Match Stats/Report - A. Costa vs Ferrero, French Open final, 2002

[Waspsting]

Albert Costa beat Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-1, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in the French Open final, 2002 on clay

It would be Costa’s only Slam title. Ferrero would win the event the following year, beating Costa in the semi-finals along the way

Costa won 124 points, Ferrero 89

Serve Stats
Costa...
- 1st serve percentage (68/102) 67%
- 1st serve points won (49/68) 72%
- 2nd serve points won (17/34) 50%
- Aces 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (20/102) 20%

Ferrero...
- 1st serve percentage (64/111) 58%
- 1st serve points won (36/64) 56%
- 2nd serve points won (17/47) 36%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/111) 16%

Serve Patterns
Costa served...
- to FH 25%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 2%

Ferrero served...
- to FH 17%
- to BH 80%
- to Body 3%

Return Stats
Costa made...
- 88 (33 FH, 55 BH), including 17 runaround FHs
- 2 Winners (2 FH), including 1 runaround FH
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 9 Unforced (3 FH, 6 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 4 Forced (1 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (88/106) 83%

Ferrero made...
- 82 (23 FH, 59 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 17 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (8 BH)
- 9 Forced (3 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (82/102) 80%

Break Points
Costa 9/24 (11 games)
Ferrero 3/7 (5 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Costa 40 (24 FH, 8 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 6 OH)
Ferrero 21 (13 FH, 5 BH, 2 FHV, 1 OH)

Costa's FHs - 8 cc (1 pass at net - that can reasonably be called a running-down-drop-shot), 1 cc/inside-in, 3 dtl (2 passes - 1 at net, 1 at net), 1 dtl/inside-out, 5 inside-out (1 runaround return), 2 inside-in, 2 drop shots (1 at net), 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net, 1 net chord dribbler return
- BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 pass), 3 drop shots, 1 drop shot/cc at net (very finely played), 1 net chord dribbler (a drop shot)

- 2 OHs were on the bounce & 1 other was not clean

Ferrero's FHs - 5 cc, 1 dtl, 3 inside-out (1 at net), 1 inside-in return, 1 longline/inside-in, 2 drop shots
- BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 pass), 1 inside-out return, 1 drop shot

- 1 OH on the bounce

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Costa 50
- 26 Unforced (8 FH, 17 BH, 1 FHV)... with 1 FH at net
- 24 Forced (15 FH, 9 BH)... with 2 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.7

Ferrero 59
- 41 Unforced (25 FH, 13 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)... with 1 FH at net & 1 swinging FHV
- 18 Forced (12 FH, 5 BH, 1 FH1/2V)... with 2 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.8

(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
Costa was 17/23 (74%) at net, with...
- 0/1 forced back

Ferrero was 13/26 (50%) at net, with...
- 1/2 forced back

Match Report
Two part match, along lines of the peculiar scoreline. First two sets are a wipeout. But next 2 are rock ‘n’ roll. Costa is rocking and rolling throughout, especially with his FH and remains better at it even with Ferrero pushing past his classic comfort zone and into higher end of aggression

40 winners, 26 UEs for Costa (Fer has 21 and 41 respectively)
FH alone has 24 winners, to go with 23 errors (8 UEs, 15 FEs)

That’s not effected by how much resistance Fer offers. First two sets (hereafter referred to as ‘first half’), FH has 10 winners, 3 UEs. Second half, its 14 winners, 5 UEs

Arguably, the greatest FH showing in a Slam final, let alone a top-drawer one. Costa flashes winners in all directions with it from all parts of the court. And for the fat half of the match, its up against hard opposition from Ferrero, who has 11 winners, 14 UEs off the FH in that part of the match

Fine figures, especially for clay. Water onto wine to Costa’s amazing yield

Other eye-catching stat is Costa’s error breakdown of 26 UEs, 24 FEs, which is very FE heavy for a baseline clay match. That could happen if he’s supremely solid (make so few UEs that opponent has no choice but to force errors to win points) or if Fer has been particularly aggressive

Its just that kind of match where aggression is on front lines (which assumes good basic consistency). Not much prolonged neutral rallies, inviting UEs. Both players use serve to open court, both sweep returns wide or/and deep to get into attacking position quickly. Costa does it all match, Fer does well to join him in it after winning 1 in first 2 sets playing normally (not passively, but normally - though not well)

