John McEnroe beat Mats Wilander 6-1, 6-1 in the semi-final of the Masters (Year End Championship/ World Tour Final) 1984 on carpet
McEnroe would go onto beat Ivan Lendl in the final
McEnroe won 60 points, Wilander 33
McEnroe serve-volleyed off all first serves
Serve Stats
McEnroe...
- 1st serve percentage (17/37) 46%
- 1st serve points won (14/17) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (14/20) 70%
- Aces 2, Service Winners 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (6/37) 16%
Wilander...
- 1st serve percentage (34/56) 61%
- 1st serve points won (16/34) 47%
- 2nd serve points won (8/22) 36%
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (7/56) 13%
Serve Patterns
McEnroe served...
- to FH 38%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 3%
Wilander served....
- to FH 16%
- to BH 84%
Return Stats
McEnroe made...
- 49 (13 FH, 36 BH), including 5 runaround FHs & 4 return-approaches
- 2 Winners ( 2BH)
- 7 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (4 BH), all return-approach attempts
- 3 Forced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (49/56) 88%
Wilander made...
- 31 (15 FH, 16 BH), including 4 runaround FHs
- 2 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 FH), a runaround attempt
- 1 Forced (1 BH)
- Return Rate (31/37) 84%
Break Points
McEnroe 5/11 (7 games)
Wilander 0
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
McEnroe 30 (4 FH, 11 BH, 4 FHV, 8 BHV, 3 OH)
Wilander 3 (1 FH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
McEnroe had 9 from serve-volley points
- 6 first 'volleys' (2 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 FH at net)
- 3 second volleys (1 BHV, 2 OH)
- 1 other BHV was hit from well behind the service line and not a net point
9 passes (2 FH, 7 BH)
- FHs - 1 inside-out and 1 lob
- BHs - 2 cc and 5 dtl (1 return)
non-pass BHs - 3 cc (1 return) and 1 at net
Wilander had 2 from serve-volley points (1 first FHV, 1 second BHV) and 1 FH dtl pass
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
McEnroe 23
- 15 Unforced (5 FH, 5 BH, 2 BHV, 3 OH)
- 8 Forced (3 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50
Wilander 24
- 9 Unforced (3 FH, 4 BH, 2 FHV)
- 15 Forced (1 FH, 12 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.9
(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
McEnroe was...
- 33/42 (79%) at net, including...
- 13/16 (79%) serve-volleying, comprising..
- 10/13 (77%) off first serve and..
- 3/3 off second
--
- 3/4 (75%) return-approaching
- 1/1 retreating
Wilander was...
- 11/30 (37%) at net, including...
- 8/16 (50%) serve-volleying, all first serves
Match Report
Near flawless from McEnroe, as he does whatever he wants to and... there's nothing Wilander can do to stop him
Mac has break points in all 7 of Wilander's service games and breaks in 5 (Wilander has 0)
Mac serve-volleys off all first serves, which isn't much (just 46% first serves in) and just 3 times of second serves.... but he can find a way to net seemingly at will on his second serve points or on return points, so he still shows up to net 42 times (match is just 93 points). Wilander initially plays his usual baseline game, but when that's found wanting, starts serve-volleying off most first serves starting from his last service game in the first set
Doesn't do him much good as he wins just 50% of such points, but that's still a step up from when he's not serve-volleying (8/18 first serve points won @ 44%)
Playing dynamics are straightforward. Serve-volleying, Mac dominates (wins 81%). From the baseline (most of Wilander's service points and Mac's 2nd serve points), they trade groundies… Wilander looking to (and being) consistent, keeping his errors low, Mac rallying neutrally til he can either open the court or/and come to net with more attacking shots
Mac does make more UEs off the ground (10 to Wilander's 7), but that advantage is peanuts given as often as not, the rallying leads to someone taking the net. When its Mac, he wins most of the time. When its Wilander, he loses most of the time.... in short, Wilander is getting the short end of the stick in points starting baseline to baseline too
Mac's groundgame is a treat to watch. he does not budge off the baseline when Wilander is taking the initiative... seems quite comfortable defending balls on the up. Solid enough in neutral scenarios. Quick to transition from neutral to attack with BH cc and FH i-o in particular his go to court openers. And great disguise - the short swing makes it hard to read which way he'll go. There's an error forcing drop shot he plays that even after he's played it looks like a regulation slice to me
Both players return very consistently. Return rates of 88% for Mac and 84% for Wilander
