Duel Match Stats/Reports - Connors vs Stockton & Borg vs Rennert, Wimbledon first rounds, 1981

[Waspsting]

Jimmy Connors beat Dick Stockton 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in the Wimbledon first round, 1981 on grass

Connors would go reach the semi-final where he would lose to 5 time defending champion Bjorn Borg for the fourth time in 5 years. He would go onto win the title the following year. The two had previously met in the semi-final in 1974, with Connors having won en route to the title

Connors won 100 points, Stockton 75

Connors serve-volleyed half the time off first serves, Stockton off all serves

Serve Stats
Connors...
- 1st serve percentage (56/85) 66%
- 1st serve points won (40/56) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (15/29) 52%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (19/85) 22%

Stockton...
- 1st serve percentage (60/90) 67%
- 1st serve points won (31/60) 52%
- 2nd serve points won (14/30) 47%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/90) 28%

Serve Patterns
Connors served...
- to FH 41%
- to BH 54%
- to Body 5%

Stockton served...
- to FH 31%
- to BH 66%
- to Body 4%

Return Stats
Connors made...
- 60 (19 FH, 41 BH)
- 7 Winners (3 FH, 4 BH)
- 21 Errors, all forced...
- 21 Forced (9 FH, 12 BH)
- Return Rate (60/85) 71%

Stockton made...
- 64 (30 FH, 34 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 1 runaround BH
- 2 Winners (2 BH)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 11 Unforced (4 FH, 7 BH), including 1 return-approach attempt
- 7 Forced (7 BH)
- Return Rate (64/83) 77%

Break Points
Connors 6/12 (8 games)
Stockton 1/5 (3 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Connors 30 (10 FH, 8 BH, 5 FHV, 3 BHV, 3 OH, 1 BHOH)
Stockton 22 (4 FH, 3 BH, 9 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 OH)

Connors had 9 from serve-volley points -
- 4 first volleys (2 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 5 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH, 1 BHOH)

- 16 passes (9 FH, 7 BH)
- FHs - 1 cc, 6 dtl (1 return), 1 inside-out return, 1 inside-in return
- BHs - 3 cc (1 return - 1-handed), 2 dtl (1 return), 2 inside-out returns,

- regular FH - 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net
- regular BH - 1 dtl

Stockton had 13 from serve-volley points -
- 7 first 'volleys' (5 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 FH at net)... the FH at net was a drop shot
- 5 second volleys (1 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)... 1 BHV can reasonably be said to have been played off FHV side
- 1 third volley (1 FHV)

- 5 passes (2 FH, 3 BH)
- FHs - 1 cc, 1 lob
- BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl return, 1 inside-in return

- regular FH - 1 dtl

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Connors 26
- 15 Unforced (5 FH, 5 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV)... with 1 BH pass attempt at net
- 11 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48

Stockton 46
- 21 Unforced (6 FH, 5 BH, 5 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 OH)... with 1 FH at net
- 25 Forced (6 FH, 6 BH, 4 FHV, 3 FH1/2V, 6 BHV)... with 1 FH at net
- 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 are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Connors was...
- 28/44 (64%) at net, including...
- 22/32 (69%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 20/28 (71%) off first serve and...
- 2/4 (50%) off second serve
---
- 1/2 forced back

Stockton was...
- 46/88 (52%) at net, including...
- 41/81 (51%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 27/56 (48%) off first serve and...
- 14/25 (56%) off second serve
---
- 0/2 forced back

Match Report
Some good returning and passing from Connors highlights a routine win over a a weak serve-volleying Stockton

Connors mixes up serve-volleying and not (in all, serve-volleys 28/55 first serves and 4/22 seconds). Stockton does so 100% of the time

Both have harmless serves. Jimbo serving a little harder when serve-volleying than not. As far as blind test of whether any given serve is a first or second, by his flip-a-coin standard, there’s a difference between his 2 serves. Which has come out in stats

He wins 71% first serve points and 52% seconds. 66% in count is quite low for him too and hints at his actually putting his back into the first serves

