’ groundstroke at net winners also - none of them getting him broken, the crucial one allowing Boris to nose ahead in a rare chance game for returner

Wonderful volleying from both players - missing little, punching hard, deep and/or wide, dealing with difficult volleys very well. And against decent returning. Might think that low aces means lot of weak returns begging to be a putaway, but no. Returns that are made are around net high and not soft, with odd powerful ones in there (especially from Boris). Kind of returning that’s liable to lead to a few UEs and against which non decisive volleying is liable to leave good look passes, but very little of that going on because volleying is too good from both players. Boris rarely moves around the baseline as he's about to return (he'd do a lot more of that in the final) and for a game, return-approaches regularly

Tough, shoelace volleys are minority, but do come around. Both are good at those too. Boris a little better, but Mayotte has 0 half-volley FEs, though he faces fair few of them. Boris usually able to make the shoelace volleys deep and leave not-good passing look to greater extent than Mayotte

11/13 of Mayotte’s volley FEs are BHVs. It takes wide, lowish and at least firm (more often, powerful) to draw that error from him. Boris’ BH cc return from ad court gaining most (ironically, its the only return he doesn't have a winner from) of those. Mayotte faces more difficult volleys on BHV than FHV, but just 2 FHV FEs is very impressive from him

Though tough volleys are minority, they’re present often enough that neither player would be able to hold like they if they weren't particularly good at handling them

Return passing winners - Boris 12, Mayotte 11
Non-return passing winners - Boris 11, Mayotte 8
Ground passing FEs - Boris 19, Mayotte 14
Ground passing UEs - Boris 1, Mayotte 3

Pretty good yield of non-return pass winners to FEs, given not good looks at passes

If Mayotte errs a touch, its in opting for lob rather than pass bit too much. Boris is virtually perfect on smash and has 11 winners on it (he has 14 from volleys and half-volleys by contrast), no errors or hints of any. Not that passing shot is likely to lead to winning lot of points, but more so than lobbing

That’s really about it. Great match as it is, its also a simple one -
- Just shy of 100% serve-volley (1 non- serve-volley point in match)
- Powerful serving, despite low aces. Boris with 38% freebies, Mayotte 35%
- Returns being blocked back firmly or mildly swung at. Not easy, putaway volleys presented but standard stuff around net high without undue time for volleyer
- Top class volleying - missing little and with authority
--Against minority powerful, low returns and passes, still excellent volleying and resistance to giving up FEs
-Scant passing chances
-Both players eking out a few winning passes

All leads to server domination, with 2 breaks in 4 sets and 5 games with break points in them, sets split 2-2
Mayotte having best chances at tail end of fourth set, which a not un-lucky 1/2volley winner from Boris and Mayotte missing an easy pass from net thwart
Only last set is easy, Boris running away with it

Match Progression
First set sets tone of match. Mayotte punches volleys excellently and Boris can’t seem to miss one, volleying the first one wide and finishing as needed with the second. Mayotte not as good as Boris against the odd, tough wide return and Boris occasionally blasting a return

Boris makes a BH1/2V FE second point of match. Which means he (and both players combined) make just 1 more for remainder of the match. There’s a good 20 or so that have to be made - and they all do

Just 1 break and its only game with break point in it. Powerful, wide pass forces BHV error, Mayotte misses routine BHV and Boris blasts passing winners (BH inside-in return and FH cc) to take 4-2 lead

Bold return-approach second point of second set sees Boris come away with net-to-net BHV winner, before Mayotte completes hold to 15. Second set, like first, has just 1 break point game, which is converted. Otherwise, 1 game goes to deuce

That game is Mayotte’s serve, and is half-chance for Boris. Knocks away a normal look FH cc pass winner and Mayotte misses an easy FHV to go down 15-30. He misses an attempted first ‘volley’ FH at net drop shot later on to take score to deuce, before holding with 2 unretunred serves

The sole break ends the set and its too love and a poor game from Boris. 2 double faults, a BHV UE where he tries to turn the ball inside-out to open court, and a FH inside-out return-pass winner to wrap up, that’s poked wide on the stretch

Both players are volleying so well that it looks like waiting around for double faults might be only way a break is likely to come

