Andre Agassi beat Pat Rafter 6-0, 6-7(2), 6-2 in the Miami semi-final, 2001 on hard court
Agassi, recent winner at Australian Open and Indian Wells, would go onto win the title, beating Jan-Michael Gambill in the final. The two had recently played 5 set semi at Australian Open and would play another 5 set semi at Wimbledon later in the year (Rafter would win)
Agassi won 89 points, Rafter 62
Rafter serve-volleyed off all serves but 5 seconds
Serve Stats
Agassi...
- 1st serve percentage (51/72) 71%
- 1st serve points won (40/51) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (13/21) 62%
- Aces 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/72) 25%
Rafter...
- 1st serve percentage (48/79) 61%
- 1st serve points won (34/48) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (9/31) 29%
- Aces 9 (2 second serves), Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/79) 32%
Serve Patterns
Agassi served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 54%
- to Body 4%
Rafter served...
- to FH 27%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 15%
Return Stats
Agassi made...
- 50 (14 FH, 36 BH), including 1 return-approach
- 8 Winners (3 FH, 5 BH)
- 15 Errors, all forced...
- 15 Forced (4 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (50/75) 67%
Rafter made...
- 54 (25 FH, 29 BH), including 2 runaround FHs & 8 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 10 Unforced (4 FH, 6 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 6 Forced (3 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (54/72) 75%
Break Points
Agassi 6/9 (6 games)
Rafter 1/3 (1 game)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Agassi 21 (9 FH, 11 BH, 1 BHV)
Rafter 19 (3 FH, 1 BH, 6 FHV, 5 BHV, 4 OH)
Agassi's FH passes - 3 cc (2 returns) and 2 dtl
- BH passes - 3 cc returns, 5 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in return
- regular FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 return) and 1 inside-out
- regular BH return - 1 dtl
Rafter had 13 from serve-volley points
- 9 first 'volleys' (3 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 OH, 1 FH at net)
- 1 second volley (1 OH)
- 2 third volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 1 fifth volley (1 FHV)... a net-to-net shot
- 1 from a return-approach point, an OH
- FHs - 1 dtl at net and 1 inside-in return
- BH - 1 cc
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Agassi 18
- 9 Unforced (6 FH, 3 BH)
- 9 Forced (1 FH, 7 BH, 1 BHV)... the BHV was a baseline shot and pass attempt
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.7
Rafter 46
- 21 Unforced (3 FH, 13 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
- 25 Forced (5 FH, 4 BH, 9 FHV, 3 BHV, 4 BH1/2V)... with 1 BH at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.2
(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...
- 9/10 (90%) at net, with...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 1/1 return-approaching
- 1/1 retreated
Rafter was...
- 40/77 (52%) at net, including...
- 31/60 (52%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 26/40 (65%) off 1st serve and..
- 5/10 (25%) off 2nd serve
---
- 5/8 (63%) return-approaching
Match Report
Agassi dismantles the serve-volley game of Rafter clinically and outhits with seeming ease in baseline rallies on a normal paced hard court
21 winners to 18 total errors for Agassi is outstanding numbers, particularly as his return rate is reasonably high 67% (given he's up against virtual 100% serve-volleying). Usually, having more winners in play than total errors occurs when return rate is low, so most points are played on the given players serve. Here, there's plenty of action off Rafter's serve. Adding Rafter's FEs to Agassi's winners, Agassi ends 46 points forcefully while making total 18 errors - astounding numbers
Rafter himself has good numbers. 19 winners, forcing 9 errors to 21 UEs. Only 5 of those UEs are net shots (by contrast, 17 FEs are). In other words, most of the UEs are his being outlasted and outhit in baseline rallies as you'd expect. The strength of his game - net play and serve-volleying - though not at its best, is still good. But it gets stomped
The unusually impressive number here is Rafter being forced into 17 forecourt FEs, while he only has 16 winners there. Throw in Agassi's passing winners and the odd volley UE, Rafter struggles at net to the tune of winning just 52% net there. Overwhelming credit to Agassi on the return and pass, also noting Rafter is less than great in his volleying (and it would have to be great to have coped with what he's faced with)
Agassi's Serve Game
Agassi's service games feature baseline rallies. And its no match
His serve is ordinary. High in count at 71%, but even the better firsts are just a bit wide and average paced. Not good returning from Rafter. 10/16 return errors have been marked unforced, and good lot of the 6 FEs are more returnable than not. He returns passively too, often chipping the FH back (including when he misses)
From Rafter's point of view, 75% return rate would be good (though there's scope for improvement given quality of serve) were he returning aggressively (which he isn't) or able to hang in in the ensuing baseline rallies (which he isn't). Highlight are the chip-charges, with which he wins 5/8 and has no errors trying. Given how badly he comes off from baseline, well worth it a few errors to try to get to net at once more often. Its understandable that he doesn't try seeing how Agassi passes in the match (more on that later)
Once the rally starts, Agassi plays his usual firm BH cc's 'til Rafter cracks. In general, this is Agassi favourite play and he almost always wins the lion share of BH cc rallies against all opponents. Here, Rafter's BH is particularly feeble of power as well as inconsistent. Lot of slices in there too, but they land out sooner rather than later too. BH UEs read Agassi 3, Rafter 13. Sizably number of Rafter's are approach attempts
Off FH, Agassi is more aggressive and misses a small number of attacking shots. He also uses it to finish points (he has 3 baseline-to-baseline winners), usually allied to coming to net. Agassi's 9/10 net points won has little to do with volleying... the approach shots are overwhelming and he comes in for insurance and rarely has to hit a volley
Rafter is too often in reactive or defensive position to look for approach chances regularly. When he can make it to net, he's met with irresistible passing shots
In nutshell, Agassi squeezing Rafter out from the back, keeping him back and passing him when he can find a way forward
Agassi, recent winner at Australian Open and Indian Wells, would go onto win the title, beating Jan-Michael Gambill in the final. The two had recently played 5 set semi at Australian Open and would play another 5 set semi at Wimbledon later in the year (Rafter would win)
Agassi won 89 points, Rafter 62
Rafter serve-volleyed off all serves but 5 seconds
Serve Stats
Agassi...
