Andre Agassi beat Marc Rosset 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the Paris final, 1994 on carpet
It was Agassi's first title at the event and followed a recent title run in Vienna and took him to world number 2 in the ranking. Rosset led the head to head 2-1 going into the match
Agassi won 135 points, Rosset 114
Serve Stats
Agassi...
- 1st serve percentage (90/119) 76%
- 1st serve points won (66/90) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (16/29) 55%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (36/119) 30%
Rosset...
- 1st serve percentage (71/130) 55%
- 1st serve points won (48/71) 68%
- 2nd serve points won (29/59) 49%
- Aces 18 (1 second serve), Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (42/130) 32%
Serve Patterns
Agassi served...
- to FH 25%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 3%
Rosset served....
- to FH 49%
- to BH 47%
- to Body 4%
Return Stats
Agassi made...
- 82 (44 FH, 38 BH)
- 3 Winners (3 FH)
- 22 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (3 FH, 1 BH)
- 18 Forced (10 FH, 8 BH)
- Return Rate (82/124) 66%
Rosset made...
- 82 (28 FH, 54 BH), including 8 runaround FHs & 1 return-approach
- 4 Winners (4 FH)
- 31 Errors, comprising...
- 23 Unforced (11 FH, 12 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 8 Forced (5 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (82/118) 69%
Break Points
Agassi 5/11 (9 games)
Rosset 2/4 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Agassi 23 (11 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV, 3 OH)
Rosset 31 (21 FH, 1 BH, 6 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Agassi's FHs - 4 cc (3 passes), 2 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out pass, 3 inside-in (1 return), 1 longline return
- BHs - 1 cc pass, 1 dtl pass and 1 longline
- 1 FHV was a swinging inside-out from no-man's land and not a net point
- 1 OH was on the bounce from no-man's land and not a net point
Rosset's FHs - 3 cc (1 pass), 4 dtl (2 returns, 1 pass), 3 inside-out (1 return), 8 inside-in (1 return), 2 inside-in/cc and 1 net chord dribbler
- BH - 1 dtl pass
- 4 from serve-volley points - all first volley FHVs ( net chord dribbler)
- of other volleys, 1 FHV and 1 BHV were net-to-net
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Agassi 40
- 20 Unforced (6 FH, 13 BH, 1 BHV)... with 1 BH at net
- 20 Forced (9 FH, 9 BH, 2 BHV)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.5
Rosset 70
- 46 Unforced (32 FH, 12 BH, 2 BHV)
- 24 Forced (5 FH, 11 BH, 5 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.6
(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...
- 14/24 (58%) at net, with...
- 1/1 forced back
Rosset was...
- 18/35 (51%) at net, including...
- 9/19 (47%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 8/14 (57%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/5 (20%) off 2nd serve
---
- 1/1 return-approaching
- 1/1 retreated
Match Report
Brutal match that can be cleanly divided into 2 parts. First 2 sets, Agassi runs Rosset around - and is by far the better player. Next 2, Rosset hammers FHs and play is about even. Rosset in particular goes through an ordeal. He's either running or swinging for the fences (or both)... its tiring to watch, much less contemplate how he might have been feeling. Agassi by comparison, has it easy, but he looks worn down after being on the receiving end of huge FHs for two sets. The court is slow for carpet, Agassi is able to return with reasonable comfort (given what he's up against) and only Rosset's no-holding-back full cut FHs go through for winners regularly
There are other contrasts. Rosset has the humongous serve. I don't think he's too bothered about placement and just hammers them down hard as can. It'd be impossible to get an unforced return error against it regardless of where its placed. Second serves are strong too - stronger than Agassi's firsts, and a number of return errors against it have been marked forced also. Agassi serve is gentle, a point starter. 23/31 Rosset return errors have been marked unforced - overwhelming bulk of them being first serves
And the two players physical size. When Agassi is in near court to the camera, it looks like a midget playing a giant
Conditions, Prospects & Strategy - Phase 1 - Moving Rosset around
In slower conditions, I'd think Agassi would have 2 choices of strategy
1) playing BH cc's to break down Rosset's BH - a favourite, standard Agassi ploy and a good bet seeing Rosset's BH. Shot doesn't pack much punch and he plays a fair few one-handed shots
2) move Rosset around - big as Rosset is, one might expect him to not be quick of court coverage
Agassi goes with options 2). he his balls side to side, off both FH and BH and Rosset is run ragged. Rosset's reasonably quick for such a big guy - according to commentary, he stands 6'7 inches
Agassi's shots are moderately hit off both sides and to both sides. While often on the run, Rosset can reach balls more or less comfortably. And he gives up errors - most have been marked unforced, but they're balls on the move or reached after having run to... and they are persistent. Very good play from Agassi - and dynamically so. He strikes a great balance in being safely consistent and reasonably attacking, or at least, encouraging Rosset to make errors
