Andre Agassi beat Pete Sampras 7-5, 6-4 in the Atlanta final, 1992 on green clay
It was the first, official edition of the tournament (it had previously been played as an exhibition event). The two would go onto meet son after in the French Open quarter-final with Agassi again winning
Agassi won 69 points, Sampras 57
Sampras serve-volleyed off majority off first serves
(Note: I'm partially 5 points or 2 wholly -
Set 1, Game 6, Point 1 - unknown Agassi serve point, return made, ending with unknown Agassi error from baseline - likely a UE
Set 1, Game 10, Point 1 - unknown Agassi serve point, return made, ending with Sampras winner - either a FH cc or a BH inside-out
Set 2, Game 2, Point 1 - unknown Agassi serve point won by Agassi. Commentary indicates it was an ace. It has been so marked and assumed to have been a first serve
Set 2, Game 6, Point 1 - Agassi serve point won by Agassi
Set 2, Game 8, Point 1 - Agassi serve point, return made, ending recorded)
Serve Stats
Agassi...
- 1st serve percentage (35/56) 63%
- 1st serve points won (31/35) 89%
- 2nd serve points won (14/21) 67%
- Unknown serve points won (2/4) 50%
- Aces 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (16/59) 27%
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (45/66) 68%
- 1st serve points won (37/45) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (7/21) 33%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/66) 38%
Serve Patterns
Agassi served...
- to FH 31%
- to BH 69%
Sampras served...
- to FH 33%
- to BH 64%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Agassi made...
- 39 (15 FH, 24 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 4 Winners (3 FH, 1 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 19 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (4 FH, 1 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 14 Forced (7 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (39/64) 61%
Sampras made...
- 43 (10 FH, 29 BH, 4 ??), including 2 runaround FHs
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- 5 Forced (4 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (43/59) 73%
Break Points
Agassi 2/5 (2 games)
Sampras 0/4 (1 game)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Agassi 24 (18 FH, 5 BH, 1 BHV)
Sampras 11 (2 FH, 2 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH, 1 ??)... the ?? is a FH or a BH
Agassi's FHs - 3 cc (1 at net), 5 dtl (1 runaround return), 2 inside-out (1 return), 7 inside-in and 1 lob return (unintentional)
- BHs - 3 dtl, 1 inside-in return pass and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc at net pass
Sampras had 7 from serve-volley points
- 4 first 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH, 1 BH at net)... the OH was on the bounce
- 3 second 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)... the OH was a forced back, on the bounce from the baseline shot
- FHs - 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in
- BHs - 1 dtl
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Agassi 21
- 12 Unforced (5 FH, 7 BH)... with 1 BH at net pass attempt
- 8 Forced (6 FH, 2 BH, FHV, BHV)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 1 Unknown
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.8
Sampras 26
- 15 Unforced (5 FH, 8 BH, 2 BHV)
- 11 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.7
(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 7/9 (78%) at net
Sampras was...
- 22/30 (73%) at net, including...
- 21/29 (72%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 1/2 forced back/retreated
Match Report
Crushing display from the baseline from Agassi, who blasts FHs every which way while Sampras is left as stone on a normal, green clay court
Some odd stats coming out match -
- Sampras leading first serve in count 68% to 63%. Pete eases back on big serving (and serve-volleying behind it) in second set, but Agassi serves his usual, unthreatening way. Wouldn't expect this stat
- Agassi leading first serve points won 89% to 82%. Again, unexpected
With first serve points won so high by both players, play turns on second serve points, where matters are a no contest. There's a pretty symmetary in how the number comes out (allowing for it probably not being the real number, with 4 Agassi points unknown) -
Agassi 14/21 second serve points, Pete 7/21
Agassi serves his normal, point starting way. Court is fairly quick, though not to degree of returning being difficult. Sampras pokes and pushes returns back... and Agassi slams FHs. The standout shot is Agassi's second serve, which he kicks up high and reach Pete around shoulder high on BH side. Pete tends to fall back to return and gets little punch on his return. Good second serving from Agassi, while Pete... just seems to have a general weakness to the high BH. He'd do well to step in and hit it early before it can rise, but his returning is distinctly passive all match
Initially, Pete serve-volleys off all first serves. He stays back off a couple in first set and then does so regularly in second, where his serving strenght also falls some. It ends up not mattering - he wins 10/10 points staying back off first serves. He stays back off all second serves. In fact, he only rallies to net once all match. Good second serve from Pete and he's able to either kick ball high too, or send it down powerfully or/and wide for a second serve. Agassi though, stands on baseline and slaps the returns back hard. In second set, regularly with runaround FHs
Baseline-to-baseline starting point play is then made up off
- all of Agassi's service points, all of Pete's second serve points and small number of firsts
In them, Agassi looks to blast FH point finishing shots. He's got 18 FH winners - not one of them is a pass, only 1 is a shot at net. 7 are inside-in, which is also a bit odd. All other shots from both players combined amount to 17 winners. Most of Pete's 11 FEs are forced by Agassi's FH too. This is one of the most devastating FH displays I've seen
