Boris Becker beat Stefan Edberg 6-0, 7-6(1), 6-4 in the Wimbledon final, 1989 on grass
It was Becker's third and as it would turn out, last Wimbledon title. He would go onto win the US Open later in the year as well as play a leading role in West Germany's Davis Cup victory (including beating Edberg in a singles rubber in the final). Edberg had beaten Becker in the previous years final and would go onto beat him at next years' as well. More recently, he had beaten Becker in the French Open semis and would beat him again in the Masters final at the end of the season
Becker won 103 points, Edberg 81
Both players serve-volleyed off all serves
Serve Stats
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (42/91) 46%
- 1st serve points won (33/42) 79%
- 2nd serve points won (29/49) 59%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (28/91) 31%
Edberg...
- 1st serve percentage (62/93) 67%
- 1st serve points won (39/62) 63%
- 2nd serve points won (13/31) 42%
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/93) 27%
Serve Patterns
Becker served...
- to FH 29%
- to BH 63%
- to Body 8%
Edberg served...
- to FH 22%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 13%
Return Stats
Becker made...
- 66 (17 FH, 49 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 12 Winners (6 FH, 6 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 25 Errors, all forced...
- 25 Forced (11 FH, 14 BH)
- Return Rate (66/91) 73%
Edberg made...
- 59 (20 FH, 39 BH), including 2 runaround FHs & 1 return-approach
- 9 Winners (4 FH, 5 BH)
- Errors, all forced...
- 22 Forced (6 FH, 16 BH)
- Return Rate (59/87) 68%
Break Points
Becker 5/14 (8 games)
Edberg 1/5 (3 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 44 (11 FH, 11 BH, 11 FHV, 5 BHV, 6 OH)
Edberg 31 (6 FH, 9 BH, 10 FHV, 4 BHV, 2 OH)
Becker had 23 from serve-volley points
- 7 first 'volleys' (4 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 FH at net)
- 15 second volleys (6 FHV, 3 BHV, 6 OH)... 1 BHV was net-to-net & 1 OH was a net chord dribbler
- 1 third volley (1 FHV)
- 12 returns (6 FH, 6 BH)
- FHs (all passes) - 1 cc, 1 runaround dtl, 1 runaround dtl/inside-out, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in (that Edberg left) and 1 lob (unintentional)
- BHs passes - 2 cc, 1 inside-out and 2 inside-in
- regular BH - 1 net chord dribbler (with Edberg at net)
- FHs (all passes) - 3 cc and 1 dtl
- BHs (all passes) - 2 cc, 2 dtl (1 net chord pop over) and 1 longline
Edberg had 15 from serve-volley points
- 10 first volleys (5 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 OH)
- 5 second volleys (4 FHV, 1 OH)... 1 FHV was a net chord dribbler
- 1 other FHV was played net-to-net
- 9 returns (4 FH, 5 BH), all passes
- FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl and 1 inside-in
- BHs -1 dtl, 3 inside-out and 1 inside-in
- FHs (all passes) - 1 cc and 1 lob
- BHs (all passes) - 2 dtl (1 net chord clipper), 1 longline/inside-out and 1 lob
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Becker 21
- 4 Unforced (1 BH, 2 FHV, 1 OH)... with 1 BH at net
- 17 Forced (5 FH, 7 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)... with 1 FH pass at net & 1 BH pass at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 52.5
Edberg 29
- 13 Unforced (8 FHV, 5 BHV)
- 16 Forced (3 FH, 7 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 51.5
(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
Becker was...
- 56/83 (67%) at net, including...
- 56/81 (69%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 27/36 (75%) off 1st serve and...
- 29/45 (64%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/2 forced back
Edberg was...
- 53/95 (56%) at net, including...
- 52/91 (57%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 39/62 (63%) off 1st serve and...