Its the Rosset BH that's more prone to error under these dynamics, contrary to what match end stats of 32 FH and 12 BH UEs would very strongly suggest. And a good number of BH errors are to particularly wide balls to BH. Rosset has 11 FEs on the BH to 5 for the FH
Finally, outplaying Rosset in this way, Agassi also comes to net to finish points. He could probably have done so more but is usually successful in forecourt. Again, more so than final net numbers of 14/24 would suggest
Phase 2 - Rosset belting FHs
Rosset has a hard work out for two sets. He seeks relief with some serve-volleying at times, which he does in chunks. Its not too successful. From near the end of second set and lasting til end of match, he changes tacks and goes for broke, swinging for the hills off his FH, including with the return. Regularly runsaround BH returns, including in ad court
Rosset's FHs are by far the most powerful and damaging shot on court. He blasts them overpoweringly, like Fernando Gonzalez or Juan Martin del Potro. It is for better or worse, the centerpiece of play
Note 21 winners. Next highest is Agassi's 11 FHs and Agassi's total is just 23
Note also 32 UEs - more than triple the next 2 groundstrokes (Agassi's BH has 13, Rosset's 12)
Most of Agassi's 20 FEs would also have been forced by the Rosset FH. The Rosset BH scarcely forces any
Near equal UEFI is deceptive. Agassi has 47.5, Rosset 47.6. Breakdown of errors though speaks to how differently the two were playing
- Neutral - Agassi 12 (60%), Rosset 21 (46%)
- Attacking - Agassi 1 (5%), Rosset 15 (33%)
- Winner attempts - Agassi 7 (35%), Rosset 10 (22%)
Agassi's moving-Rosset-around shots skirts lines between being an attacking or neutral shot... most (errors or otherwise) I would call neutral; not strong enough to force an error and balls Rosset misses are more makeable than tough (though easier than a stationary shot). Agassi also has a slightly rattled phase in the third set where he hits out unsuccessfully and misses a number of winner attempts. He also looks frustrated and maybe a bit tired at that point - Rosset was also dealing in aces in the period in question
For Rosset, 10 winner attempts is a very good, low number given he has 31 winners. His neutral errors have a good chunk of on-the-move ones - the mirror reflection of Agassi's low-risk, skirting forceful/unforceful moving around play... tough errors for being marked neutral, but not tough enough to be defensive
It was Agassi's first title at the event and followed a recent title run in Vienna and took him to world number 2 in the ranking. Rosset led the head to head 2-1 going into the match
Agassi won 135 points, Rosset 114
Serve Stats
Agassi...
- 1st serve percentage (90/119) 76%
- 1st serve points won (66/90) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (16/29) 55%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (36/119) 30%
Rosset...
- 1st serve percentage (71/130) 55%
- 1st serve points won (48/71) 68%
- 2nd serve points won (29/59) 49%
- Aces 18 (1 second serve), Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (42/130) 32%
Serve Patterns
Agassi served...
- to FH 25%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 3%
Rosset served....
- to FH 49%
- to BH 47%
- to Body 4%
Return Stats
Agassi made...
- 82 (44 FH, 38 BH)
- 3 Winners (3 FH)
- 22 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (3 FH, 1 BH)
- 18 Forced (10 FH, 8 BH)
- Return Rate (82/124) 66%
Rosset made...
- 82 (28 FH, 54 BH), including 8 runaround FHs & 1 return-approach
- 4 Winners (4 FH)
- 31 Errors, comprising...
- 23 Unforced (11 FH, 12 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 8 Forced (5 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (82/118) 69%
Break Points
Agassi 5/11 (9 games)
Rosset 2/4 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Agassi 23 (11 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV, 3 OH)
Rosset 31 (21 FH, 1 BH, 6 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Agassi's FHs - 4 cc (3 passes), 2 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out pass, 3 inside-in (1 return), 1 longline return
- BHs - 1 cc pass, 1 dtl pass and 1 longline
- 1 FHV was a swinging inside-out from no-man's land and not a net point
- 1 OH was on the bounce from no-man's land and not a net point
Rosset's FHs - 3 cc (1 pass), 4 dtl (2 returns, 1 pass), 3 inside-out (1 return), 8 inside-in (1 return), 2 inside-in/cc and 1 net chord dribbler
- BH - 1 dtl pass
- 4 from serve-volley points - all first volley FHVs ( net chord dribbler)
- of other volleys, 1 FHV and 1 BHV were net-to-net
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Agassi 40
- 20 Unforced (6 FH, 13 BH, 1 BHV)... with 1 BH at net
- 20 Forced (9 FH, 9 BH, 2 BHV)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.5
Rosset 70
- 46 Unforced (32 FH, 12 BH, 2 BHV)
- 24 Forced (5 FH, 11 BH, 5 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.6
(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...