Off first serves, wins 20/28 serve-volleying and 19/27 not, excluding his sole ace. Good 64% net points won but he volleys no more than adequately. Stockton is worse and faces far better passing (return and otherwise)

Jimbo on the volley has 12 winners, 5 UEs, 2 FEs. Not bad figures, needing some explanation

He faces very few strong passes and/or returns, so rarely has to make difficult volleys. 5 UEs isn’t great for 12 winners, and what’s more, he doesn’t volley with authority. Even dispatching the easy stuff is lower than his high norm, but on the regulation, net high volleys, just puts them in play a little to the side of Stockton, who can reach ball comfily. Stockton not good on the pass more accounting for Jimbo’s satisfactory net numbers than Jimbo’s volleying

Stockton on the pass has 5 winners (2 returns), with 12 ground FEs (about 8-9 of them passes). Not bad either, but he has good looks at passes (including returns) and usually leaves routine volley at most
The entire Jimbo volley vs Stockton pass contest is ordinary and forgettable

Flip side is dominated by Jimbo, who does return and pass well, though Stockton again is sub-par on the volley
‘Volleying’, Stockton with 15 winners, 11 UEs, 14 FEs (including groundshots and half-volleys at net)
Passing, Jimbo with 16 winners (7 returns), and 10 errors (1 UE), with background of 100% serve-volleying drawing 28% unreturned serves

When he makes the volley, Stockton makes it well and wide. Doesn’t leave Jimbo good look passes. Trouble is, he doesn’t make it a large lot of time

11 UEs is poor and he’s liable to miss routines. Just putting ball around net high would do to get breaks out of him. More FEs speaks to Jimbo returning/passing well, but also blackmark on Stockton there. He doesn’t just miss almost everything that’s difficult, but most anything that’s not-easy. A slightly wide, above average power, slightly under net ball is more likely than not to draw error from him

All that against back-drop of 28% unreturned. Average serve, a little stronger than Jimbo’s at most. He’s got 4 aces (couple of them tanked by Jimbo). Jimbo not all out hammer and tongs on every return as he can sometimes get. Always firm, often powerful and getting good lot down low. Which is more than enough to break Stockton. Just getting 71% returns back at net high would do to get breaks, and the extra low stuff and shoelace stuff is gravy that sees Jimbo break as often as not (he has 6 breaks, Stockton 6 holds)

Highlight is Jimbo’s non-return passing. As stated earlier, Stockton’s placement of volleys is very good and he’s also not being forced into weak volleys (he misses ball that have potential to to do that), so Jimbo not getting good looks on pass. Makes a few top notch running ones for winners. Excluding returns, Jimbo with 9 passing winners, 9 FEs… which is top notch against what he’s faced with. FH dtl has 5 winners and they tend to be on the run, sometimes full run. 2 BH cc winners are against very deep balls. High point of the match is Jimbo’s passing - excellent shots from difficult positions

 

[Waspsting]

With Jimbo staying back on half his first serves and most seconds, there’s considerable baseline action. The bounce is very low, with balls regularly staying shin height. As such, not much scope for power hitting. The two simply trade groundies, with a lot of side-spin to help keep ball in court from Jimbo and pseudo-slice drives from Stockton. No pointed looking to approach dynamic in the rallies

Honours even there. Ground to ground UEs - Jimbo 9, Stockton 10, with 3/4 groundies having 5 UEs, Jimbo’s BH 4

Little rallying to net. Jmbo’s 6/12, with fair few hopeless situations where he finds himself at net after scrambling for passes. Stockton’s 5/7 - good rate, but too small an amount to matter too much

Finally, Stockton not returning well. 11/18 return errors have been marked UEs. Jimbo’s serve is typically harmless. Sans serve-volleys, maybe 2-3 serves total that troublingly stretch or rush Stockton to degree of being labelled ‘forceful’. Even than, Stockton returning 77%, which isn’t bad. Plenty of room for improvement, given what little he’s faced with

Match Progression
5-0 Jimbo in slow time. No deuce games but fair few rallies and neither player hurrays between points. Early on, Jimbo’s serve-volleying all the time. His first 10 first serve points are all serve-volleys and serve-volleys behind 2/6 second serves too