- 13/29 (45%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 return-approaching
Match Report
Great showing from Boris Becker, especially on the volley. Not a bad one from Edberg either, though he has lapses on the same shot. Last two sets are competitive after the first is a blowout. Both players serve-volley 100% of the time
Edberg breaks sensationally with 4 winners to leave himself serving for the second set, where he advances to 40-0 - taking his run of consecutive service points won to 14 in the process
He proceeds to to lose the next 9 as Becker breaks back and runs through the tiebreak 7-1 to go up 2 sets. A late break in the third leaves to serve out the match
Generally in Becker-Edberg serve-volley based matches, everything flows out of Becker's superiority on the serve and loads prospects his way. Chain of events runs -
- because of bigger serve, Becker returns more powerfully
- because of returning more powerfully, he has the easier volleys
- because he has the easier volleys, he gets more chances on the pass
Its not overly true here - he has the bigger serve, but holds back on it some and the difference between two players on the first shot isn't much. He does however, volley considerably better, which gives him better chances on the pass (also slightly superior returner, but to lesser degree than on the volley)
Volleying & Passing
Note just 4 UEs from Boris (all in forecourt), to 13 by Edberg. Edberg has more BHV UEs (5) than Boris' total and double on FHV (8). Becker outdoing Edberg on the volley is uncommon but not shocking - Edberg does tend to have odd not good days on the volley (so does Becker, more often, though clearly not this day) but usually the compensation is in Edberg's volleys being more decisive
That's not true here either. Leaving aside winners (Becker 23 in forecourt, Edberg 16), Becker volleys at least as decisively as Edberg - volleying into corners or well away from the baseliner at least as often as Edberg does
Not much difference in handling of tough volleys either. Becker with 4 volleying FEs (he also has 2 pass attempts at net, virtually hopeless shots he scrambles to), Edberg 6. That figure is influenced by quality of passing (Becker's is better). The tough volleys Edberg leaves Becker are invariably low volleys, that Becker handles well, making the majority. The tough volleys Becker leaves Edberg are low as well as wide or hit extra powerfully on top of low ones. Edberg struggles a bit more against it than Boris does
Style of volleying isn't as drastic as stats might indicate. 30% of Becker's serve-volley winners are first volleys, while 67% of Edberg's are which would suggest Edberg was out to kill points with 1 shot while Boris was in 2 volleys to finish mode
That's not accurate. Both are essentially in 2 volley mode, but not shy of knocking of easy first volleys. Both return well enough as to not leave many putaway easy first volleys. Returning firmly rather than powerfully, Becker leaves a few that Edberg whisks away. Edberg is more likely to look for killer first volley... but not to extent suggested by stats
Good first volleying away from the baseliner means passing chances tend to be difficult ones on the run. When not called on to move much, Becker is the cleaner hitter. BH cc in particular are hit whistle clean. Edberg's probably a bit quicker to reach passes on the run... there's not much he can do from that position though but angle the ball best he can. He does this well and gives Boris a few slow, dropping balls that the winner is able to handle quite well
It was Becker's third and as it would turn out, last Wimbledon title. He would go onto win the US Open later in the year as well as play a leading role in West Germany's Davis Cup victory (including beating Edberg in a singles rubber in the final). Edberg had beaten Becker in the previous years final and would go onto beat him at next years' as well. More recently, he had beaten Becker in the French Open semis and would beat him again in the Masters final at the end of the season
Becker won 103 points, Edberg 81
Both players serve-volleyed off all serves
Serve Stats
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (42/91) 46%
- 1st serve points won (33/42) 79%
- 2nd serve points won (29/49) 59%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (28/91) 31%
Edberg...
- 1st serve percentage (62/93) 67%
- 1st serve points won (39/62) 63%
- 2nd serve points won (13/31) 42%
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/93) 27%
Serve Patterns
Becker served...
- to FH 29%
- to BH 63%
- to Body 8%
Edberg served...
- to FH 22%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 13%
Return Stats
Becker made...
- 66 (17 FH, 49 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 12 Winners (6 FH, 6 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 25 Errors, all forced...
- 25 Forced (11 FH, 14 BH)
- Return Rate (66/91) 73%
Edberg made...
- 59 (20 FH, 39 BH), including 2 runaround FHs & 1 return-approach
- 9 Winners (4 FH, 5 BH)
- Errors, all forced...
