Federer Agassi Tennis Masters Cup 2003 finals stats

abmk

Bionic Poster
Complete domination of agassi by federer in this match. Their RR encounter was very close with federer winning 9-7 in the 3rd set tie-break, having to save a matchpoint. But this match was a no-contest with federer zoning in and agassi playing error filled tennis in the 2nd set - he just got plain outplayed in the 1st and 3rd though, even though he wasn't playing that bad ....

These are the stats for this match.

r0w0lc.jpg


Others:

Agassi had one forehand return winner

Federer had 2 passing shots, both of the backhand wing and one dropshot winner of the backhand wing
 

krosero

Legend
I noticed in this match Federer was coming over a lot of his BH returns, and the commentators on ESPN actually called his return game aggressive.

PMac said that Agassi was serving too hard to Fed's BH and that he should try to force Federer to create his own pace on that shot -- which is interesting because that is what Agassi actually did at the USO in '05, with success.

I once did a quick run-through of this match to see if the ATP stats were okay, and I got the same numbers they did (Federer won 53 of 70 points on serve, Agassi 40 of 74).

One thing I noticed, though, was that ESPN had Fed's first-serve percentage at only 44% as of 2-3 in the third set, and Agassi at only 58%. I counted faults from that point forward to see if those numbers might end up agreeing with the ATP's, but it seems the ATP figures are a little high (compared to ESPN's).

rediff.com:

Federer never faced a break point, had 39 winners to just 13 for Agassi and out-aced his opponent 11-1, the last to close out the match.

The LA Times had Federer “skewering Agassi with 11 aces and four service winners."

The Chicago Tribune had 39-13 on the total winners but 12-1 on the aces.
 

pc1

G.O.A.T.
I noticed in this match Federer was coming over a lot of his BH returns, and the commentators on ESPN actually called his return game aggressive.

PMac said that Agassi was serving too hard to Fed's BH and that he should try to force Federer to create his own pace on that shot -- which is interesting because that is what Agassi actually did at the USO in '05, with success.

I once did a quick run-through of this match to see if the ATP stats were okay, and I got the same numbers they did (Federer won 53 of 70 points on serve, Agassi 40 of 74).

One thing I noticed, though, was that ESPN had Fed's first-serve percentage at only 44% as of 2-3 in the third set, and Agassi at only 58%. I counted faults from that point forward to see if those numbers might end up agreeing with the ATP's, but it seems the ATP figures are a little high (compared to ESPN's).

rediff.com:



The LA Times had Federer “skewering Agassi with 11 aces and four service winners."

The Chicago Tribune had 39-13 on the total winners but 12-1 on the aces.

Krosero,

I haven't seen that match in years but while Federer was coming over the backhand return, was it because Agassi's serve, while hard hit, too predictable or was it before the pace wasn't quite enough?
 

krosero

Legend
Krosero,

I haven't seen that match in years but while Federer was coming over the backhand return, was it because Agassi's serve, while hard hit, too predictable or was it before the pace wasn't quite enough?
I got the impression that Federer came over his returns because the pace was TOO high. In other words, it was natural for Federer to block returns back and come over them if he had the opportunity. At the USO, I thought Agassi's softer serves prompted Federer to slice the ball back carefully. High-pressure situation, forcing your opponent to create pace. I thought that was a good strategy. In Houston it just looked like Agassi giving Federer something to work with (pace).
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
I noticed in this match Federer was coming over a lot of his BH returns, and the commentators on ESPN actually called his return game aggressive.

PMac said that Agassi was serving too hard to Fed's BH and that he should try to force Federer to create his own pace on that shot -- which is interesting because that is what Agassi actually did at the USO in '05, with success.

yeah, federer returned quite agressively in this match

I once did a quick run-through of this match to see if the ATP stats were okay, and I got the same numbers they did (Federer won 53 of 70 points on serve, Agassi 40 of 74).

One thing I noticed, though, was that ESPN had Fed's first-serve percentage at only 44% as of 2-3 in the third set, and Agassi at only 58%. I counted faults from that point forward to see if those numbers might end up agreeing with the ATP's, but it seems the ATP figures are a little high (compared to ESPN's).

hmm ...

The LA Times had Federer “skewering Agassi with 11 aces and four service winners."

The Chicago Tribune had 39-13 on the total winners but 12-1 on the aces.

I got 11 aces and 2 service winners. There was one serve on which agassi barely got his racquet on in the 1st set. I think chicago tribune may have that as an ace ..

I am not sure why/how LA times had federer with 4 service winners. There were just 2 IMO , both in the first set.

P.S. I did the stats from these 2 videos with pauses here and there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGlJVUV0A_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQKKSQxBQVo
 

krosero

Legend
There was one serve on which agassi barely got his racquet on in the 1st set. I think chicago tribune may have that as an ace ..
Probably that's what happened.