Holds first game of the match with his sole ace
Breaks by forcing 3 volleying errors - 2 of them makeably tough low ones, 1 a reflex second volley
Serve volleys 5/6 points for second hold, including a second serve (where he’s forced into a low, wide volleying error)
Breaks again, wrapping up with 2 FH dtl passing winners, the second on the run, after a double fault and easy FHV miss
Jimbo still serve-volleying to hold for 5-0, and he’s not too hassled next game as Stock gets on the board with a love hold

Jimbo misses routine BHV serve-volleying to open his serve-out. And just like that, puts away the serve-volleying. Stays back remaining 5 points of the game (4 of them first serves) as he ends the set

More staying back then serve-volleying from Jimbo in second set and Stockton gains counter-play returning. Stockton has 4 break points across 2 different games

Bunch of wide and low returns gain Jimbo break right at the start, starting with a 1-handed, full stretched out BH return cc passing winner. Rest are power returns that force volleying errors. He’s pushed to 12 points to hold, saving 2 break points. Stockton misses an attempted chip-charge return on first of them and having set up an approach nicely, misses routine finishing volley on the other

Poor game by Stockton to be broken again for 0-3 with couple double faults, BHV miss against powerful but nice height ball and on break point, an OH UE

Back-pedalling BHOH winner by Jimbo is shot of the match as he holds 10 point game for 5-1. Looks good for another breakstick after knocking away consecutive BH return pass winners (inside-out and dtl) before Stock holds with unreturend serves

Jimbo serves out to 15. Nice, slicey baseline rally that ends with Jimbo forcing a running BH error in the game

Stockton holds 10 point game to open the third (no break points) and an 18 point one (2 break points) awhile later to move to 4-1. In between, breaks for only time, wrapping up with 3 winners in a row (FHV, rare BH cc pass against a sneak-in approach and a BH inside-in return-pass)

He doesn’t win another game

Jimbo breaks back for 3-4, with a badly placed volley helping Jimbo nail a BH dtl pass winner early on. He adds a FH dtl return one a little later, and finishes by drawing a FH1/2V error, after Stockton misses easy FHV and double faults
Breaks next time to love - starting with a running FH dtl pass winner, ending with a nice FH cc one. In between, Stockton double faults and misses routine FH at net

Takes Jimbo 8 points to serve out. Sky hookish winner second serve-volleying to start the game but first serve-volleying sees him get passed by return once and he misses an easy BHV on his first match point at 40-15. Finishes a little later by taking net and dispatching OH winner

Summing up, routine roll over match for Connors. His returning (often troublingling low/wide/powerful) and passing (excellent against well placed volleys) is highlight of match. Serve is ordinary and volleying only adequate (misses good few and doesn’t place them too well)

More than enough against a poor Stockton, who has serve-volleys 100% behind a serve comparable to Connors’. Misses plenty of volleys both routine (regularly enough) and hard (almost everything that’s not-easy, let alone hard). Misses plenty of routine returns too and is ineffective on the pass

Stats for the semi-final between Connors and Bjorn Borg - Match Stats/Report - Borg vs Connors, Wimbledon semi-final, 1981 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)

 

[Waspsting]

Bjorn Borg beat Peter Rennert 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-1 in the Wimbledon first round, 1981 on grass

Borg, the 5 time defending champion, would go onto lose in the final to John McEnroe. This was the second and last meeting between the two players, with Borg having won the previous encounter also

Borg won 99 points, Rennert 65

Borg serve-volleyed off all but 1 first serve, Rennert off all serves bar 1 first serve

Serve Stats
Borg...
- 1st serve percentage (48/81) 59%
- 1st serve points won (44/48) 92%
- 2nd serve points won (22/33) 67%
- Aces 4, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (38/81) 47%

Rennert...
- 1st serve percentage (46/83) 55%
- 1st serve points won (31/46) 67%
- 2nd serve points won (19/37) 51%
- Aces 3 (1 non-clean second serve, a Borg 'whiff')
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (21/83) 25%

