Andre Agassi beat Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in the Australian Open final, 2001 on hard court
Agassi had been the defending champion and the win gave him his third Australian Open title - joint most for a player in the Open Era at the time. He would go on to break the record a couple of years later (https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...schuettler-australian-open-final-2003.645622/)
Agassi won 94 points, Clement 77
Serve Stats
Agassi...
- 1st serve percentage (53/81) 65%
- 1st serve points won (38/53) 72%
- 2nd serve points won (13/28) 46%
- Aces 7, Service Winners 3
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/81) 31%
Clement....
- 1st serve percentage (47/90) 52%
- 1st serve points won (28/47) 60%
- 2nd serve points won (19/43) 44%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/90) 20%
Serve Patterns
Agassi served...
- to FH 56%
- to BH 44%
Clement served....
- to FH 42%
- to BH 56%
- to Body 2%
Return Stats
Agassi made...
- 65 (26 FH, 39 BH), including 1 runaround FH and 2 return-approaches
- 1 Winners (1 BH)
- 12 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (5 FH, 2 BH)
- 5 Forced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (65/83) 78%
Clement made...
- 55 (31 FH, 24 BH), including 1 return-approach
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 15 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 12 Forced (9 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (55/80) 69%
Break Points
Agassi 7/15 (7 games)
Clement 2/6 (3 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Agassi 13 (8 FH, 12 BH, 1 BH1/2V)
Clement 27 (16 FH, 8 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Agassi's FHs - 3 cc (1 at net and 1 where he just crosses the service line but I've judged a non-net point), 2 dtl and 1 inside-out
- BHs - 1 cc slice (which Clement misjudges and leaves), 2 dtl and 1 inside-in return
- the BH1/2V was a stop shot
Clement's FHs - 5 cc (1 pass), 2 dtl (including a running-down-a-drop-shot at net), 7 inside-out, 1 inside-in and 1 longline return
- BHs - 2 cc and 6 dtl
- the FHV was the first volley off a serve-volley point and the BHV was a drop volley
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Agassi 31
- 22 Unforced (8 FH, 12 BH, 2 BHV)
- 9 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.3
Clement 49
- 28 Unforced (13 FH, 14 BH, 1 OH)
- 21 Forced (10 FH, 11 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.4
(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
Agassi was...
- 6/9 (67%) at net, including...
- 1/1 (100%) serve-volleying, a first serve
- 0/2 return approaching
Clement was...
- 5/10 (50%) at net, including...
- 1/2 (50%) serve-volleying, both first serves
- 0/1 return-approaching
- 0/2 forced back/retreated
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Match Report
A fairly routine straight setter for Agassi, though the third set - despite the comfortable scoreline - is a dog fight
Agassi plays his then standardized game of 'bossy' baseline punching... it would be an exaggeration to call it either aggressive or passive. Rather, its a wonderful combination of the two. Agassi holds back enough that his UE rate stays low, but is still powerful, varied and deep enough that his opponent struggles to cope. One senses that if need be, Agassi could channel an extra gear of attacking play.
In fact, this is somewhat in evidence in this match. Capitalizing on Clement's less than great speed, Agassi has only 3 winners in play after two sets (though he forces a host of errors). In the third however, when the Frenchman ups his level (and Agassi's first serve percentage drops), more is called for and Agassi delivers. 10 winners in the final set (1 in the forecourt - perfect drop BH1/2V... not the sort of thing the American is known for)
Clement's game is curious in some aspects. He keeps his feet exaggeratedly apart on both serve and return. On the return, he's almost squatting with his legs further apart than just about anyone I've seen... the posture reminds me of a frog about to hop. One imagines this style would make it difficult for him to react quickly to serves and that's what it looks like. Agassi's service winners would probably be at best, return forced errors against most players - the serves aren't 'virtual ace' of quality, but Clement's slow movement to meet them make them look it. Same with the 12 return errors Agassi forces
In general, Clement's speed and court coverage are below par. That's what allows Agassi to play particularly high percentage tennis while still forcingly winning points. But the Frenchman's groundstrokes are strong, especially the BH. A combination of Clement's groundies and Agassi's 2003 finals opponent Rainer Schuettler would make for quite a player. Clement demonstrates his abilities in the very first point of the match. He hits a rare third ball BH inside-out to send Agassi one way, and then puts away a FH inside-out the other way next shot... a perfectly constructed and executed point.
From the baseline, Agassi mostly uses the BH to command play. His is the more consistent, but Clement can occasionally overpower him on that side
There is a rare occurrence in an early point in the match when Clement serve-volleys. He's forced to make a difficult first volley in front of his body... and after hesitating for a fraction of a second, back pedals back to the baseline. Apparently, he didn't fancy handling Agassi's upcoming pass to a weak volley. Probably wisely so
While Agassi wins the first two sets comfortably by serving decently, running his opponent around and being more consistent off the ground, the third set is more toughly contested. Agassi breaks to open it in a 16 point game, but is broken back to 15 immediately. The American makes it 3 break games in a row but the 4th game is an all-out 18 point slug fest. Agassi saves 4 break points - mostly through good play of his own - and breaks again next game to give himself a comfortable 4-1 lead that he nurses through without further hiccups
Summing up, solid and commanding from Agassi against a lead footed returner with sub-par court coverage, but dangerous groundstrokes
Agassi had been the defending champion and the win gave him his third Australian Open title - joint most for a player in the Open Era at the time. He would go on to break the record a couple of years later (https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...schuettler-australian-open-final-2003.645622/)
Agassi won 94 points, Clement 77
Serve Stats
Agassi...
