Boris Becker beat Ivan Lendl 6-2, 6--2 in the final of the Stuttgart indoor, 1990 on carpet
Becker won 65 points, Lendl 41
Becker serve-volleyed off all his first serves and Lendl virtually also did
Serve Stats
Becker....
- 1st serve percentage (35/62) 56%
- 1st serve points won (30/35) 86%
- 2nd serve points won (11/27) 41%
- Aces 10
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (26/62) 42%
Lendl. ...
- 1st serve percentage (26/44) 59%
- 1st serve points won (12/26) 46%
- 2nd serve points won (8/18) 44%
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (9/44) 20%
Serve Pattern
Becker served...
- to FH 22%
- to BH 72%
- to Body 5%
Lendl served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 58%
Return Stats
Becker made...
- 35 (14 FH, 21 BH), including 3 return-approaches
- 4 Winners (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 6 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH), including 1 chip-charge attempt
- 4 Forced (4 FH)
- Return Rate (35/48) 81%
Lendl made...
- 33 (5 FH, 28 BH), including 1 runaround FH and 2 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 16 Errors, all forced... (3 FH, 16 BH)
- Return Rate (33/58) 57%
Break Points
Becker 4/6 (5 games)
Lendl 0/5 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 17 (6 FH, 6 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)
Lendl 14 (5 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV)
Becker had 3 from serve-volley points - 2 first volley FHVs and 1 second volley BHV
- 10 passes (4 FH, 6 BH)
- the FHs - 2 cc (1 at net) and 2 dtl (1 return)
- the BHs - 2 cc (1 return), 2 dtl, 1 inside-out return and 1 inside-in return
- 2 other non-pass groundstrokes were FHs - 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in return
Lendl had 4 from serve-volley points - all first 'volleys' - 2 FHs at net, 1 FHV and 1 BHV
- 1 other FHV was a drop volley
- 5 passes (2 FH, 3 BH)
- the FHs - 1 cc and 1 lob
- the BHs - 2 cc (1 return) and 1 dtl
- 1 non-pass FH dtl
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Becker 14
- 7 Unforced (1 FH, 4 BH, 2 BHV)
- 7 Forced (2 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50.0
Lendl 21
- 12 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV)
- 9 Forced (1 FH, 4 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50.8
(Note: All half-volleys refer to such shots played at net)
(Note 2: The 'Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is a measure of how aggressive of intent the average UE made was. 60 is maximum, 20 is minimum. This match has been scored using a four point scale - 2 defensive, 4 neutral, 5 attacking, 6 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Becker was 26/36 (72%) at net, including 21/28 (75%) serve-volleying - off first serves 19/24 (79%), off second 2/4 (50%) - and 1/3 (33%) return-approaching
Lendl was 15/34 (44%) at net, including 9/22 (41%) serve-volleying - off first serves 9/19 (47%), off second 0/3 - and 1/2 return-approaching
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Match Report
A classic, big game type match, with both players serve-volleying extensively on a fast court. Becker is of course famous for his prowess at such a style, while Lendl, not known for it, is also very good. Not in this match though... Lendl falls flat and Becker comfortably comes out on top
The key is Becker's return. Lendl doesn't serve badly - he doesn't go for the lines as he is wont to at times, but does send the ball down powerfully. Becker, however, not only gets returns back consistently, but also with significant force or dippingly. The end result is Lendl has to play awkward volleys regularly - and he's found wanting at the net
On the other hand, Becker serves well - look at the very high 42% serves unreturned - and serve-volleys regularly. Lendl isn't able to muster much force on the return and the German faces fairly simple volleys when the ball actually comes back
The match starts with a bang as Becker breaks to love, including a volley winner, a pass winner and forcing a half-volley error. His first service game though is a 14 point struggle. Despite serving three doubles and making just 3 first serves (none of which come back), the German manages to hold off three break points and consolidate his break. His next service game is also a tussle, lasting ten points
The match turns for good in the 7th game, when Becker again breaks to love - striking 3 winners, before Lendl double fault on break point.
Becker's level in the second set is exceptionally high. He makes just 1 unforced error (Lendl makes 8) and is even more certain on serve than he was in the first. Again, he breaks with some brilliant passing shots and these, in conjunction with Lendl making errors in the forecourt, are enough.
It seems like Lendl was looking to hone his serve-volley game, perhaps with an eye to Wimbledon (this was the year he skipped the clay court season to be especially ready for the big W). It needs honing. when following the serve to net, he doesn't seem committed to volleying but rather hangs back a bit, almost as if he's hoping to be able to play a groundstroke at net rather than volley. The mix of powerful returns and returns dying on Lendl as he reaches the net were a tricky proposition - and it would have taken a player like Edberg, who knows exactly what he's doing in the forecourt to deal with it effectively. Even then, Becker would probably have prevailed. Lendl is just outclassed here
Summing up - brilliant and classic big game stuff from Boris and Lendl, in over his head for this one
Becker won 65 points, Lendl 41
Becker serve-volleyed off all his first serves and Lendl virtually also did
Serve Stats
Becker....