- 22 Forced (6 FH, 16 BH)
- Return Rate (59/87) 68%
Break Points
Becker 5/14 (8 games)
Edberg 1/5 (3 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 44 (11 FH, 11 BH, 11 FHV, 5 BHV, 6 OH)
Edberg 31 (6 FH, 9 BH, 10 FHV, 4 BHV, 2 OH)
Becker had 23 from serve-volley points
- 7 first 'volleys' (4 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 FH at net)
- 15 second volleys (6 FHV, 3 BHV, 6 OH)... 1 BHV was net-to-net & 1 OH was a net chord dribbler
- 1 third volley (1 FHV)
- 12 returns (6 FH, 6 BH)
- FHs (all passes) - 1 cc, 1 runaround dtl, 1 runaround dtl/inside-out, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in (that Edberg left) and 1 lob (unintentional)
- BHs passes - 2 cc, 1 inside-out and 2 inside-in
- regular BH - 1 net chord dribbler (with Edberg at net)
- FHs (all passes) - 3 cc and 1 dtl
- BHs (all passes) - 2 cc, 2 dtl (1 net chord pop over) and 1 longline
Edberg had 15 from serve-volley points
- 10 first volleys (5 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 OH)
- 5 second volleys (4 FHV, 1 OH)... 1 FHV was a net chord dribbler
- 1 other FHV was played net-to-net
- 9 returns (4 FH, 5 BH), all passes
- FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl and 1 inside-in
- BHs -1 dtl, 3 inside-out and 1 inside-in
- FHs (all passes) - 1 cc and 1 lob
- BHs (all passes) - 2 dtl (1 net chord clipper), 1 longline/inside-out and 1 lob
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Becker 21
- 4 Unforced (1 BH, 2 FHV, 1 OH)... with 1 BH at net
- 17 Forced (5 FH, 7 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)... with 1 FH pass at net & 1 BH pass at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 52.5
Edberg 29
- 13 Unforced (8 FHV, 5 BHV)
- 16 Forced (3 FH, 7 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 51.5
(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
Becker was...
- 56/83 (67%) at net, including...
- 56/81 (69%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 27/36 (75%) off 1st serve and...
- 29/45 (64%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/2 forced back
Edberg was...
- 53/95 (56%) at net, including...
- 52/91 (57%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 39/62 (63%) off 1st serve and...
- 13/29 (45%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 return-approaching
Match Report
Great showing from Boris Becker, especially on the volley. Not a bad one from Edberg either, though he has lapses on the same shot. Last two sets are competitive after the first is a blowout. Both players serve-volley 100% of the time
Edberg breaks sensationally with 4 winners to leave himself serving for the second set, where he advances to 40-0 - taking his run of consecutive service points won to 14 in the process
He proceeds to to lose the next 9 as Becker breaks back and runs through the tiebreak 7-1 to go up 2 sets. A late break in the third leaves to serve out the match
Generally in Becker-Edberg serve-volley based matches, everything flows out of Becker's superiority on the serve and loads prospects his way. Chain of events runs -
- because of bigger serve, Becker returns more powerfully
- because of returning more powerfully, he has the easier volleys
- because he has the easier volleys, he gets more chances on the pass
Its not overly true here - he has the bigger serve, but holds back on it some and the difference between two players on the first shot isn't much. He does however, volley considerably better, which gives him better chances on the pass (also slightly superior returner, but to lesser degree than on the volley)
Volleying & Passing
Note just 4 UEs from Boris (all in forecourt), to 13 by Edberg. Edberg has more BHV UEs (5) than Boris' total and double on FHV (8). Becker outdoing Edberg on the volley is uncommon but not shocking - Edberg does tend to have odd not good days on the volley (so does Becker, more often, though clearly not this day) but usually the compensation is in Edberg's volleys being more decisive
That's not true here either. Leaving aside winners (Becker 23 in forecourt, Edberg 16), Becker volleys at least as decisively as Edberg - volleying into corners or well away from the baseliner at least as often as Edberg does
Not much difference in handling of tough volleys either. Becker with 4 volleying FEs (he also has 2 pass attempts at net, virtually hopeless shots he scrambles to), Edberg 6. That figure is influenced by quality of passing (Becker's is better). The tough volleys Edberg leaves Becker are invariably low volleys, that Becker handles well, making the majority. The tough volleys Becker leaves Edberg are low as well as wide or hit extra powerfully on top of low ones. Edberg struggles a bit more against it than Boris does
Style of volleying isn't as drastic as stats might indicate. 30% of Becker's serve-volley winners are first volleys, while 67% of Edberg's are which would suggest Edberg was out to kill points with 1 shot while Boris was in 2 volleys to finish mode
That's not accurate. Both are essentially in 2 volley mode, but not shy of knocking of easy first volleys. Both return well enough as to not leave many putaway easy first volleys. Returning firmly rather than powerfully, Becker leaves a few that Edberg whisks away. Edberg is more likely to look for killer first volley... but not to extent suggested by stats
Good first volleying away from the baseliner means passing chances tend to be difficult ones on the run. When not called on to move much, Becker is the cleaner hitter. BH cc in particular are hit whistle clean. Edberg's probably a bit quicker to reach passes on the run... there's not much he can do from that position though but angle the ball best he can. He does this well and gives Boris a few slow, dropping balls that the winner is able to handle quite well
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