Its all indicator of Fer’s attacking style. No questioning his aggression in second half. He goes shot for shot with Costa, including with the serve and the return. He hard forces more errors, Costa hits more winners. Apples and oranges, both tasty fruits

First Half
Sometimes, a one-sided scoreline can be deceptive. There are tough holds and tough breaks, and long rallies. One guys comes away winning it all, and how hard action is lost in the summary 6-1, 6-0

This ain’t one of those times

1 & 0 isn’t even exactly what it looks like. It might be an under-representation of what happens

First 2 sets take about 45 minutes. Costa’s win 49 points, Fer 20. Not 1 deuce game
Break points read - Costa 5/9 (5 games), Fer 0
Costa loses 8 service points in holding 7 times

Costa serves very well, getting them out wide to open the court at high in count. He serves from wide position in ad court to get them out wider still. He’s quick to punish anything slightly off - clean hit into open space for just slightly off, draw weaker reply still from that and in quick time, finish with a winner. Usually a FH. In whatever direction he’s opened up. From whatever part of court he’s in

And Fer? His efforts are a little strange. Doesn’t chase a few gettable balls, doesn’t retrieve with customary gusto. Consistency is poor and gives up neutral errors readily. His hitting is decent though, with even some good, wide attacking stuff

In all, pretty bad. Scoreline of 1 & 0 is almost always more about the loser being bad than the winner good. Its Costa’s aggressive flair though that colours the match to extent that Fer’s weak showing isn’t the after-taste action leaves

Stats for first half
- Costa 12 winners (10 FH, 2 BH), 9 errors forced, 8 UEs (3 FH, 5 BH)
- Ferrero 4 winners (2 FH, 2 net), 6 errors forced 6, 16 UEs (11 FH, 5 BH)

Winners/UE differential - Costa +4, Fer -12
Aggressively ended points/UE differential - Costa +13, Fer -6

Second Half
Costa 28 winners (14 FH, 6 BH, 8 net), 9 errors forced, 18 UEs (5 FH, 12 BH)
Ferrero 17 winners (11 FH, 5 BH, 1 net), 18 errors forced, 25 UEs (14 FH, 8 BH, 3 net)

Winners/UE differential - Costa +10, Fer -8
Aggressively ended points/UE differential - Costa +19, Fer +10

Third set is as big a turnaround in a match as you’ll see. Ferrero ups his flaccid showing on a dime to Costa’s high level

Wider serving, big and/or wide returning, first shot into open court and attacking play to back it up. Or straight out shot-making off both wings. That’s the new Ferrero
And Costa? If anything, he plays even better than earlier, unburdened by Fer’s quick errors that were costing him chances to hit still more winners

Winners and forced errors rain down from both players. FHs chief spearhead, BHs with good contribution there too

That third set is as good a set of tennis as you’ll see, fireworks from both ends. Fer’s lukewarm showing earlier only enhances it. Lots of great games, good serving and follow-up to it but both players garnering break chances anyway

Its still raining winners early in fourth set. Eventually, Ferrero falters and ending is disappointing from him. He’s played beyond his comfort zone of aggression and as high errors forced relative to winners suggest (compared to Costa), he’s little more out of his element than his opponent

Another way of looking at it is forcing errors is safer and better way to end points than hitting winners, and thus crediting Fer’s slightly less decisive style of attack as superior to Costa’s more winner heavy yield of points won

Only Costa barely misses his kill shots. Without giving impression of out and out zoning or straining to be aggressive. It’s a beautiful, as well as devastating showing
And to be clear, Fer hard forces errors. Full running, sliding to get racquet on ball type thing

Action & Stats
Excellent serving from Costa in particular throughout. Fer joins him in it in second half
Both players returning improve in second half. Costa good in first half too, with consistency more eye-catching than quality of returns (which are just fine, but not eye-catchingly good), but in second half, he returns more damagingly wide. Fer’s returning is standard early on, which he bumps up to damagingly powerful afterward too

Costa’s serve isn’t powerful, but he gets them wide. At 67% in count, very good
Ferrero’s serve is more powerful, but doesn’t place them as well

 

[Waspsting]

Aces - Costa 3, Fer 5 from about same number of first serves (Costa 68, Fer 64), so Fer with considerably better rate. He’s kind of server who when not serving aces, tends to serve quite returnable first serves (i.e. not challengingly wide). With Costa serving at substantial 11% higher rate, he’s better server overall