- 1st serve percentage (51/72) 71%
- 1st serve points won (40/51) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (13/21) 62%
- Aces 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/72) 25%
Rafter...
- 1st serve percentage (48/79) 61%
- 1st serve points won (34/48) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (9/31) 29%
- Aces 9 (2 second serves), Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/79) 32%
Serve Patterns
Agassi served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 54%
- to Body 4%
Rafter served...
- to FH 27%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 15%
Return Stats
Agassi made...
- 50 (14 FH, 36 BH), including 1 return-approach
- 8 Winners (3 FH, 5 BH)
- 15 Errors, all forced...
- 15 Forced (4 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (50/75) 67%
Rafter made...
- 54 (25 FH, 29 BH), including 2 runaround FHs & 8 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 10 Unforced (4 FH, 6 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 6 Forced (3 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (54/72) 75%
Break Points
Agassi 6/9 (6 games)
Rafter 1/3 (1 game)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Agassi 21 (9 FH, 11 BH, 1 BHV)
Rafter 19 (3 FH, 1 BH, 6 FHV, 5 BHV, 4 OH)
Agassi's FH passes - 3 cc (2 returns) and 2 dtl
- BH passes - 3 cc returns, 5 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in return
- regular FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 return) and 1 inside-out
- regular BH return - 1 dtl
Rafter had 13 from serve-volley points
- 9 first 'volleys' (3 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 OH, 1 FH at net)
- 1 second volley (1 OH)
- 2 third volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 1 fifth volley (1 FHV)... a net-to-net shot
- 1 from a return-approach point, an OH
- FHs - 1 dtl at net and 1 inside-in return
- BH - 1 cc
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Agassi 18
- 9 Unforced (6 FH, 3 BH)
- 9 Forced (1 FH, 7 BH, 1 BHV)... the BHV was a baseline shot and pass attempt
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.7
Rafter 46
- 21 Unforced (3 FH, 13 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
- 25 Forced (5 FH, 4 BH, 9 FHV, 3 BHV, 4 BH1/2V)... with 1 BH at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.2
(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...
- 9/10 (90%) at net, with...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 1/1 return-approaching
- 1/1 retreated
Rafter was...
- 40/77 (52%) at net, including...
- 31/60 (52%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 26/40 (65%) off 1st serve and..
- 5/10 (25%) off 2nd serve
---
- 5/8 (63%) return-approaching
Match Report
Agassi dismantles the serve-volley game of Rafter clinically and outhits with seeming ease in baseline rallies on a normal paced hard court
21 winners to 18 total errors for Agassi is outstanding numbers, particularly as his return rate is reasonably high 67% (given he's up against virtual 100% serve-volleying). Usually, having more winners in play than total errors occurs when return rate is low, so most points are played on the given players serve. Here, there's plenty of action off Rafter's serve. Adding Rafter's FEs to Agassi's winners, Agassi ends 46 points forcefully while making total 18 errors - astounding numbers
Rafter himself has good numbers. 19 winners, forcing 9 errors to 21 UEs. Only 5 of those UEs are net shots (by contrast, 17 FEs are). In other words, most of the UEs are his being outlasted and outhit in baseline rallies as you'd expect. The strength of his game - net play and serve-volleying - though not at its best, is still good. But it gets stomped
The unusually impressive number here is Rafter being forced into 17 forecourt FEs, while he only has 16 winners there. Throw in Agassi's passing winners and the odd volley UE, Rafter struggles at net to the tune of winning just 52% net there. Overwhelming credit to Agassi on the return and pass, also noting Rafter is less than great in his volleying (and it would have to be great to have coped with what he's faced with)
Agassi's Serve Game
Agassi's service games feature baseline rallies. And its no match
His serve is ordinary. High in count at 71%, but even the better firsts are just a bit wide and average paced. Not good returning from Rafter. 10/16 return errors have been marked unforced, and good lot of the 6 FEs are more returnable than not. He returns passively too, often chipping the FH back (including when he misses)
From Rafter's point of view, 75% return rate would be good (though there's scope for improvement given quality of serve) were he returning aggressively (which he isn't) or able to hang in in the ensuing baseline rallies (which he isn't). Highlight are the chip-charges, with which he wins 5/8 and has no errors trying. Given how badly he comes off from baseline, well worth it a few errors to try to get to net at once more often. Its understandable that he doesn't try seeing how Agassi passes in the match (more on that later)
Once the rally starts, Agassi plays his usual firm BH cc's 'til Rafter cracks. In general, this is Agassi favourite play and he almost always wins the lion share of BH cc rallies against all opponents. Here, Rafter's BH is particularly feeble of power as well as inconsistent. Lot of slices in there too, but they land out sooner rather than later too. BH UEs read Agassi 3, Rafter 13. Sizably number of Rafter's are approach attempts
Off FH, Agassi is more aggressive and misses a small number of attacking shots. He also uses it to finish points (he has 3 baseline-to-baseline winners), usually allied to coming to net. Agassi's 9/10 net points won has little to do with volleying... the approach shots are overwhelming and he comes in for insurance and rarely has to hit a volley
Rafter is too often in reactive or defensive position to look for approach chances regularly. When he can make it to net, he's met with irresistible passing shots
In nutshell, Agassi squeezing Rafter out from the back, keeping him back and passing him when he can find a way forward