Set 3 sees a little more counter-play for returner, peaking in middle of set as both players save break points (Mayotte 2, Boris 3) in moving from 2-2 to 33

Boris return-approaches regularly in the first game. Even misses an easy volley the first time around, but forces a BHV error next time. Both break points are erased with unreturned first serves, including a rare ace and Mayotte neatly BH1/2Vs a winner against the 4th and last of Boris’ return-approaches for the 12 point game

Boris is down 0-40 game after, with Mayotte making a 2 return-pass winners (blocked BH inside-out and FH cc) and drawing an impossible, diving BHV error. Boris has to 1/2volley on first break point, which he does fluently to draw passing error

Having reached relative safety of deuce, Boris wins a thrilling point where he make a wide, low first volley, a running second half-volley and manages to block away a third volley winner while moving other way and wrong footed by Mayotte’s pass

Later, Mayotte holds a 10 point for 6-5 (no break points), featuring a number of strong returns and passes. Not among them is the first point of the game, where Boris misses an easy enough BH pass from mid-court for it to be marked a UE

Tiebreak. Couple good returns from Mayotte wins it for him. First is BH dtl that draws a stretched out volley that he’s able to comfily putaway BH cc for winner, and he forces FH1/2V error to end the set
Quite a set. Mayotte serves 45 points for his 6 holds (3 deuce games), Boris 34 (1 deuce games, where he’s down 0-40)

Fourth set is more server dominated and at 5-5, there’s been just 1 deuce game (in which Boris had led 40-0). That’s when the earlier described, crucial phase happens, with Boris saving a break point with an uncontrolled BH1/2V winner and Mayotte missing an easy pass at net

Another tiebreak. Boris is still shaking off effects of his ankle roll and stays back of a serve for only time in the match

Mayotte with a safe volley on third point that Boris has normal look at and he whacks it wide for BH inside-out pass winner to move ahead 2-1. Mayotte misses a not difficult, reaction second volley to fall behind 5-1. He snatches 1 mini back by drawing a soft volley to a high return that he can putaway to open court, but 1 mini gap is enough for Boris to see the game through
Boris serves 37 points, Mayotte 30 for their 6 holds in the set

Boris breaks to love to open the decider. Wide return forced FHV error, smacks a weak serve for another return-pass winner, and firm return sets up a BH dtl pass winner to end the game

Mayotte’s in trouble again to hold for 2-3, saving a break point, with all the points Boris winning being FEs or winners but manages. But it’s the same tune playing next go around and Boris has 4 passing winners (BH dtl and FH inside-out, both set up by low returns drawing not strong ‘volleys’ and BH dtl and FH cc returns, both agaisnt first serves). Game ends with Mayotte missing a simple FH at net. The one area of net play he’s been less than impressive one

Boris serves out to 15, with Mayotte missing an easy FH pass from mid court early in the game

Summing up, great match and great showings from both players
- Both serving strongly. Becker’s is more powerful, but Mayotte’s is a handful to handle too
- Both volley superbly. Mayotte punching of volleys is first class and he picks up shoelace volleys without trouble. Becker’s regulation volleying is a little less punishing, but he’s also a little more consistent on them and he’s also very good at the shoelace stuff. Mayotte with slightest of flaws in hitting groundstroke at net and not as good as he could be in making wide, low-ish BHVs (when that’s a flaw, you know it’s a good match)
- Both doing what they can on the pass, which isn’t much against the volleying on show

Point here, point there keep things 2-2 in sets, before Becker dominates the finale to take the match

Stats for Becker’s third round match with Nystrom - Match Stats/Report - Becker vs Nystrom, Wimbledon third round, 1985 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
Stats for the final between Becker and Kevin Curren - Match Stats/Report - Becker vs Curren, Wimbledon final, 1985 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)

 

[buscemi]

Serving at 5-5 in fourth set (down 2 sets to 1), Boris finds himself down break point (last break point came 17 games ago). Mayotte spanks a hard, low return. Boris comes away with an uncontrolled BH1/2V drop winner against it. His half-volleying is one of many great things about the match. Not only has he made almost every one he’s faced (he ends match with 2 half-volley FEs, while facing approximately 12-15 of them), but he’s slinked them deep and with intentional direction. This winner isn’t that. He just gets racquet on ball not very cleanly, and it happens to go over for winner.