- 14/24 (58%) at net, with...
- 1/1 forced back
Rosset was...
- 18/35 (51%) at net, including...
- 9/19 (47%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 8/14 (57%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/5 (20%) off 2nd serve
---
- 1/1 return-approaching
- 1/1 retreated
Match Report
Brutal match that can be cleanly divided into 2 parts. First 2 sets, Agassi runs Rosset around - and is by far the better player. Next 2, Rosset hammers FHs and play is about even. Rosset in particular goes through an ordeal. He's either running or swinging for the fences (or both)... its tiring to watch, much less contemplate how he might have been feeling. Agassi by comparison, has it easy, but he looks worn down after being on the receiving end of huge FHs for two sets. The court is slow for carpet, Agassi is able to return with reasonable comfort (given what he's up against) and only Rosset's no-holding-back full cut FHs go through for winners regularly
There are other contrasts. Rosset has the humongous serve. I don't think he's too bothered about placement and just hammers them down hard as can. It'd be impossible to get an unforced return error against it regardless of where its placed. Second serves are strong too - stronger than Agassi's firsts, and a number of return errors against it have been marked forced also. Agassi serve is gentle, a point starter. 23/31 Rosset return errors have been marked unforced - overwhelming bulk of them being first serves
And the two players physical size. When Agassi is in near court to the camera, it looks like a midget playing a giant
Conditions, Prospects & Strategy - Phase 1 - Moving Rosset around
In slower conditions, I'd think Agassi would have 2 choices of strategy
1) playing BH cc's to break down Rosset's BH - a favourite, standard Agassi ploy and a good bet seeing Rosset's BH. Shot doesn't pack much punch and he plays a fair few one-handed shots
2) move Rosset around - big as Rosset is, one might expect him to not be quick of court coverage
Agassi goes with options 2). he his balls side to side, off both FH and BH and Rosset is run ragged. Rosset's reasonably quick for such a big guy - according to commentary, he stands 6'7 inches
Agassi's shots are moderately hit off both sides and to both sides. While often on the run, Rosset can reach balls more or less comfortably. And he gives up errors - most have been marked unforced, but they're balls on the move or reached after having run to... and they are persistent. Very good play from Agassi - and dynamically so. He strikes a great balance in being safely consistent and reasonably attacking, or at least, encouraging Rosset to make errors
Its the Rosset BH that's more prone to error under these dynamics, contrary to what match end stats of 32 FH and 12 BH UEs would very strongly suggest. And a good number of BH errors are to particularly wide balls to BH. Rosset has 11 FEs on the BH to 5 for the FH
Finally, outplaying Rosset in this way, Agassi also comes to net to finish points. He could probably have done so more but is usually successful in forecourt. Again, more so than final net numbers of 14/24 would suggest
Phase 2 - Rosset belting FHs
Rosset has a hard work out for two sets. He seeks relief with some serve-volleying at times, which he does in chunks. Its not too successful. From near the end of second set and lasting til end of match, he changes tacks and goes for broke, swinging for the hills off his FH, including with the return. Regularly runsaround BH returns, including in ad court
Rosset's FHs are by far the most powerful and damaging shot on court. He blasts them overpoweringly, like Fernando Gonzalez or Juan Martin del Potro. It is for better or worse, the centerpiece of play
Note 21 winners. Next highest is Agassi's 11 FHs and Agassi's total is just 23
Note also 32 UEs - more than triple the next 2 groundstrokes (Agassi's BH has 13, Rosset's 12)
Most of Agassi's 20 FEs would also have been forced by the Rosset FH. The Rosset BH scarcely forces any
Near equal UEFI is deceptive. Agassi has 47.5, Rosset 47.6. Breakdown of errors though speaks to how differently the two were playing
- Neutral - Agassi 12 (60%), Rosset 21 (46%)
- Attacking - Agassi 1 (5%), Rosset 15 (33%)
- Winner attempts - Agassi 7 (35%), Rosset 10 (22%)
Agassi's moving-Rosset-around shots skirts lines between being an attacking or neutral shot... most (errors or otherwise) I would call neutral; not strong enough to force an error and balls Rosset misses are more makeable than tough (though easier than a stationary shot). Agassi also has a slightly rattled phase in the third set where he hits out unsuccessfully and misses a number of winner attempts. He also looks frustrated and maybe a bit tired at that point - Rosset was also dealing in aces in the period in question
For Rosset, 10 winner attempts is a very good, low number given he has 31 winners. His neutral errors have a good chunk of on-the-move ones - the mirror reflection of Agassi's low-risk, skirting forceful/unforceful moving around play... tough errors for being marked neutral, but not tough enough to be defensive