Mac is superb at net, with easy touch and excellent regular volleys. Either he hits a winner or sends Wilander scrambling to try to get a racquet on the ball.... successful passing doesn't look on the cards for Mats
By contrast, when Wilander takes the net, he struggles. Mac returns well enough and is precise in placing his passes, though it has to be said, Wilander's volleying isn't the best. Doesn't get the ball deep enough or/and placed away from Mac far enough and doesn't show much touch. Just being at net is enough to usually win points, so I'd primarily still credit Mac for the outcome, only noting Wilander was ordinary in the forecourt but Mac, exceptional on the pass
What could Mac have done better? His chip-charge returning could have been better (makes 4, misses 4). And of all things, he misses 3 smashes... beyond that, not seeing much room for improvement
And Wilander? Serve isn't good enough to cause Mac problems. Baseline play isn't strong enough to keep Mac from taking the initiative... scope for improvement there, but contrary to players overall reputations, this version of Mac is about even with Wilander from the baseline alone. Wise to come in more and more himself when things go against him from the back.... but not good enough on the volley
Maybe the biggest one is returning more aggressively. Mac's first serve isn't at its best, and though the second is good, its still a second serve, which an aggressive player might be able to attack. Though Wilander gets the serve back in play consistently, he does so relatively lightly. Too lightly against Mac in this kind of form
Statistical Points of Interest
- I believe this is the highest rate of winners per game match we've found. 30 clean winners in 14 games comes to 2.14 per game for McEnroe. @krosero - can you confirm?
- 0 winners for Mats in set 1 - @Moose Malloy …. he also has 0 return errors after the first set (does get aced once and service winnered twice by my judgement). Sure I've seen this a few times, but more noticeable as I take stats after each set to see a big blank in return errors after the first set
- 0 double faults in the match. Must be rare. 0 aces, service winners and doubles from Mats.... Connors had this too in the much, much longer 1980 US Open semi vs McEnroe
--
Summing up, near perfect from McEnroe - great on the volley. great at taking the net. solid from the baseline. excellent at creating and exploiting chances to transition to attack from there. consistent and varied on return Precise on the pass.
Not bad from Wilander, but not bad's no good against McEnroe in whirlwind mode
The final is here https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...dl-vs-mcenroe-masters-finals-82-83-84.622855/
McEnroe would go onto beat Ivan Lendl in the final
McEnroe won 60 points, Wilander 33
McEnroe serve-volleyed off all first serves
Serve Stats
McEnroe...
- 1st serve percentage (17/37) 46%
- 1st serve points won (14/17) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (14/20) 70%
- Aces 2, Service Winners 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (6/37) 16%
Wilander...
- 1st serve percentage (34/56) 61%
- 1st serve points won (16/34) 47%
- 2nd serve points won (8/22) 36%
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (7/56) 13%
Serve Patterns
McEnroe served...
- to FH 38%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 3%
Wilander served....
- to FH 16%
- to BH 84%
Return Stats
McEnroe made...
- 49 (13 FH, 36 BH), including 5 runaround FHs & 4 return-approaches
- 2 Winners ( 2BH)
- 7 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (4 BH), all return-approach attempts
- 3 Forced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (49/56) 88%
Wilander made...
- 31 (15 FH, 16 BH), including 4 runaround FHs
- 2 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 FH), a runaround attempt
- 1 Forced (1 BH)
- Return Rate (31/37) 84%
Break Points
McEnroe 5/11 (7 games)
Wilander 0
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
McEnroe 30 (4 FH, 11 BH, 4 FHV, 8 BHV, 3 OH)
Wilander 3 (1 FH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
McEnroe had 9 from serve-volley points
- 6 first 'volleys' (2 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 FH at net)
- 3 second volleys (1 BHV, 2 OH)
- 1 other BHV was hit from well behind the service line and not a net point
9 passes (2 FH, 7 BH)
- FHs - 1 inside-out and 1 lob
- BHs - 2 cc and 5 dtl (1 return)
non-pass BHs - 3 cc (1 return) and 1 at net
Wilander had 2 from serve-volley points (1 first FHV, 1 second BHV) and 1 FH dtl pass
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
McEnroe 23
- 15 Unforced (5 FH, 5 BH, 2 BHV, 3 OH)
- 8 Forced (3 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50
Wilander 24
- 9 Unforced (3 FH, 4 BH, 2 FHV)
- 15 Forced (1 FH, 12 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.9
(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
McEnroe was...