Here's the break point where Becker somehow pulls off that drop shot to save break point at 5-5 in the fourth set, down two sets to one. All part of Becker's great escape:

Point is at 2:53:30:

 

[Waspsting]

Becker beat Michael Stich 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 in the Wimbledon quarter-final, 1993 on grass

Becker would go onto lose in the next round to eventual winner Pete Sampras. Stich had recently won Queen’s Club title, beating Becker along the way. The two had played the final in 1991, with Stich having won in straight sets

Becker won 196 points, Stich 175

Both players serve-volleyed off all serves

[Note: I’ve made deductions or educated guesses regarding serve type for a significant number of points (essentially, the first point after every change-over for last 3 sets)]

Serve Stats
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (111/193) 58%
- 1st serve points won (92/111) 83%
- 2nd serve points won (43/82) 52%
- Aces 16, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 10
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (75/193) 39%

Stich...
- 1st serve percentage (96/178) 54%
- 1st serve points won (78/96) 81%
- 2nd serve points won (39/82) 48%
- Aces 20 (1 second serve), Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 13
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (68/178) 38%

Serve Patterns
Becker served...
- to FH 38%
- to BH 48%
- to Body 14%

Stich served...
- to FH 36%
- to BH 61%
- to Body 3%

Return Stats
Becker made...
- 97 (34 FH, 63 BH), including 5 runaround FHs & 6 return-approaches
- 12 Winners (3 FH, 9 BH)
- 47 Errors, all forced...
- 47 Forced (17 FH, 30 BH)
- Return Rate (97/165) 59%

Stich made...
- 108 (43 FH, 65 BH), including 3 return-approaches
- 13 Winners (4 FH, 9 BH)
- 58 Errors, all forced...
- 58 Forced (26 FH, 32 BH)
- Return Rate (108/183) 59%

Break Points
Becker 4/10 (8 games)
Stich 0/9 (6 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 58 (12 FH, 14 BH, 16 FHV, 11 BHV, 5 OH)
Stich 56 (11 FH, 17 BH, 8 FHV, 11 BHV, 7 OH, 2 BHOH)

Becker had 34 from serve-volley points -
- 19 first 'volleys' (7 FHV, 6 BHV, 2 OH, 2 FH at net, 2 BH at net)... 1 BHV was not clean
- 12 second volleys (7 FHV, 3 BHV, 2 OH)
- 3 third 'volleys' (2 BHV, 1 OH)... the OH was on the bounce from the baseline (forced back net point)

- 20 passes - 12 returns (3 FH, 9 BH) & 8 regular (6 FH, 2 BH)
- FH returns - 1 cc, 2 dtl
- BH returns - 5 cc, 2 dtl, 1 inside-in, 1 lob (accidental)
- regular FHs - 3 cc (1 at net), 2 dtl, 1 running-down-drop-shot cc at net
- regular BHs - 2 dtl

Stich had 28 from serve-volley points -
- 13 first 'volleys' (3 FHV, 5 BHV, 3 OH, 2 FH at net)... 1 BHV can reasonably be called a BHOH, 1 OH can reasonably be called a FHV & 1 other OH was not clean
- 15 second 'volleys' (3 FHV, 5 BHV, 4 OH, 2 BHOH, 1 BH at net)... 1 OH was a drop
- 2 from return-approach points (1 FHV, 1 BHV)

- 23 passes - 13 returns (4 FH, 9 BH) & 10 regular (5 FH, 5 BH)
- FH returns - 3 cc, 1 inside-in
- BH returns - 3 cc, 4 dtl, 2 inside-out
- regular FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in, 1 longline
- regular BHs - 3 cc, 2 dtl

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Becker 41
- 6 Unforced (4 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 35 Forced (10 FH, 10 BH, 5 FHV, 2 FH1/2V, 4 BHV, 2 BH1/2V, 1 Over-the-Shoulder)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 55

Stich 50
- 13 Unforced (3 BH, 3 FHV, 7 BHV)... with 2 BH at net & 1 BH pass attempt
- 37 Forced (7 FH, 18 BH, 4 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 4 BHV, 3 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 54.6

