Duel Match Stats/Reports - Federer vs Tsitsipas & Federer vs de Minaur, Dubai & Basel finals, 2019

[Waspsting]

Roger Federer beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in the Dubai final, 2019 on hard court

The win gave Federer his 100th title. Tsitsipas had recently beaten Federer in the Australian Open 4th round, where Federer had been the defending champion

Federer won 62 points, Tsitsipas 47

Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (42/55) 76%
- 1st serve points won (35/42) 83%
- 2nd serve points won (8/13) 62%
- Aces 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/55) 33%

Tsitsipas...
- 1st serve percentage (37/54) 69%
- 1st serve points won (26/37) 70%
- 2nd serve points won (9/17) 53%
- Aces 4, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (13/54) 24%

Serve Pattern
Federer served...
- to FH 35%
- to BH 56%
- to Body 9%

Tsitsipas served...
- to FH 37%
- to BH 54%
- to Body 10%

Return Stats
Federer made...
- 39 (19 FH, 20 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 6 return-approaches
- 9 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 5 Forced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (39/52) 75%

Tsitsipas made...
- 37 (17 FH, 20 BH)
- 2 Winners (2 FH)
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (4 BH)
- 9 Forced (1 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (37/55) 67%

Break Points
Federer 2/2
Tsitsipas 0/2 (1 game)

Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Federer 19 (8 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 8 BHV, 1 OH)
Tsitsipas 13 (7 FH, 3 BH, 3 OH)

Federer's FHs - 3 cc (2 passes), 2 inside-out, 1 inside-in, 1 inside-in/cc and 1 drop shot
- BH - 1 cc

- 3 from serve-volley points
- 2 first volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 1 second volley (1 OH)... that can reasonably be called a FHV

- 1 from a return-approach point, a BHV

Tsitsipas's FHs - 2 cc (1 return, 1 pass), 1 dtl, 2 inside-out (1 return) and 2 inside-in
- BHs - 2 cc passes and 1 drop shot

- 1 OH was on the bounce

Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Federer 21
- 11 Unforced (4 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV)... the FHV was a non-net swinging shot
- 10 Forced (2 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)... the BHV was a non-net shot
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 42.7

Tsitsipas 23
- 17 Unforced (9 FH, 7 BH, 1 BHV)
- 6 Forced (3 FH, 3 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.4

(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)

(Note 2: The 'Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is a measure of how aggressive of intent the average UE made was. 60 is maximum, 20 is minimum. This match has been scored using a four point scale - 2 defensive, 4 neutral, 5 attacking, 6 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Federer was...
- 19/24 (79%) at net, including...
- 6/6 (100%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 4/6 (67%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back

Tsitsipas was 7/11 (64%) at net

Match Report
Beautifully played match from Federer with the controlled but very sure attacking play, particularly at net, standing out on a tilted towards quick hard court. Tsitsipas plays too well, but isn't as good and isn't as clear in what he wants to do every shot

Its quickish court and with two fine servers, match is serve dominated. Fed's certainly not threatening on return regularly - he's 2/2 on break points to Tsis' 0/2 from 1 game. Fed's showing is a secure on serve, and making enough returns while creating attacking chances regularly enough that he's likely to (and does) end up breaking sooner or later

Excellent, but controlled serving from Fed. 76% first serves in is very high and is calibrated to being as strong as they need to be. 5 aces comes to 1 about every 8 first serves, which isn't high for him. But there's nothing easy to return on offer either. Nothing wrong with Tsit's returning but one gatheres if needed, Fed has an extra gear on the serve if needed. As is, most everything is thrown out wide and its enough to draw errors or at least not-strong returns that Fed can attack

Follow up attack is virtually perfect. Moderately strong FHs into open side of court, often followed to net to not-strong balls and stronger, point ending ones to weak ones. Perfectly judged - minimal risk of missing, but very high prospects finishing aggressively.

0 winner attempt UEs, despite high 19 winners. Probably the highest yield of winners I've seen over a non-100% serve-volley match with 0 misses. Despite the aggression, very low UEFI of 42.7. Its a very atypical Federer showing, who generally tends to miss a good amount when being aggressive. His shot selection is top notch

He's not in undue rush to attack, but quick to pounce on any chances - and there are plenty of chances springing out of his serve. When not serve-volleying - he's 6/6 when he does - he's 2 paces inside court after the serve. Not just the first serve either. When a rally develops, he's plays along in the same, relaxed way, but alert to chance to come forward

Fed's got 7 baseline-to-baseline winners but its the net play that takes the eye. Beautiful, almost perfect net play - the moderate attacking shots that he comes in behind and the volleying itself. Shoelace volleys and stop volleys and swiped, short angled volleys are all on show to go with the bread-&-butter wide placed ones to balls over net

Federer crusing on serve - he faces break points in 1 game - isn't particularly rare and what tends to seperate his better showings is the return. This match is no exception

Again, easy, comfortably returning from Fed against a serve of same calibre as his own. Tsit's serves more powerfully, but not as consistently wide as Fed and also boasts high 69% in count. Tsis sends down an unreturnable at about the same rate (both send down 5 - Tsis from 37 first serves, Fed 42) but can draw just 8 return errors to Fed's 13