Costa also with no double faults to Fer’s rather high 5. He’d have high double faults following year’s final too

9/17 return errors Costa draws have been marked FEs, while just 4/13 by Fer have
The only drawback of the stellar set is a few missed regulation returns

Costa with 17 runaround FH (he’s got 3 errors trying too). He sweeps returns wide to start rallies, including against first serves and with BH, where Fer directs 80% of serves. Fer’s effective returning is less wide, more powerful. Its wide enough to be troubling

Both players with 2 return winners - good stuff

Then they rally
Winners - Costa 40, Fer 21
Errors Forced - Costa 18, Fer 24
UEs - Costa 26, Fer 41

Overall figures twisted for Fer drastically by halves, while Costa is uniformly superb

Leaving aside the ridiculous 24 winners, 8 UE yield of Costa's FH, just look at its variety. Winners in every direction from all ov er the place, with bulk cc - always the best place to have winners and setting a base of freedom to go other ways

Costa’s FH winners - 8 cc (1 pass at net - that can reasonably be called a running-down-drop-shot), 1 cc/inside-in, 3 dtl (2 passes - 1 at net, 1 at net), 1 dtl/inside-out, 5 inside-out (1 runaround return), 2 inside-in, 2 drop shots (1 at net), 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net, 1 net chord dribbler return

BHs not just elegant, but able shot-maker too

Fer’s loose in giving up routine error early on. After he gets it together, he’s in at least hard-hitting mode, with errors rate going down. Even hitting not wide is testing and he usually goes wide. Good shot tolerance from Costa too, to resist giving soft balls against power, but Fer doesn’t need too weak a ball to start wide hit attacks against

Neutral UEs - Costa 12, Fer 15

Allowing for flat first half, Fer’s done better in competitive part of match. But both are solid. All the aggression doesn’t compromise either player’s solidity in basics

Attacking UEs - Costa 8, Fer 12
Both forcing about 2 errors per error here, a good yield on clay, but defense isn’t the best

Fer, particularly early on, declines to chase a few balls. When he dashes for a drop shot late in match, it brings home how he hadn’t done so earlier. Costa’s movements are good, but not elite. Common for high end clay courters to get a few more balls back on the run and slide than he manages. Would credit him if he did, not discredit him for not doing so - and certainly credit Fer for combo of power and placement to hard force the errors

High 15 FH FEs from Costa too. These are drawn by both wide, powerful FH cc’s and BH dtl’s that Costa has to run and slide to reach. He stil has more winners than errors of that wing though

BH UEs - Costa 17, Fer 13 (in second half, 6 and 5 respectively)

Given neutral edge in second half, is looking for stifling BH-BH rallies an alternative for Fer to?As he gets outdone returning fire with fire, seems logical for it to be

It isn’t practically. For starters, that’s what got him thrashed early on. And keeping Costa to that script would be very, very difficult. Costa’s own BH is well struck and varied of direction - he can go wide cc with it, or dtl or drop shot. Good move from Fer to fire up his game, rather than try to water down Costa’s. Trying to stifle Costa would likely lead to something closer to 1 & 0 then what Fer manages

Winner Attempt UEs - Costa 6, Fer 14
Winners - Costa 40, Fer 21

Outstanding from Costa, not good from Fer. Despite his success in attacking, he still has to go for more, and it’s a bridge too far for him to nail winners like Costa does (there aren’t many players for whom it wouldn’t be) Should be noted, the high lot of errors he forces are hard forced, virtual winner types (as in, point ending shots, not just strong attacking shots)

Net points - Costa 17/23, Fer 13/26

Costa prefers finishing with FH winners than coming in. When he does come in, its after outmanuvering Fer considerably, who often has to respond with lob. 6 OH winners from Costa (to just 2 volleys), 2 of them on bounce. While Costa’s success in forecourt is extension of his excellent baseline attacking game, he volleys beautifully too, angling the ball just. Having to cope with these drop volleys has hand in Fer’s low net points won