- 1st serve percentage (53/81) 65%
- 1st serve points won (38/53) 72%
- 2nd serve points won (13/28) 46%
- Aces 7, Service Winners 3
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/81) 31%
Clement....
- 1st serve percentage (47/90) 52%
- 1st serve points won (28/47) 60%
- 2nd serve points won (19/43) 44%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/90) 20%
Serve Patterns
Agassi served...
- to FH 56%
- to BH 44%
Clement served....
- to FH 42%
- to BH 56%
- to Body 2%
Return Stats
Agassi made...
- 65 (26 FH, 39 BH), including 1 runaround FH and 2 return-approaches
- 1 Winners (1 BH)
- 12 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (5 FH, 2 BH)
- 5 Forced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (65/83) 78%
Clement made...
- 55 (31 FH, 24 BH), including 1 return-approach
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 15 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 12 Forced (9 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (55/80) 69%
Break Points
Agassi 7/15 (7 games)
Clement 2/6 (3 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Agassi 13 (8 FH, 12 BH, 1 BH1/2V)
Clement 27 (16 FH, 8 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Agassi's FHs - 3 cc (1 at net and 1 where he just crosses the service line but I've judged a non-net point), 2 dtl and 1 inside-out
- BHs - 1 cc slice (which Clement misjudges and leaves), 2 dtl and 1 inside-in return
- the BH1/2V was a stop shot
Clement's FHs - 5 cc (1 pass), 2 dtl (including a running-down-a-drop-shot at net), 7 inside-out, 1 inside-in and 1 longline return
- BHs - 2 cc and 6 dtl
- the FHV was the first volley off a serve-volley point and the BHV was a drop volley
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Agassi 31
- 22 Unforced (8 FH, 12 BH, 2 BHV)
- 9 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.3
Clement 49
- 28 Unforced (13 FH, 14 BH, 1 OH)
- 21 Forced (10 FH, 11 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.4
(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
Agassi was...
- 6/9 (67%) at net, including...
- 1/1 (100%) serve-volleying, a first serve
- 0/2 return approaching
Clement was...
- 5/10 (50%) at net, including...
- 1/2 (50%) serve-volleying, both first serves
- 0/1 return-approaching
- 0/2 forced back/retreated
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Match Report
A fairly routine straight setter for Agassi, though the third set - despite the comfortable scoreline - is a dog fight
Agassi plays his then standardized game of 'bossy' baseline punching... it would be an exaggeration to call it either aggressive or passive. Rather, its a wonderful combination of the two. Agassi holds back enough that his UE rate stays low, but is still powerful, varied and deep enough that his opponent struggles to cope. One senses that if need be, Agassi could channel an extra gear of attacking play.
In fact, this is somewhat in evidence in this match. Capitalizing on Clement's less than great speed, Agassi has only 3 winners in play after two sets (though he forces a host of errors). In the third however, when the Frenchman ups his level (and Agassi's first serve percentage drops), more is called for and Agassi delivers. 10 winners in the final set (1 in the forecourt - perfect drop BH1/2V... not the sort of thing the American is known for)
Clement's game is curious in some aspects. He keeps his feet exaggeratedly apart on both serve and return. On the return, he's almost squatting with his legs further apart than just about anyone I've seen... the posture reminds me of a frog about to hop. One imagines this style would make it difficult for him to react quickly to serves and that's what it looks like. Agassi's service winners would probably be at best, return forced errors against most players - the serves aren't 'virtual ace' of quality, but Clement's slow movement to meet them make them look it. Same with the 12 return errors Agassi forces
In general, Clement's speed and court coverage are below par. That's what allows Agassi to play particularly high percentage tennis while still forcingly winning points. But the Frenchman's groundstrokes are strong, especially the BH. A combination of Clement's groundies and Agassi's 2003 finals opponent Rainer Schuettler would make for quite a player. Clement demonstrates his abilities in the very first point of the match. He hits a rare third ball BH inside-out to send Agassi one way, and then puts away a FH inside-out the other way next shot... a perfectly constructed and executed point.
From the baseline, Agassi mostly uses the BH to command play. His is the more consistent, but Clement can occasionally overpower him on that side
There is a rare occurrence in an early point in the match when Clement serve-volleys. He's forced to make a difficult first volley in front of his body... and after hesitating for a fraction of a second, back pedals back to the baseline. Apparently, he didn't fancy handling Agassi's upcoming pass to a weak volley. Probably wisely so
While Agassi wins the first two sets comfortably by serving decently, running his opponent around and being more consistent off the ground, the third set is more toughly contested. Agassi breaks to open it in a 16 point game, but is broken back to 15 immediately. The American makes it 3 break games in a row but the 4th game is an all-out 18 point slug fest. Agassi saves 4 break points - mostly through good play of his own - and breaks again next game to give himself a comfortable 4-1 lead that he nurses through without further hiccups
Summing up, solid and commanding from Agassi against a lead footed returner with sub-par court coverage, but dangerous groundstrokes