Serve Patterns
Borg served...
- to FH 24%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 3%

Rennert served...
- to FH 29%
- to BH 70%
- to Body 1%

Return Stats
Borg made...
- 59 (15 FH, 44 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 10 Winners (1 FH, 9 BH)
- 18 Errors, all forced...
- 18 Forced (6 FH, 12 BH)
- Return Rate (59/80) 74%

Rennert made...
- 37 (6 FH, 31 BH), including 2 runaround FHs & 6 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 33 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (3 FH, 4 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 26 Forced (12 FH, 14 BH)
- Return Rate (37/75) 49%

Break Points
Borg 4/10 (5 games)
Rennert 0/5 (1 game)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Borg 28 (5 FH, 14 BH, 4 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 OH)
Rennert 24 (1 FH, 2 BH, 8 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 9 BHV, 3 OH)

Borg had 8 from serve-volley points -
- 6 first volleys (2 FHV, 4 BHV)
- 2 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 OH)

- 18 passes - 10 returns (1 FH, 9 BH) & 8 regular (4 FH, 4 BH)
- FH return - 1 dtl
- BH returns - 6 dtl, 1 inside-out, 2 inside-in
- regular FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 running-down-drop-shot inside-out at net
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net

- regular (non-pass) BH - 1 cc

Rennert had 20 from serve-volley points -
- 16 first 'volleys' (7 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 7 BHV, 1 OH)
- 3 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 OH)

- FH return pass - 1 cc
- BH 'passes' - 1 lob, 1 cc/down-the-middle return (where a serve-volleying Borg had dropped his racquet)

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Borg 14
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV)... with 1 BH at net
- 11 Forced (2 FH, 8 BH, 1 BHOH)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net (a net touch) & 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50

Rennert 30
- 13 Unforced (2 BH, 3 FHV, 8 BHV)
- 17 Forced (4 FH, 7 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 52.3

(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
Borg was...
- 47/55 (85%) at net, including...
- 41/45 (91%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 38/42 (90%) off 1st serve and...
- 3/3 (100%) off 2nd serve

Rennert was...
- 50/86 (58%) at net, including...
- 46/76 (61%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 28/43 (65%) off 1st serve and...
- 18/33 (55%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/6 (33%) return-approaching
- 1/2 forced back

Match Report
Borg’s serve is more than Rennert can handle but the flip contest is a fun, lively one with Rennert serve-volleying with style, Borg returning-passing the same. And Rennert somewhat goes away at the end, if not falls apart

Rennert serve-volleys virtually always (stays back once, and lobs Borg for a winner on the point), Borg virtually always off first serves (stays back once. Twice if you count a point where he drops his racquet after the serve and can only watch a routine return go through for a winner down the middle) and just a touch off second serves (3/3 so doing, all early in match)

Match is one of two parts. All the upto 4-3 and on serve in the second set, its an even contest. At that stage, break points read Borg 0/1, Ren 0/5 (1 game). Borg winning a tiebreak and both players holding serve comfily, with Borg having survived a particularly bad service game to hold early on

Ren wins 1 more game from there on. Break points read Borg 4/9 (4 games), Ren 0. Borg finishes match on unbroken run of winning his last 13 service points (including all 12 in the third set). Extended backward, that streak goes to 22/23 service points starting middle of second set

Interrelated, very impressive stats for Borg -
- 47% unreturned serves (Ren has 25%)
- 92% first serve points won (Ren 67%)
- 91% serve-volleying points won (Ren 61%)
- 85% net points won (Ren 58%)

Borg with 28 winners, 14 total errors to go with that very large freebie cushion. Just 3 UEs

And Rennert? He’s a lefty with a good, aggressive lefty serve. Swinging them out wide to open court, good pace. Good volleyer too, using the angles he’s opened up to volley into. Likes touch, drop volley type stuff, but solid in his deep volleying too. Serve is good to trouble even Borg and volleys wide enough o keep him from having good looks at passes