Few bad drop shots in the mix, amidst general good use of the shot. Both players have winners (Costa 7, Fer 3), both players force errors (both 2), but both hit a few bad ones that other can reach and putaway at net. Both miss a putaway ball at net in such situations too. By far, drop shots are a plus for both players - and adds to value of hard hitting, aggressive play and shot-making form back. For Costa in particular, who can drop shot or hit a strong shot into corner for winner. Things like this is one reason Fer might seem a bit off the ball with his movement at times… there’s not telling where or how Costa will finish

Match Progression
Costa holds to love to open, including a net point and an ace
Fer holds to 15 in response, with a couple of net points including one set up by a difficult, running third ball FH dtl

1-1

About 40 minutes (excluding what looks like a brief rain delay) and 11 games later, Costa’s 2 sets to love up, 6-1, 6-0
There’s a certain beauty in it. 11 games in a row - not 1 to love, not 1 to deuce. 6 are to 15, 5 to 30

Costa serves places serve very well, getting them wide to open court. Follows up with punishing FHs every which way, including a bunch of winners. Ferrero’s hitting is decent, sometimes even good with powerful, wide shots. But he’s also apt to give up simple errors to routine balls. He doesn’t chase some gettable balls or seem to make full effort to retrieve, including before going down multiple breaks

Stats presented earlier for this period capture action

Amazing shift in third set, which is as good a set of tennis as you’ll see. Costa continues his merry way, but Fer joins him there

His in-count goes up from 48% in first 2 sets to 71%, while quality of those serves get better and wider. Starts hammering returns some combo of hard, wide, deep. Starts pounding first groudstroke (after serve and after good return too) to open court and attacking appropriately to follow-up

No slipping from Costa either. The 2 players share 22 winners 21 UEs and 15 FEs for the set

Fer holds to start, with Costa nailing a running FH dtl pass winner in the game
Costa starts his first service game with 2 winners (FH cc and BH drop shot), before Fer turns it on, aggressively taking next 3 points to raise break point, on which Costa gives up a BH UE
No time to celebrate, as Costa breaks straight back in 14 point game filled with great rallies

Fer escapes 0-40 to hold for 3-2, and Cost has to save a break point game after too. Tennis remains high end to the end, when Cost breaks to end it. First 4 points all end with winners (Ferrero BH dtl-pass, FH cc and FH inside-in return, Costa FH dtl at net), leaving Fer with 2 break/set points

He converts the second of them, with Costa missing an easy at net FH he tries to drop shot. Costa had hung in the point earlier with some great defence

Rain of winners and hard forced errors continues into fourth set. Costa saves 2 break points to hold for 1-1, before breaking to move ahead. There are 8 winners in the 18 points of the two games and some amazing shots by both players

3 more winners as Costa consolidates for 3-1, and then 2 more great, competitive games

Fer saves 3 break points to hold in what might be the most thrilling game of match (and there are a lot of worthy candidates) before eking out break. There are 9 winners, 4 UEs in the two games combined. Inside-out BH return winner by Fer gives him his first break point of second of the games on which Costa misses a thrid ball BH dtl winner attempt against a decent return

Fer’s standard falls after that to lose the last 3 games and with it the match. Even then, Costa continues to fire beautifully. And Fer’s standard only falls relative to the very high one of both players in second half, it doesn’t fall to poor by normal standard

Couple of FH UEs (silly drop shot and a dtl) set him back 0-30. Winning BH dtl makes it 0-40. Costa does well to get a big serve back on break point, and dispatches a not good drop volley at net to move ahead again 4-3

Holds to love - couple of good unreturned serves (Fer a bit slow to move for one of them), couple of winning FHs

And breaks again to finish. Some by now normal winning FH attacks from Costa - wide FH cc and a series of FH inside-outs setting up a neatly dropped FHV winner - get him to 30-40, break/match point. Fer stumbles a few points later - missing a big third ball FH at deuce, a FH against a BH dtl that he’s a little slow to move to, and on second match point, double faults

Summing up, from top to bottom, marvelous showing from Albert Costa. Serves wide, returns with contained, just-so aggression and is delightful in his shot-making and attacking play, especially but not only with the FH

Ferrero is flat and off to go down 2 sets to love in quick time, but pulls up his socks to match the very high standard set by Costa for most of the rest of the match. Its beyond his comfort zone and ultimately, he can’t sustain it

Match leaves a good taste at the end, with 2 wonderful sets of tennis to wrap up. While the two before are competitively non-existence, the panache and beauty of Costa’s play makes it an enjoyable watch also