(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 are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Becker was...
- 125/178 (70%) at net, including...
- 118/166 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 75/94 (80%) off 1st serve and...
- 43/72 (60%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/6 (33%) return-approaching
- 1/3 (33%) forced back

Stich was...
- 100/150 (67%) at net, including...
- 96/144 (67%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 58/76 (76%) off 1st serve and...
- 38/68 (56%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back

Match Report
Full serve-volleying from both players and mostly a serve-bot affair, but not the ending which gets very tense, with Becker barely holding onto his break lead come away with win. On whole, Becker has fewer lapses on the volley and returns a little better, making him odds on favourite to win. Like many such matches on grass, its not to decisive extent, so result remains up in the air and its in fact Stich who’s playing better right at the end, but just can’t get over final hurdle to score a break

At all. Boris goes through the match unbroken, while breaking 4 times

Stats are interesting in that they don’t obviously spell ‘serve-bot’ fest
Unreturned serves - Boris 39%, Stich 38%

If anything, on low side of normal for the pair and period. In their ‘91 final, rates were 35% and 52% respectively. 40-50% freebies from servers like this is common around this period
So what makes it (mostly) a ‘serve-bot’ fest?
Returning is weak because serving is too good. Volleys are easy

I’ve chosen to lump this with the ‘85 Becker-Mayotte though the matches aren’t connected for 2 reasons. A) the similarities in the stats and B) because the contrast in how different a match can be, despite such similarities is fascinating

Just look at the stats
In ‘85 -
- freebies - Boris 38%, Mayotte 35%
- Winners - Boris 52, Mayotte 50
- FEs - Boris 32, Mayotte 37
- UEs - Boris 7, Mayotte 13
- break points - Boris 3/6 (5 games), Mayotte 1/5 (3 games)

Here -
- freebies - Boris 39%, Stich 38%
- Winners - Boris 58, Stich 56
- FEs - Boris 35, Stich, 37
- UEs - Boris 6, Stich 13
- break points - Boris 4/10 (8 games), Stich 0/9 (6 games)

With a little re-ordering, even sets correspond across the matches. 1 set of Boris outplaying opponent (last in ‘85, fourth here), rest virtually even, amidst server domination. Tensions of last set here is unique to this match (Boris breaks early in fifth set but has a hell of a time nursing that break through, needing to serve 54 points for his 5 holds, while Stich serves 35 points in his 5 games)

The big difference in the 2 matches is the kind of volleys on show (thus, also the returning that presents such volleys)

In ‘85, shoelace and half-volleying were common. Both players handled them very well. Serves were strong of course, but server dominated nature is due as much to high quality difficult volley (that is, resisting making FEs and also, making such ‘volleys’ with decent authority)
Here, routine volleying is on show, and serve shot is primarily behind server domination

In ‘85, match seemed to be about who’d blink first in handling difficult volleys to give up break to challenging returns. Both players handle these difficult volleys well to keep holding
Here, match is about who might blink first in missing routine volleys to give up break against ok returns. Not many difficult volleys to face and neither player excels at handling them

Combined 36 aces in this match (+ 2 service winers), as opposed to 10 in the 1985, hints at difference, though in itself, isn’t ‘proof’ of this difference

Gist - the serve shot in this match dominates action much more than it did in 1985 and the 2 matches are significantly different. Despite extreme - sometimes identical, Stich and Mayotte having exact same 13 UEs, 37 FEs is downright freaky - similarities in stats

Action & Stats
“Becker has fewer lapses on the volley and returns a little better”
‘Volley’ UEs - Boris 6, Stich 12 (with 1 of Boris' coming in a return game)

That’s Boris being more secure on the regulation volley. Given length of match, 12 is low enough for Stich that he’s very much in acceptable range for ‘good play’ and might get away with the UEs not costing him anything (certainly not 3 sets)

Return rate - both 59%
Return winners - Boris 12, Stich 13
Return winners/returns made - both 12% (Boris makes 97 returns, Stich 108)