His returning isn’t upto dealing with Borg’s serve and discredit on that front. Borg doesn’t serve badly, but nowhere near 47% unreturneds well. Put someone else in Ren’s place, and that figure could be down around 25%

Borg’s serve games
Solidly good serving (not spectacular, unanswerable), virtual 100% serve-volleying behind first serves and little second serving (3 times from 27)

Ren, particularly early on, returns from unusual, central position in ad court. Even against first serves, though more against seconds. Apparently, baiting/daring Borg to go for the ace out wide. He also moves around some when waiting to return. It does throw Borg right at the front. Borg’s only bad service game comes early on when he repeatedly double faults

Borg with 3 UEs in play and 6 double faults. 2 of those UEs and 3 of those double faults are in that 18 point game, which he ends up holding for 2-2. So 1 UE and 3 double faults for rest of match

Borg’s 4 aces, 1 service winner comes to 10% off first serves
He draws 26 FEs with the serve and 7 UEs

The FEs are product of serve-volleying. He’s got hefty serve, slightly faster than Ren’s. Not overwhelmingly powerful, not wide enough to have normal positioned Ren hopping and skipping. Ren’s in stable, good position and not rushed on the return

The 7 UEs would be against second serves with Borg staying back. Average serve

In this light, return rate of 49% is poor from Ren. And he’s not trying to return with particular heat either. Just can’t make enough returns, returning normally against a hefty, good serve

Borg ignores whatever bait Ren throws out to serve out wide in ad court and directs 73% serves to BH. Still forces 12 FH return errors - just 2 fewer than BHs (also 2 FH UEs to 5 BHs - counting a runaround FH miss as a BH)

Doesn’t look like Ren would enjoy more serves to his FH. 6 successful returns, 15 errors. On BH, its 31 returns made to 18 errors. Maybe the central position isn’t bait but a bluff that Borg falls for

With 47% unreturned, he can more than afford to fall for it

Borg with 6 first volley and 2 second volley winners is unusual for him. Another indicator of weak returning. He gets putaway volleys first up, on the rare occasion he has to make a volley at all. Generally, he tends to just put net high volleys back in court - consequently having low proportion of first volley winners and draws more passing errors than hits winners

That part is true at least. Ren with 11 ground FEs (passing shots), more than Borg’s volley winners

Borg with just the 3 errors at net - an easy FHV miss, a not easy moving sideways BH at net and a difficult BHOH. UE rate very good. The BHOH gets to a curious feature of Borg’s game. One of the nimblest of movers in any part of the court, bar the OH, where he tends to not jump. It’s a difficult ball and very much an FE, but kind of things you’d expect Borg to miss. Plebian jump for it that never looks likely to be good enough to make the shot - and isn’t

Ren just as hopeless on the pass as the return. He’s got 1 winning return and 1 in play - a lob that curiously takes place on the only point he doesn’t serve-volley for. For those 11 ground FEs. He has reasonable looks at the pass and just on percentage grounds, would look to have made a few more

Not many tough volleys for Borg to face, but makes them when they come up. Low and wide stuff

Borg also stays back on second serves, allowing a bit of baseline rallies. More so than the Connors match, the two players are more on look out to come in on these. Just 3 UEs (Borg missing a FH, Ren 2 BHs). Borg’s looks a lot more comfy playing groundies than Jimbo or Stockton did, top spinning ball safely over net without struggle

 

[Waspsting]

Rallying to net - Borg 6/10, Ren 2/5

Borg’s groundies good enough to keep Ren away, and he’s able to come in on his own terms. Small number of his approaches would be to deal with drop volleys in return games (he has 2 running-down-drop-shot at net errors), so his success rallying is even better than those numbers look. Volley-pass contest same as in serve-volley situations - Borg secure, Ren not able to pass effectively

All adds up to Borg cruising on serve, in all winning 66/81 points or 81% of those points. Sans the one bad game, that shifts too 56/63 or 89%

Rennert’s serve games
This is where the fun is

Ren with a good swinging serve that he likes to get out wide and open the court with. And volleys into open court for winners. Likes his drop volleys, likes fine angled volleys but his classic deep volleys are good too