I am not sure why/how LA times had federer with 4 service winners. There were just 2 IMO , both in the first set.
Well with 4 service winners and 11 aces, if you subtract all that from the 39 total winners that he had officially, it leaves 24 non-service winners (placement winners). But you've got 24 placement winners just with FH and BH alone, not yet including a BHV and an overhead.

If they made different judgment calls on the service winners, that would be nothing surprising. But having too few placement winners is something else.

I think all your aces and placement winners are clean winners, but just to confirm, is that the case? No contact at all from the opponent's racquet?
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Probably that's what happened.

Well with 4 service winners and 11 aces, if you subtract all that from the 39 total winners that he had officially, it leaves 24 non-service winners (placement winners). But you've got 24 placement winners just with FH and BH alone, not yet including a BHV and an overhead.

If they made different judgment calls on the service winners, that would be nothing surprising. But having too few placement winners is something else.

I think all your aces and placement winners are clean winners, but just to confirm, is that the case? No contact at all from the opponent's racquet?

all aces - clean winners...

placement winners , there was no case where the player barely touched the ball in this match . I'd put it as a winner if the player got a very slight touch
 

pc1

G.O.A.T.
I got the impression that Federer came over his returns because the pace was TOO high. In other words, it was natural for Federer to block returns back and come over them if he had the opportunity. At the USO, I thought Agassi's softer serves prompted Federer to slice the ball back carefully. High-pressure situation, forcing your opponent to create pace. I thought that was a good strategy. In Houston it just looked like Agassi giving Federer something to work with (pace).

Interesting. I didn't think about that. Sometimes it is easier to handle pace and drive it back instead of driving back soft shots.
 

krosero

Legend
Interesting. I didn't think about that. Sometimes it is easier to handle pace and drive it back instead of driving back soft shots.
Yeah I think nerves will be heightened with soft shots -- plus it also gives Agassi exactly what he wants. He gave Fed no pace, so the return also came back soft: and then Andre could take that ball and drive it as he pleased, stringing his opponent around (what he always did best).

In Houston the returns were coming back hard (because the serves were hard), and Agassi rarely got a chance to take control. In fact late in the USO final the same thing happened, I thought; Agassi started rushing and giving Federer all sorts of pace. Which was disastrous, considering how gassed Agassi was.

Anyway my two cents.
 

Moose Malloy

G.O.A.T.
Does anyone know if Agassi got to deuce in any of Feds service games? Also a bit surprised that fed only came to net 11 times, per the op's stats.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Does anyone know if Agassi got to deuce in any of Feds service games? Also a bit surprised that fed only came to net 11 times, per the op's stats.

the net stats are identical for federer & agassi. So it may have been a mistake from my end. Will check to see if I have the actual/correct stats ..
 
  • Like
Reactions: pc1

pc1

G.O.A.T.
the net stats are identical for federer & agassi. So it may have been a mistake from my end. Will check to see if I have the actual/correct stats ..
Good that you're a stickler for accuracy. I remember watching this match late at night half asleep and being amazed at Federer's play. I could not believe he was overpowering Agassi from the baseline.
 

Flash O'Groove

Hall of Fame
Does anyone know if Agassi got to deuce in any of Feds service games? Also a bit surprised that fed only came to net 11 times, per the op's stats.

This tournament is seen as the moment Fed realized he didn't need to come to the net to bully his opponent. I saw this match recently (this year) and this stat doesn't surprise me.
 

NatF

Bionic Poster
Good that you're a stickler for accuracy. I remember watching this match late at night half asleep and being amazed at Federer's play. I could not believe he was overpowering Agassi from the baseline.

Federer was inconsistent at times in 2003 but he put on clinics at the YEC and Wimbledon on par with anyone else I've ever seen imo.
 

pc1

G.O.A.T.
Federer was inconsistent at times in 2003 but he put on clinics at the YEC and Wimbledon on par with anyone else I've ever seen imo.
They were stunning performances so I wasn't surprised he dominated for years after 2003.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Good that you're a stickler for accuracy. I remember watching this match late at night half asleep and being amazed at Federer's play. I could not believe he was overpowering Agassi from the baseline.

thanks.
 

metsman

G.O.A.T.
Federer was inconsistent at times in 2003 but he put on clinics at the YEC and Wimbledon on par with anyone else I've ever seen imo.
no doubt. He was inconsistent as hell on hard all year but after that RR match against Andre something just clicked and he went into jesus mode and didn't stop for the next 4 years lol.

But yeah 03 TMC final, 03 WImby QF-F are pretty much as well as he, or anyone, has ever played.
 

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
anyone have the matches from the same TMC for federer vs nalbandian & roddick ?
Recently uploaded!


And to think David was leading their H2H 5-0 before this match. Also got his 1st win over Agassi too. It feels like this tournament was the "real" beginning for Federer.
 
Last edited:

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
Well, that match was terrible. Both guys serve was bad, and Nalby's forehand was spraying errors throughout the entire match, and broke down in the forehand to forehand rallies. Fed raised his level a bit in the 2nd, not that it was needed lol.
 
Top