Virtually identical. Stich’s best returning is concentrated at the end and 6/13 return winners come in last set (ergo, the hard time Boris has holding), while Boris’ are more spread out. Beyond numbers, Boris a little more threatening returning second serves in particular. Steps or hops forward and whacks them on the up, while Stich largely blocks (no significant difference in return-rate, so Boris potentially more damaging

Boris a little more proactive and creative on the return, with small number of improvised returns (he’s got 5 runaround FHs and 6 return-approaches to Stich’s 3). The return-approaches are mostly suicidally low percentage from both players, but nothing to lose by throwing a few in there, given how ineffective orthodox stuff (whether blocking or looking to smack) proves to be

Generally, one of Boris’ best attributes as a counter serve-volley returner is the BH inside-out return in deuce court. Not here. Rarely uses that return and even more rarely effectively. No winners with the shot and easy FHVs for Stich when he can make the return at all. It’s a non-factor - there’s nothing in the match at all that’d indicate Boris likes to return in that direction generally

 

[Waspsting]

With freebies and routine or easy volleys making up so much of action, that’s extent of difference between two players, with all other things being roughly equal. Its not much in Boris’ favour, but makes him more likely to come out ahead than not

Maybe best way to look at match is simply as who-blinks-first, as in, who’ll have a bad service game (double faults, routine/easy volley misses) first to get broken
Both players serve 82 second serves. Boris has 10 double faults, Stich 13, so things in Boris’ favour there too. Another sliver favouring Boris

Both players volleying the routine stuff well. Putting them away, or leaving poor passing chances
Unnecessary to go into dynamics too much

‘Volley’ winners - Boris 36, Stich 31
‘Volley’ FEs - Boris 14, Stich 12
‘Volley’ UEs - Boris 6, Stich 12

Edge Boris, as befits scoreline. 1 of his UEs is also in a return game, so not too important (as in, its not going to get him broken)

First ‘volley’ winners - Boris 19, Stich 13
… that’d be Boris returning a little heavier, thus, giving Stich fewer readily dispatchable first volleys. Boris isn’t any better at finishing on the volley to account for the slight difference

Return-pass winners - Boris 12, Stich 13
Regular pass winners - Boris 9, Stich 10
Ground FEs (can be taken to be regular passing errors)- Boris 20, Stich 25 (7 FH, 18 BH)

Ordering regular groundstrokes in terms of passing winners-FEs
- Boris FH 7-10
- Stich FH 5-7
- Boris BH 2-10
- Stich BH 5-18 (Stich also has a UE)

Both players doing quite well off the FH and both unable to of FH, but Boris apparently much more in control of his volleys to direct so many to the BH. Stich’s either unable to do so or hasn’t made an effort to.

Add that to Boris’ other edges. He’s doing better volleying, while controlling direction of volleys to his favour

Particularly worth noting since Stich actively serves more to BH (directing 61% serves there to Boris’ 48%). That discrepancy though, isn’t Stich focusing more at targetting BH than FH return. Its more that Boris utilizes body serves much more (serves there significant 14% of time, to Stich’s negligible 3%). Boris actually serves 2% more often to the FH, but generally speaking, Stich is a more balanced returner and passer than Boris (as in, less of a gap between Stich’s 2 wings than there is Boris, whose FH is obviously more potent)

Cute, symmetary in Stich's regular FH pass winners - 1 each cc, dtl, inside-out, inside-in and longline

Match Progression
Serve-bot first set, with 2 players combining for 29/31 first serve points won. Lot of aces too. Returns are of the get-racquet-on-ball and hope for best variety

Stich’s down break point in game 7 due to 3 double faults and comes through to hold. Some good returns from him game after which Boris holds in 8 points without facing break point. 3 first serve points for Boris in the game

Boris gains sole break to move ahead 6-5, with Stich making 2/8 first serves. Another double fault in the game, but more good returns from Boris for the result, though volleys Stich misses are makeable, though not easy

Returner’s get more counter-play in second set, though there are no breaks. Boris returns with more power, Stich pokes returns that sometimes get low. Boris seems to miss every low ‘volley’
Remarkably, Boris delivers 5 second serve lets in a row on one point. After all that, Stich smacks away a BH cc return-pass winner. Stich serves a lot of first serves lets also