Even returning form well back, Borg has to do some skipping, lunging and stretching to return. And does so superbly

10 return winners from Borg - 9 of them BHs and 6 of those dtl. His backward position + Ren’s serving out wide creates a big angle for him to use. Takes some doing to get those off for winners - and Borg’s up to it

Ren also with 14 first ‘volley’ winners to just 4 post-first ones. Also normal against Borg, who tends to hit perfect returns for winners wide or the net player catches the volley at good height, with the extra time Borg’s position gives him to get close to net. Coupled with Ren opening the court with his serves and being a decisive volleyer

Ren also has 11 UEs and 6 FEs on volley. Good lot of the UEs come near the end, when his volleying drops off some. Also near the end is an uncommon dynamic in Borg’s matches - Borg with returns to feet that either force error or draw weak volley that gives him good look at pass

Small number of those UEs are product of a very-Borg specific problem net players face; the heavy top spin. 2-3 high, slightly wide volley misses that look like they’re probably going long. With Borg’s arc and ability to dip the ball down, probably wise to play the ball anyway

Borg with 6 passing winners in play (that is, excluding the 10 returns), 10 passing FEs. Very good, especially as Ren’s volleying leaves low percentage shots on the pass. The aforementioned shoelace returns tend to draw errors directly (as opposed to drawing weak volleys, thus giving Borg better looks at passes - thus making it easier for him to have good winners/error differential on the pass)

Borg’s returning and passing are high point of the match, both done against strong opposition

Match Progression
Lovely first set, with no breaks, both players having break points in just 1 game (Borg 1, Ren 5). Rennert with a powerful serve that he angles troublingly wide and follows up with volleys to open court for winner or/and dropping them with elegant touch. Meanwhile, his unorthodox returning position in middle of ad court and moving around as Borg’s about to serve seems to disrupt Borg for a game - and Borg’s a little lucky to come away with the hold and by extension, win the set

Only point Ren loses in opening game is to a BH dtl return pass winner; a shot that eventually would give him all kinds of trouble

Borg’s first 2 service points are both second serve-volleys which he wins by drawing a return error and a BH pass one

The crucial game is Borg’s next service game, which lasts 18 points and where he has to save 5 break points. It’s a bad game from him. From 30-0 up, next 5 points sees him double fault 3 times and miss a routine third ball FH to go down 40-A and break point. He puts away whatever 2nd serve-volleying he might have had planned and Ren takes net, runaround FH returns, chip-charges for remainder of game. Borg missing an easy, putaway FHV doesn’t help either, but he manages to stay one step ahead of being broken. Even stays back off a first serve for only time in the match

Ren’s best shot is on his last break point which he’d brought up with a simple but perfect chip-charge return. He works his way nicely to net, but misses a cute drop volley to routine ball. Borg goes on to hold couple points later

Borg gains his only break point of the set game after. Ren with just the 1 first serve in 8 point game, but starts it with 2 lovely BHV winners (1 dropped, 1 angled). Borg responds with 2 BH return-pass winners (1 inside-out, 1 dtl). Borg all but whiffs a second return that goes through for a non-clean ace awhile later before Ren holds

Borg’s in trouble again right after. Loses his racquet after serving so Ren’s routine winner goes through for a winner to start the game, and Borg double faults for the 5th time to make it 0-30

From this point on, Borg wins 52/56 service points to the end of the match
Ren himself only loses 2 in his next 3 games to send the set into tiebreaker

Borg starts it with a superb running-down-drop-shot at net net winner and wins both his service points to consolidate for 3-0. Wraps things up with a strong BH inside-in return that forces a lovw volley error

Routine holds in second set from both players. Borg getting better grasp of the return and Ren cutting back on moving around on his return. Some lovely volley winners from Ren, some great passes from Borg and things move to 4-3 on serve

From that point on, Borg wins 34 points (Ren 12) and 8 games (Ren 1)

Breaks with authority - nailing FH cc passing winner after drawing weak 1/2volley with return, nails a BH dtl return-pass winner from way out and forces a BH1/2V error to get under way. Ren misses an easy BHV to end the game