The 'neutral' part of rallying, isn't exactly neutral. Pete falls back well behind baseline, Agassi is on baseline. Pete lops balls in play, Agassi hits them hard. Any short stuff from Pete is punished at once
Still, UEs are a near wash. Agassi has 11 baseline-to-baseline, Pete has 13. Virtually equal by wing too -
- on FH - Agassi 5, Pete 5
- on BH - Agassi 6, Pete 8
... and at similar UEFI (Agassi 45.8, Pete 44.7). From Pete's point of view, he's not being bled out from the back. Its not much consolation when his opponent is slapping winners every which way. In fact, Agassi has as many BH baseline-to-baseline winners 3 as Pete has total, even leaving out the FH. Pete's defence is almost non-existent. A player would have to defend very, very well to thwart Agassi's blasted shots into open spaces... few would stand a chance. Pete doesn't seem to consider it worth the effort. He's probably not wrong
Little counter-attacking by Pete. He goes for the odd big FH. It usually comes back with interest or power or wider... and its back to dancing to Agassi's tune
Rest of play is Sampras serve-volleying. He gets his usual lot of 38% unreturned serves and isn't faced with more than above average hard hit, regulation height volleys that he places into corners carefully
Despite Agassi dominating the eyecatching part of action, his path to victory isn't clear. With Sampras serving at 68% and dominating his first serve, he can and does hold comfortably regularly. He needs 1 good return game to take a set. Normal match-long Sampras procedure
The closest he gets to that needed return game is Agassi serving 4-5 in first set. Pete snatches first 3 points to have 3 break and set points. Aggressive plays from Agassi erases those - and a fourth that comes up before he holds. And then Agassi breaks, with Pete making both his forecourt UEs of the match in next game - neither of them particularly easy
Agassi breaks to go up 2-1 in the 2nd set with a series of powerful shots. Pete's flat thereafter, almost like he's given up and wins just 1 more return point in 4 games. Agassi too gets cavalier reckless returning after, and Pete himself loses just 2 service points in remaining 3 games (both return pass winners - 1 a fluke lob)
Summing up, very impressive display of power and blasting FHs from Agassi as he overwhelms a by the end, clueless looking Sampras. Sampras holds serve most of the time comfortably too on back of big serves and sure volleying. Baseline match up though is a one man show. This is probably the biggest baseline thrashing Agassi ever delivered to Pete Sampras - and he delivered plenty
It was the first, official edition of the tournament (it had previously been played as an exhibition event). The two would go onto meet son after in the French Open quarter-final with Agassi again winning
Agassi won 69 points, Sampras 57
Sampras serve-volleyed off majority off first serves
(Note: I'm partially 5 points or 2 wholly -
Set 1, Game 6, Point 1 - unknown Agassi serve point, return made, ending with unknown Agassi error from baseline - likely a UE
Set 1, Game 10, Point 1 - unknown Agassi serve point, return made, ending with Sampras winner - either a FH cc or a BH inside-out
Set 2, Game 2, Point 1 - unknown Agassi serve point won by Agassi. Commentary indicates it was an ace. It has been so marked and assumed to have been a first serve
Set 2, Game 6, Point 1 - Agassi serve point won by Agassi
Set 2, Game 8, Point 1 - Agassi serve point, return made, ending recorded)
Serve Stats
Agassi...
- 1st serve percentage (35/56) 63%
- 1st serve points won (31/35) 89%
- 2nd serve points won (14/21) 67%
- Unknown serve points won (2/4) 50%
- Aces 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (16/59) 27%
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (45/66) 68%
- 1st serve points won (37/45) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (7/21) 33%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/66) 38%
Serve Patterns
Agassi served...
- to FH 31%
- to BH 69%
Sampras served...
- to FH 33%
- to BH 64%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Agassi made...
- 39 (15 FH, 24 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 4 Winners (3 FH, 1 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 19 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (4 FH, 1 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 14 Forced (7 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (39/64) 61%
Sampras made...
- 43 (10 FH, 29 BH, 4 ??), including 2 runaround FHs
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- 5 Forced (4 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (43/59) 73%
Break Points
Agassi 2/5 (2 games)
Sampras 0/4 (1 game)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Agassi 24 (18 FH, 5 BH, 1 BHV)
Sampras 11 (2 FH, 2 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH, 1 ??)... the ?? is a FH or a BH
Agassi's FHs - 3 cc (1 at net), 5 dtl (1 runaround return), 2 inside-out (1 return), 7 inside-in and 1 lob return (unintentional)
- BHs - 3 dtl, 1 inside-in return pass and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc at net pass
Sampras had 7 from serve-volley points
- 4 first 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH, 1 BH at net)... the OH was on the bounce
- 3 second 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)... the OH was a forced back, on the bounce from the baseline shot
- FHs - 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in
- BHs - 1 dtl
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Agassi 21
- 12 Unforced (5 FH, 7 BH)... with 1 BH at net pass attempt
- 8 Forced (6 FH, 2 BH, FHV, BHV)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 1 Unknown
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.8
Sampras 26
- 15 Unforced (5 FH, 8 BH, 2 BHV)
- 11 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.7
(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 7/9 (78%) at net
Sampras was...