Fed takes the first serve returns fairly early and again, shows precise judgement in shot choices. Usually blocks them, but picks the less strong ones to guide wide to start rally with angles open. Good use of body serves by Tsis, but Fed's upto guide/blocking those in play smoothly too. He takes the 2nds exceptionally early in the same way, with the addition of chip-charges. He's 4/6 on the play

Tsis winning 9/17 or 53% 2nd serve points, despite 2 double faults, Fed's success return-approaching and more broadly, Fed's very sure returning (return rate is 75%) speaks to his playing well too

Just 24% unreturned rate + Fed not making unnecessary errors and attacking with exemplary judgment = Tsis needing to similarly precise in his attacking efficiency. He's good - but not that good

Attacking UEs - Fed 3, Tsis 8
Winner Attempt UEs - Fed 0, Tsis 4

Its the attacking play that's problematic for Tsis - he's only forced 10 errors, to go with the 8 errors

No real problems for Fed. His BH is apt to miss the odd routine ball. 6/11 UEs are BHs, and 8/11 are neutral shots. Tsis with just the 5 neutral errors

19 winners, 11 UEs and 21 total errors for Fed... first class numbers. He's ended a lot more points aggressively - 25 - than Tsis' 17 UEs, 12 of them attacking or more shots

Pretty clear cut - Fed serving well enough, returning steadily against a good serve, flawless in picking rigth ball to attack and executing and if one's being hyper critical, a touch loose on his BH. Tsis serving well too, struggling to return more, a bit steadier of the ground but not as efficient when looking to attack. Which, given Fed's virtually perfect in that area, isn't a reasonable expectation

For all that, there's not a whole lot in the result. Nervy opening game by Tsis to get broken, Fed crusing along on serve til a tight game where he serves it out saving 2 break points. And 1 break in the second set, near the end

Match Progression
Match starts with a bang - Fed maufacturing approach on first point, but Tsis up to passing him BH cc. Couple of misses by Tsis next 2 points - a third ball FH inside-out winner attempt and a BHV - sets him back and he's broken missing an attacking FH couple points later

Fed cruises on serve thereafter, with occasional approaches - including off the return - keeping Tsis on his toes to keep holding. Serving for the set and 40-0 up, Fed stumbles some with BH errors and Tsit delivering a couple of good returns to make the game a tussle. Fed ends up having to save 2 break points to hold after 12 points to go up a set

Comfy holds in the 2nd set to 4-4. From 30-15 up, Tsis falters - double faulting, missing rourtine FH and on break point, missing a third ball FH inside-out winner attempt. No trouble with the serve out this time for Fed, who does it to love, despite making just 1 first serve

Summing up, a beautifully played match by Federer - both serving and returning with polished grace and virtually perfect in his shot choices, and decison making in attacking. He's quick to attack but not in a hurray and both net insitincts and volleying are top drawer. A good match from Tsitsipas too, who serves near as well, can't return quite so and attacks well enough from the back - but on other end is almost perfection of shot choices. A worthy showing from Federer to bring up the big landmark 100th tournament win

 

[Waspsting]

Federer beat Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-2 in the Basel final, 2019 on indoor hard court

It was Federer's 10th title at the event. de Minaur was playing as a wildcard and had won 3 tournaments earlier in the year

Federer won 58 points, de Minaur 38

Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (32/50) 64%
- 1st serve points won (25/32) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (11/18) 61%
- Aces 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (11/50) 22%

de Minaur...
- 1st serve percentage (30/46) 65%
- 1st serve points won (16/30) 55%
- 2nd serve points won (8/16) 50%
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (4/46) 9%

Serve Pattern
Federer served...
- to FH 52%
- to BH 48%

de Minaur served...
- to FH 24%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 13%

Return Stats
Federer made...
- 41 (12 FH, 29 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 2 return-approaches
- 4 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH)
- 2 Forced (2 BH)
- Return Rate (41/45) 91%

de Minaur made...
- 39 (23 FH, 16 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 7 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 5 Forced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (39/50) 78%

Break Points
Federer 4/10 (5 games)
de Minaur 0

Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Federer 18 (11 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
de Minaur 10 (3 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV)

Federer's FHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 1 cc/inside-in at net, 2 inside-out (1 pass), 4 inside-in (1 pass) and 1 drop shot
- BH passes - 1 cc and 1 dtl

- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first 'volley' FH at net

de Minaur's FHs - 2 cc (1 pass) and 1 dtl
- BHs - 2 cc (1 pass) and 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl pass at net

- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first volley FHV

Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Federer 24
- 18 Unforced (9 FH, 9 BH)
- 6 Forced (3 FH, 1 BH, 2 BHV)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.8

de Minaur 28
- 17 Unforced (6 FH, 8 BH, 3 FHV)
- 11 Forced (7 FH, 4 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50

(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)

(Note 2: The 'Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is a measure of how aggressive of intent the average UE made was. 60 is maximum, 20 is minimum. This match has been scored using a four point scale - 2 defensive, 4 neutral, 5 attacking, 6 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Federer was...
- 13/18 (72%) at net, including...
- 2/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
---
- 0/2 return-approaching

de Minaur was...
- 8/17 (47%) at net, including...
- 2/3 (67%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 1/1 forced back