No breaks, Boris serves 42 points, Stich 36 for their 6 holds
Break points read Boris 0/2 (2 games), Stich 0/5 (3 games)

Tiebreak. 1 mini-break from Stich wins it. He draws half-volley with the return (a shot Boris had rarely been able to make all set), and has time to line up and nail FH inside-out pass winner to go up 2-1. Has to make a tough, low volley first up to stay ahead 6-3 awhile later, but wins all his service point to take the set

Both returners turn to slighlty desperate stuff to gain counter-play in set 3, with very low percentage return-approaches or edging forward while hitting passes. Boris is the one to start and does so a little more than Stich

Still no breaks. Boris serves 36 points, Stich 35 for their 6 holds
Both players are 0/1 on break points

Tiebreak. Returner wins 7/12 points in it. Stich’s always ahead, but double faults on his first set point to put game back on serve, leading 6-5
He takes the next point with a very low percentage passing winner. Full running, with ball very low, FH cc. Call it a 1 in 10-15 shot

Match turns in fourth set for good, with both players able to return with some comfort. Bunch of passing winner get Boris break to open the set, where Stich has a cute, back-pedalling drop OH winner also. After going down 2 breaks and 0-30, Stich doesn’t strain too much for rest of set, but holds serve without much trouble. In time, Boris serves out to 15

5th set turns out be a nervy affair. Both players’ serving fire has cooled sufficiently for returns to be made, but serve shot is still strong that returning has to be particularly good to make headway

Though he loses, its Stich who actually makes more headway
After Boris holds for 1-1 in a 16 point game (2 break points), Stich’s broken in a 10 point game. He blows the game, more than Boris wins it

Boris with perfect BH cc return-pass winner early in game (against second serve) and a FH cc one late in it (against first serve). Stich though opens game with routine BHV miss, double faults in the middle, misses an easy second volley FHV late in the game, and ends with another double fault. 2-1 Boris and if all that’s come before is anything to go by, good to just keep holding serve 4 more times to the end

He does, but it’s a mammoth struggle and not just for him
Boris service games for the set last 16, 8, 10, 8 and 12 points. Given that, he’s actually quite comfy in holding and faces just 3 break points across 2 different games, with just 1 after going up a break

Though Stich holds more readily, he’s not out of woods either. After going down a break, Stich’s down 15-30, even at 30-30 and down 0-15 in his remaining service games. Doesn’t face break point, only 1 game goes to deuce, but while lot better of than Boris, its not easy holding the way most of match has been

In numbers, Boris averaging 10.8 points per hold, Stich 7 points for 4 holds and getting broken once, with the longest game being 10 points and the one he’s broken in

Some nice/memorable points. Wonderful back-pedalling smash winner by Stich in game 5, a funny Boris body serves that goes for an ace with Stich awkwardly avoiding the ball, and Edberg-esque BHV inside-out winner by Boris, regular and well placed returns from Stich

Despite his troubles, Boris only faces break point on the serve-out. On his first match point at 40-30, Stich knocks away a Boris like early taken swished BH cc return-pass winner, and double fault after that raises Stich’s sole chance

He has a normal look at the pass (more likely to lose point than win it) on it, but nets the BH.

Couple points later, Stich’s return pops up off the net chord, potentially problematically, but Boris retains his sits and adjusts to swipe away a BH at net winner before bringing curtain down with an unreturned first serve

Summing up, within context of serve-bottishly server domination (lots of unreturned serves and weak returns that are readily dispatched), Becker has better of things in a few ways. He double faults less, returns with more authority, is more secure on the regulation volley while being more in control and smarter in where he puts those volleys. Stich isn’t bad in any of these areas either, and isn’t too far behind on any of them and advantages don’t amount to decisive

So things come down to point here, point there as matches on grass between servers of this calibre so often do, with odds favouring Becker for listed reasons, and that’s the way the coin lands

Tense ending is high point of match, which is creeping towards boringly serve-bottish much of the time

Stats for the semi-final between Becker and Pete Sampras - Duel Match Stats/Reports - Sampras vs Becker, Wimbledon final & semi-final, 1995 & 1993 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
Stats for the final between Sampras and Jim Courier - Match Stats/Report - Sampras vs Courier, Wimbledon final, 1993 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)