- 22/30 (73%) at net, including...
- 21/29 (72%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 1/2 forced back/retreated
Match Report
Crushing display from the baseline from Agassi, who blasts FHs every which way while Sampras is left as stone on a normal, green clay court
Some odd stats coming out match -
- Sampras leading first serve in count 68% to 63%. Pete eases back on big serving (and serve-volleying behind it) in second set, but Agassi serves his usual, unthreatening way. Wouldn't expect this stat
- Agassi leading first serve points won 89% to 82%. Again, unexpected
With first serve points won so high by both players, play turns on second serve points, where matters are a no contest. There's a pretty symmetary in how the number comes out (allowing for it probably not being the real number, with 4 Agassi points unknown) -
Agassi 14/21 second serve points, Pete 7/21
Agassi serves his normal, point starting way. Court is fairly quick, though not to degree of returning being difficult. Sampras pokes and pushes returns back... and Agassi slams FHs. The standout shot is Agassi's second serve, which he kicks up high and reach Pete around shoulder high on BH side. Pete tends to fall back to return and gets little punch on his return. Good second serving from Agassi, while Pete... just seems to have a general weakness to the high BH. He'd do well to step in and hit it early before it can rise, but his returning is distinctly passive all match
Initially, Pete serve-volleys off all first serves. He stays back off a couple in first set and then does so regularly in second, where his serving strenght also falls some. It ends up not mattering - he wins 10/10 points staying back off first serves. He stays back off all second serves. In fact, he only rallies to net once all match. Good second serve from Pete and he's able to either kick ball high too, or send it down powerfully or/and wide for a second serve. Agassi though, stands on baseline and slaps the returns back hard. In second set, regularly with runaround FHs
Baseline-to-baseline starting point play is then made up off
- all of Agassi's service points, all of Pete's second serve points and small number of firsts
In them, Agassi looks to blast FH point finishing shots. He's got 18 FH winners - not one of them is a pass, only 1 is a shot at net. 7 are inside-in, which is also a bit odd. All other shots from both players combined amount to 17 winners. Most of Pete's 11 FEs are forced by Agassi's FH too. This is one of the most devastating FH displays I've seen
The 'neutral' part of rallying, isn't exactly neutral. Pete falls back well behind baseline, Agassi is on baseline. Pete lops balls in play, Agassi hits them hard. Any short stuff from Pete is punished at once
Still, UEs are a near wash. Agassi has 11 baseline-to-baseline, Pete has 13. Virtually equal by wing too -
- on FH - Agassi 5, Pete 5
- on BH - Agassi 6, Pete 8
... and at similar UEFI (Agassi 45.8, Pete 44.7). From Pete's point of view, he's not being bled out from the back. Its not much consolation when his opponent is slapping winners every which way. In fact, Agassi has as many BH baseline-to-baseline winners 3 as Pete has total, even leaving out the FH. Pete's defence is almost non-existent. A player would have to defend very, very well to thwart Agassi's blasted shots into open spaces... few would stand a chance. Pete doesn't seem to consider it worth the effort. He's probably not wrong
Little counter-attacking by Pete. He goes for the odd big FH. It usually comes back with interest or power or wider... and its back to dancing to Agassi's tune
Rest of play is Sampras serve-volleying. He gets his usual lot of 38% unreturned serves and isn't faced with more than above average hard hit, regulation height volleys that he places into corners carefully
Despite Agassi dominating the eyecatching part of action, his path to victory isn't clear. With Sampras serving at 68% and dominating his first serve, he can and does hold comfortably regularly. He needs 1 good return game to take a set. Normal match-long Sampras procedure
The closest he gets to that needed return game is Agassi serving 4-5 in first set. Pete snatches first 3 points to have 3 break and set points. Aggressive plays from Agassi erases those - and a fourth that comes up before he holds. And then Agassi breaks, with Pete making both his forecourt UEs of the match in next game - neither of them particularly easy
Agassi breaks to go up 2-1 in the 2nd set with a series of powerful shots. Pete's flat thereafter, almost like he's given up and wins just 1 more return point in 4 games. Agassi too gets cavalier reckless returning after, and Pete himself loses just 2 service points in remaining 3 games (both return pass winners - 1 a fluke lob)
Summing up, very impressive display of power and blasting FHs from Agassi as he overwhelms a by the end, clueless looking Sampras. Sampras holds serve most of the time comfortably too on back of big serves and sure volleying. Baseline match up though is a one man show. This is probably the biggest baseline thrashing Agassi ever delivered to Pete Sampras - and he delivered plenty
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