Match Report
Similar match and conditions to the Dubai one, but for de Minaur being outmatched. He has nothing to hurt Federer with and Federer is more free to do whatever he wants to

de Minaur looks a like a consistency based baseliner along the lines of David Ferrer. Serve is harmless. Return is consistent but similarly unthreatening (which for a return, is good in general). There's not much firepower behind his groundstrokes off either side and he looks a balanced player across wings (in other words, doesn't have a big FH). Good players of this type typically trade on high consistency but he isn't particularly solid either in this match. Has the occasional wild, attacking swing - invariably missing

He is very quick to cover court, which makes the Fed at net vs Min on baseline contests lively. And he's smart to come to net himself, given he doesn't seem to have any other way to surely end points. Not too comfortably looking on the volley and he misses 3 easy ones, but I'd more credit Fed's passing than discredit Min's net play for how that battle turns out. Min wins just 47% at net. He comes in 17 times, just once less than Fed, who wins 72%

Court pace and bounce are similar to Dubai and very low unretunred numbers are deceptive here. Fed manages 22% (very low for him) and Min a paltry 9%

Fed's number is due to his taking a lot off the serve, after missing 8/12 first serves in the opening game. Thereafter, he serves regulation in-swing zone stuff to maintain healthy 64% in count. Just 2 serve-volleys for Fed, though net play is his chief weapon. Just doesn't look to use the serve aggressively because he doesn't need to against Min's harmless court game

On other side, Fed returns very comfortably and easily against Min's point starting serve. 91% return rate is a ridiculous figure on a court like this. It'd be very high for clay. Again, its a harmless serve but there has to be some cut-off that constitues a good showing on the return. Whatever it is, its under 91% return rate. And again, Fed's able to put the return in play without much worry as to what Min might do from strong starting position. Not that Fed puts them in play weakly, but there's scope for strong baseliner to take charge or at least take lead position on third ball. Not much of either happens from Min, who starts neutrally

Quality of returns by two players are roughly the same - get ball in play, neutrally, leaving server with choice of how to carry on

In Dubai, Fed's choices were moderate attacking shots to approach behind as primary weapon, with just occasional attempts at FH shotmaking. He's freer here and goes for more attacking play from the back, including off the BH. Not particularly good at it - just 6 baseline-to-baseline winners - but he has hitting advantage off FH, and is in same ball park as Min at keeping ball safely in play

Still by far at his best when approaching, which he never puts away. Mixes in the approaches with the attempts to attack from back - doing much better at net

By contrast, Min doesn't seem to have the game to have option of attacking from the back. He'd need to outlast Fed to win bulk of points. He edges him, but that's it on this front. Smartly, he turns to net play too though not looking a comfortably volleyer. Comes in behind neutral shots (as opposed to Fed's perfectly measured, strong but not overwhelming approach shots). Some excellent, precise passing by Fed, who has 5 winners while Min has 4 volleying ones to go with 3 easy FHV misses

Winners - Fed 18, Min 10
Errors Forced - Fed 11, Min 6
UEs - Fed 18, Min 17

12 of Fed's winners are net shots or passes. Though able to lead, he's not particularly effective attacking from the back. He's got 6 winner attempt UEs - which would all be baseline-to-baseline shots to go with the 6 winners he can muster when both players are back, but he does dictate, force errors and utilize command of play to come forward. Would probably win more easily still if he just came forward and skipped the signficant amount of shot-making stuff

Min can barely end a point on his terms from the back. Just 3 winners and no errors forced baseline-to-baseline. Fed's not called to defend much either

Min does have neutral UE advantage 6-10. As a proportion, that's sizable. But his shots aren't heavy enough to keep Fed in the neutral dynamic unless Fed chooses to stay. It's an exaggeration to say Fed can attack anytime he wants, but its not too difficult to throw out an attacking shot and snatch initiative either. He doesn't overly do so, a sound choice

Match Progression
Nervy opening game from Fed, where he makes just 4/12 first serves but comes away with a hold without facing break point. Poor game by Min to go down 1-3 - double faulting and missing a slightly wide putaway FHV before Fed finishes with an OH after coming in off a nice BH dtl. Prior to that, Min saves a break point where the 2 trade about 25 BH cc's before Fed misses going dtl

And a 'blinky' game to end the set, with 3 ground UEs by Min

de Minaur comes to net more in the second set, but from tepid approaches. There's something wrong with the approaching when the passer can hit FH inside-out and inside-in winners. Fed does both in racing into 3-0 lead. Hits consecutive cc passes (1 of each side) to have another break point for 5-1, but Min manages to hold

And a good, strong groundgame from Fed to break again to end the match

Summing up, another polished showing from Federer with his net play again the best of it. de Minaur doesn't play badly, but is simply outmatched. He has no weapons and his groundstrokes are such that Federer can take charge without strain. Federer takes control from back and attacks from there or comes in - either way, nothing from de Minaur to answer or return fire