- 33/42 (79%) at net, including...
- 13/16 (79%) serve-volleying, comprising..
- 10/13 (77%) off first serve and..
- 3/3 off second
--
- 3/4 (75%) return-approaching
- 1/1 retreating
Wilander was...
- 11/30 (37%) at net, including...
- 8/16 (50%) serve-volleying, all first serves
Match Report
Near flawless from McEnroe, as he does whatever he wants to and... there's nothing Wilander can do to stop him
Mac has break points in all 7 of Wilander's service games and breaks in 5 (Wilander has 0)
Mac serve-volleys off all first serves, which isn't much (just 46% first serves in) and just 3 times of second serves.... but he can find a way to net seemingly at will on his second serve points or on return points, so he still shows up to net 42 times (match is just 93 points). Wilander initially plays his usual baseline game, but when that's found wanting, starts serve-volleying off most first serves starting from his last service game in the first set
Doesn't do him much good as he wins just 50% of such points, but that's still a step up from when he's not serve-volleying (8/18 first serve points won @ 44%)
Playing dynamics are straightforward. Serve-volleying, Mac dominates (wins 81%). From the baseline (most of Wilander's service points and Mac's 2nd serve points), they trade groundies… Wilander looking to (and being) consistent, keeping his errors low, Mac rallying neutrally til he can either open the court or/and come to net with more attacking shots
Mac does make more UEs off the ground (10 to Wilander's 7), but that advantage is peanuts given as often as not, the rallying leads to someone taking the net. When its Mac, he wins most of the time. When its Wilander, he loses most of the time.... in short, Wilander is getting the short end of the stick in points starting baseline to baseline too
Mac's groundgame is a treat to watch. he does not budge off the baseline when Wilander is taking the initiative... seems quite comfortable defending balls on the up. Solid enough in neutral scenarios. Quick to transition from neutral to attack with BH cc and FH i-o in particular his go to court openers. And great disguise - the short swing makes it hard to read which way he'll go. There's an error forcing drop shot he plays that even after he's played it looks like a regulation slice to me
Both players return very consistently. Return rates of 88% for Mac and 84% for Wilander
Mac is superb at net, with easy touch and excellent regular volleys. Either he hits a winner or sends Wilander scrambling to try to get a racquet on the ball.... successful passing doesn't look on the cards for Mats
By contrast, when Wilander takes the net, he struggles. Mac returns well enough and is precise in placing his passes, though it has to be said, Wilander's volleying isn't the best. Doesn't get the ball deep enough or/and placed away from Mac far enough and doesn't show much touch. Just being at net is enough to usually win points, so I'd primarily still credit Mac for the outcome, only noting Wilander was ordinary in the forecourt but Mac, exceptional on the pass
What could Mac have done better? His chip-charge returning could have been better (makes 4, misses 4). And of all things, he misses 3 smashes... beyond that, not seeing much room for improvement
And Wilander? Serve isn't good enough to cause Mac problems. Baseline play isn't strong enough to keep Mac from taking the initiative... scope for improvement there, but contrary to players overall reputations, this version of Mac is about even with Wilander from the baseline alone. Wise to come in more and more himself when things go against him from the back.... but not good enough on the volley
Maybe the biggest one is returning more aggressively. Mac's first serve isn't at its best, and though the second is good, its still a second serve, which an aggressive player might be able to attack. Though Wilander gets the serve back in play consistently, he does so relatively lightly. Too lightly against Mac in this kind of form
Statistical Points of Interest
- I believe this is the highest rate of winners per game match we've found. 30 clean winners in 14 games comes to 2.14 per game for McEnroe. @krosero - can you confirm?
- 0 winners for Mats in set 1 - @Moose Malloy …. he also has 0 return errors after the first set (does get aced once and service winnered twice by my judgement). Sure I've seen this a few times, but more noticeable as I take stats after each set to see a big blank in return errors after the first set
- 0 double faults in the match. Must be rare. 0 aces, service winners and doubles from Mats.... Connors had this too in the much, much longer 1980 US Open semi vs McEnroe
--
Summing up, near perfect from McEnroe - great on the volley. great at taking the net. solid from the baseline. excellent at creating and exploiting chances to transition to attack from there. consistent and varied on return Precise on the pass.
Not bad from Wilander, but not bad's no good against McEnroe in whirlwind mode
The final is here https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...dl-vs-mcenroe-masters-finals-82-83-84.622855/
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