In serving out, Borg misses a not-easy, running BH at net that’s still been marked a UE, which brings score to 40-15. That’s the last service point he loses. First volley BHV winner puts the set to bed

Gorgeous FH1/2V first ‘volley’ winner from Ren as he holds to open the third set, but that’s last bit of good news for him. Borg with some uncharacteristic returns to feet that draw shoelace of half-volley errors, to go along with his perfectly placed wide return winners. And Ren’s volleying dropping off too accounts for one sidedness. Ren makes 17/24 first serves at about same strength as rest of match, but Borg’s got a grip on the return now and he can only win 9/17 first serve points (and 1/7 seconds)

Lots of fine passes from Borg, but pulled BH inside-in return-pass winner on the stretch (its more cc/inside-in than inside-in) stands out as particularly good. In due time, he finishes with a hard low return that forces a BHV error

Summing up, good match and great showing from Borg. Match is competitive until late in the second set, after which Borg takes over

Borg’s returning and passing against a strong, well placed serve and similar calibre volleys is the high point. He’s stretched and lunged to reach returns and passes but makes good lot of them anyway, eventually throwing in some uncommonly brutish low returns on top of his usual lot of perfect wide winners with the return. Rennert eventually goes off on the volley but on whole, both serves and volleys well and decisively

Borg’s thorough domination on serve is statisitcally more compelling and while good, is more a product of Rennert not being upto standard on the return and pass

In all, a better watch than the Connors-Stockton encounter
Rennert's wide serving and volleying is more aggressive and engaging than Stockton's in-swing zone stuff. Rennert's serving angles, coupled with Borg's backward return position opens up angles for entertaining return-passing (as opposed to more blunt, hitting through returning by Connors)
Borg very steady at net, compared to Connors' not being impressive
Borg looking comfy hitting groundies on this court, Connors (and Stockton) both wary of the bounce
And Borg well rounded in his baseline play - able to create approach, without aiming to

 

[WCT]

I did stats on this match a long time ago. We definitely have different net numbers. But it's both ways this time. I have Connors with 6 less and Stockton with 5 more. This was before I did more complete stats. I basically did net and serve stats here.

Specifics you mentioned surprise me. I don't remember them from so long ago. That Connors started out s/v a lot. I only had the total for the match, 32. 1981 was definitely the least he had done it at Wimbledon up until this point. At least by the matches I've seen, Which is 1-3 matches a year, max.

I did stats on the Armitraj qf and he did it 28 times in 5 sets. I don't have his exact served points, but I think it was at least 140. And he only s/v once in the Borg semi.

Surprised at how poorly you thought Stockton volleyed. That was his strength. Well, not his biggest strength, IMO. That was his overhead. Mid to late 70s, I thought he had as good an overhead as any in mens' tennis.

He wasn't the same player at this point thus not being seeded. if memory serves, he had maybe a bad back. He was gone by maybe 84. I think he is about the same age as Connors. Stockton was the star in juinor tennis, not Connors. Beat Connors all the time back then.

 

[Waspsting]

Specifics you mentioned surprise me. I don't remember them from so long ago. That Connors started out s/v a lot. I only had the total for the match, 32. 1981 was definitely the least he had done it at Wimbledon up until this point. At least by the matches I've seen, Which is 1-3 matches a year, max.

I did stats on the Armitraj qf and he did it 28 times in 5 sets. I don't have his exact served points, but I think it was at least 140. And he only s/v once in the Borg semi.