- 1st serve percentage (35/62) 56%
- 1st serve points won (30/35) 86%
- 2nd serve points won (11/27) 41%
- Aces 10
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (26/62) 42%
Lendl. ...
- 1st serve percentage (26/44) 59%
- 1st serve points won (12/26) 46%
- 2nd serve points won (8/18) 44%
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (9/44) 20%
Serve Pattern
Becker served...
- to FH 22%
- to BH 72%
- to Body 5%
Lendl served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 58%
Return Stats
Becker made...
- 35 (14 FH, 21 BH), including 3 return-approaches
- 4 Winners (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 6 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH), including 1 chip-charge attempt
- 4 Forced (4 FH)
- Return Rate (35/48) 81%
Lendl made...
- 33 (5 FH, 28 BH), including 1 runaround FH and 2 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 16 Errors, all forced... (3 FH, 16 BH)
- Return Rate (33/58) 57%
Break Points
Becker 4/6 (5 games)
Lendl 0/5 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 17 (6 FH, 6 BH, 3 FHV, 2 BHV)
Lendl 14 (5 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV)
Becker had 3 from serve-volley points - 2 first volley FHVs and 1 second volley BHV
- 10 passes (4 FH, 6 BH)
- the FHs - 2 cc (1 at net) and 2 dtl (1 return)
- the BHs - 2 cc (1 return), 2 dtl, 1 inside-out return and 1 inside-in return
- 2 other non-pass groundstrokes were FHs - 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in return
Lendl had 4 from serve-volley points - all first 'volleys' - 2 FHs at net, 1 FHV and 1 BHV
- 1 other FHV was a drop volley
- 5 passes (2 FH, 3 BH)
- the FHs - 1 cc and 1 lob
- the BHs - 2 cc (1 return) and 1 dtl
- 1 non-pass FH dtl
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Becker 14
- 7 Unforced (1 FH, 4 BH, 2 BHV)
- 7 Forced (2 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50.0
Lendl 21
- 12 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV)
- 9 Forced (1 FH, 4 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50.8
(Note: All half-volleys refer to such shots played at net)
(Note 2: The 'Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is a measure of how aggressive of intent the average UE made was. 60 is maximum, 20 is minimum. This match has been scored using a four point scale - 2 defensive, 4 neutral, 5 attacking, 6 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Becker was 26/36 (72%) at net, including 21/28 (75%) serve-volleying - off first serves 19/24 (79%), off second 2/4 (50%) - and 1/3 (33%) return-approaching
Lendl was 15/34 (44%) at net, including 9/22 (41%) serve-volleying - off first serves 9/19 (47%), off second 0/3 - and 1/2 return-approaching
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Match Report
A classic, big game type match, with both players serve-volleying extensively on a fast court. Becker is of course famous for his prowess at such a style, while Lendl, not known for it, is also very good. Not in this match though... Lendl falls flat and Becker comfortably comes out on top
The key is Becker's return. Lendl doesn't serve badly - he doesn't go for the lines as he is wont to at times, but does send the ball down powerfully. Becker, however, not only gets returns back consistently, but also with significant force or dippingly. The end result is Lendl has to play awkward volleys regularly - and he's found wanting at the net
On the other hand, Becker serves well - look at the very high 42% serves unreturned - and serve-volleys regularly. Lendl isn't able to muster much force on the return and the German faces fairly simple volleys when the ball actually comes back
The match starts with a bang as Becker breaks to love, including a volley winner, a pass winner and forcing a half-volley error. His first service game though is a 14 point struggle. Despite serving three doubles and making just 3 first serves (none of which come back), the German manages to hold off three break points and consolidate his break. His next service game is also a tussle, lasting ten points
The match turns for good in the 7th game, when Becker again breaks to love - striking 3 winners, before Lendl double fault on break point.
Becker's level in the second set is exceptionally high. He makes just 1 unforced error (Lendl makes 8) and is even more certain on serve than he was in the first. Again, he breaks with some brilliant passing shots and these, in conjunction with Lendl making errors in the forecourt, are enough.
It seems like Lendl was looking to hone his serve-volley game, perhaps with an eye to Wimbledon (this was the year he skipped the clay court season to be especially ready for the big W). It needs honing. when following the serve to net, he doesn't seem committed to volleying but rather hangs back a bit, almost as if he's hoping to be able to play a groundstroke at net rather than volley. The mix of powerful returns and returns dying on Lendl as he reaches the net were a tricky proposition - and it would have taken a player like Edberg, who knows exactly what he's doing in the forecourt to deal with it effectively. Even then, Becker would probably have prevailed. Lendl is just outclassed here
Summing up - brilliant and classic big game stuff from Boris and Lendl, in over his head for this one