I was excited to see him doing so much, particularly since I know he did just once in the semi. Always happy to have more looks at Connors' serve-volleying skills

But he puts it away as he serves out the first set, and doesn't indulge as much after that

Serve-volleying frequency off first serve -
- 1st set 9/13 (excluding an ace)
- rest of match 19/42

for that matter, off second serve its 2/9 in first set, 2/18 thereafter

Surprised at how poorly you thought Stockton volleyed. That was his strength

He has good form on the shot and places them well but just misses so many. Its not the UEs that struck me because everyone has days when they're off on those

But anything that's not-easy and beyond, he usually misses. I've got him with 14 net FEs (small number of UEs also squeaking into 'not-easy' territory). They're not impossible type volleys
I'd estimate he makes at most, 5-6 'not-easy' volleys and probably less than that. Little wide, little low, little more power... and there's the error

Late in match, when he makes the volley to a powerful, shoelace ball, it stood out like a sore thumb

That was his strength. Well, not his biggest strength, IMO. That was his overhead. Mid to late 70s, I thought he had as good an overhead as any in mens' tennis

The 1 winner he hits did strike me. Just 1 shot but looks like something Boris Becker might hit- complete finality, well ahead of its time

To compare, Connors himself can be a bit awkward on the smash, and even when he's not, he's no Boris Becker on it. Borg's smashing reminds me of a grandmother

do you remember anything about the Borg match? Unlike Stockton, Rennert doesn't seem to have done anything worth noting in his career, but I liked his serve and volleying a more

 

[WCT]

I was excited to see him doing so much, particularly since I know he did just once in the semi. Always happy to have more looks at Connors' serve-volleying skills

But he puts it away as he serves out the first set, and doesn't indulge as much after that

Serve-volleying frequency off first serve -
- 1st set 9/13 (excluding an ace)
- rest of match 19/42

for that matter, off second serve its 2/9 in first set, 2/18 thereafter


He has good form on the shot and places them well but just misses so many. Its not the UEs that struck me because everyone has days when they're off on those

But anything that's not-easy and beyond, he usually misses. I've got him with 14 net FEs (small number of UEs also squeaking into 'not-easy' territory). They're not impossible type volleys
I'd estimate he makes at most, 5-6 'not-easy' volleys and probably less than that. Little wide, little low, little more power... and there's the error

Late in match, when he makes the volley to a powerful, shoelace ball, it stood out like a sore thumb



The 1 winner he hits did strike me. Just 1 shot but looks like something Boris Becker might hit- complete finality, well ahead of its time

To compare, Connors himself can be a bit awkward on the smash, and even when he's not, he's no Boris Becker on it. Borg's smashing reminds me of a grandmother

do you remember anything about the Borg match? Unlike Stockton, Rennert doesn't seem to have done anything worth noting in his career, but I liked his serve and volleying a more

I didn't see the Rennert match in 81. I don't think it was on US tv and I haven't watched it on youtube. I only remember seeing him play a couple times and, like you, a saw a little bit of Mcenroe there. IIRC, he didn't play that long.

Connors s/v. In 1980, he did it far more in the 3 matches that are out there. Sherwood Stewart 32 of 64. Tanner, in the last 4 sets, I think 67 of 107. You did the Mcenroe semi and it wasn't half the serves, but it was in the 40s % wise. It's been so long since I did the Stockton match that I have no recall that he started out doing it that much

So, Bud Collins 1982 ranting had some truth in it, and I never denied it did. He was coming in more, no doubt. But don't act like he discovered the net in 1982. Not only wasn't that true, he was clearly coming in more in the early years. And anyone who thinks I am exaggerating about Collins, watch the NBC version of the 82 final. Don't think it's currently on youtube, though.

I just recently got the 75 Stockholm final vs Panatta, a match he lost. 15 games, the last 6 of the second set and first 9 of the 3rd. You know the court, fast indoor hard court. Connors s/v 23 of 56 serves vs once in his 1984 match with Wilander on the same court. There is not one 15 stroke rally in the Panatta match and he didn't s/v every point, not close for the match. Started doing it almost every serve as the 3rd set got later. I don't think he did it more than 60 to 70% for all his serve games. So, there are a bunch of points that start with a rally and I'd guess that Connors was the one who came in 2/3 to 3/4 of the points where a rally point ended at the net. With the Wilander match, I would suspect(I don't know for a fact because I didn't do the stat) that the majority of rally points went 15 strokes.

No, I would not rank Connors as having a great overhead, not powerful enough. In comparison to Borg, though, he would sometimes make very athletic, leaping overheads that you just didn't see Borg make.