Boris Becker beat Alexander Volkov 6-1, 6-2 in the Milan Indoor final, 1989 on carpet
It was Becker’s second title at the event and he’d go on to win a record equalling 4 in due time. Volkov was ranked 61 in the world
Becker won 58 points, Volkov 34
Becker serve-volleyed off all but 1 first serve
Serve Stats
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (20/51) 39%
- 1st serve points won (18/20) 90%
- 2nd serve points won (17/31) 55%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/51) 33%
Volkov...
- 1st serve percentage (23/41) 56%
- 1st serve points won (10/23) 43%
- 2nd serve points won (8/18) 44%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (9/41) 22%
Serve Patterns
Becker served...
- to FH 50%
- to BH 42%
- to Body 8%
Volkov served...
- to FH 26%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 15%
Return Stats
Becker made...
- 30 (6 FH, 24 BH), including 6 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 1 return-approach attempt
- 5 Forced (4 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (30/39) 77%
Volkov made...
- 31 (18 FH, 13 BH)
- 3 Winners (2 FH, 1 BH)
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (5 FH)
- 8 Forced (1 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (31/48) 65%
Break Points
Becker 4/5 (4 games)
Volkov 0/2 (1 game)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 11 (2 FH, 3 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH)
Volkov 11 (5 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
Becker had 3 from serve-volley points
- 2 first 'volleys' (1 FH at net, 1 BH at net)
- 1 second volley (1 FHV)
- 3 from return-approach points (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- FH pass - 1 dtl
- BHs - 1 cc pass and 1 inside-out return
Volkov's FHs - 1 cc return pass, 1 cc/longline (a Becker whiff), 1 dtl, 1 inside-out return and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net
- BHs - 1 dtl return pass, 1 inside-out/dtl, 1 inside-in and 1 lob
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Becker 11
- 6 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 5 Forced (1 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50
Volkov 28
- 17 Unforced (12 FH, 3 BH, 2 BHV)... with 1 BH pass attempt
- 11 Forced (4 FH, 5 BH, 2 FHV)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net & 1 non-net FHV pass attempt from close to baseline
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.9
(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...
- 26/36 (72%) at net, including...
- 15/21 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 13/15 (87%) off 1st serve and..
- 2/6 (33%) off 2nd serve
---
- 5/6 (83%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back
Volkov was...
- 5/12 (42%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Match Report
Mismatch on a quick-ish court, in line with what you might expect from a 1 & 2 scoreline. Becker's powerful returning is chief standout against an average serve and he dominates baseline exchanges with Volkov's FH weakly inconsistent. A few unusual and impressive BH shots from Volkov, but they're just little treats amidst being thoroughly outplayed
Boris serve-volleys off virtually all 1st serves (the sole exception draws such a weak return that he's forced to net for third ball anyway), but with just 39% 1st serves in, that leaves most action to be baseline rallies. He dominates the small number of 1st serve points, winning 90% of them, mostly with unreturned serves (33% is high, given such a low in count). Volkov has his moments return-passing - he's got 2 winners and wins 4/6 of Boris' 2nd serve-volley points (and they're hefty 2nd serves), but Boris' 1st delivery is just too much for him to handle
Despite the low in count, Boris doesn't go all in with the first serve. 2/4 aces come in last game, sans which, he's got just 2 aces from 16 first serves
With Volkov serve-volleying just once and Boris with such a low in count, that leaves plenty of baseline-baseline starting point that mostly end with UEs or someone approaching net
Baseline UEs read Boris 3, Volkov 14 (12 of them FHs)
Net points from rallying read Boris 6/9, Volkov 5/11
Throw in Boris returning at 77% and winning 5/6 return-approach points, that's a disaster for Volkov. He holds thrice while being broken 4 times
Volkov's serve is average. At most decent, but not weak. And its a quick-ish court. Serve like that can potentially be troublesome in such conditions. Not only is Boris not troubled, he goes on the attack returning
Some big powerful swings from Boris on the return, but more than that, what stands out is a general strenght of his; the ability to powerfully muscle body serves. Volkov serves significant 15% to body (both 1st and 2nd serves) and Boris hits some meaty returns despite being jammed for room
Boris' 6 return-approaches are off all kinds (except chip-charges that is). Power returns. Blocked back returns to body serves. Delayed approaches behind not-strong returns. And 1 particularly good pseudo drop-return. He wins 5/6 coming in behind the return
Volkov is a lefty with a wristy, flexible 2-handed BH. The FH by contrast is usually a scoopy, top spun shot and a little awkward looking. He clearly prefers his BH
Volk starts the match with a very, very rare BH inside-in winner. Players that play - let alone hit winners - with that shot typically have vulnerable FHs, and so it proves
Volk's FH has match high 12 UEs to go with 5 on the return. Putting that in perspective
- both players have 11 winners
- Boris has 11 total errors (6 UEs, 5 FEs)
- Volk has 5 non-FH UEs
- Volk has 11 FEs
Rallies are orthodox cc affairs, so Volk's FH is up against Boris' BH, which has 2 UEs
There's some good tennis on flip side between Boris FH and Volk's BH. Boris is more powerful and able to create approaches (he rallies to net 9 times) from them. Consistency is a near wash and high end - Boris with 1 UE, Volk 2 (excluding a mid-court pass attempt where he's likely surprised by Boris making a 'suicidal' approach)
Not much desire to be at net shown by Volk's and not much scope to come in either. His FH sprays ball. His BH is outhit. He doesn't look like much of a volleyer either - at net, he's got 2 winners (both easy shots), 2 UEs and 1 FE
In short, not many options for Volk's
- His serve is returned regularly and often, attackingly
- He can't return Boris' big first serve. Eventually, he falters against regulation 2nd serves too (he has 5 return UEs, to 8 FEs)
- From the back, he's outlasted to large extent and somewhat outhit too
- Doesn't have much room to come in given the above and doesn't look too good up front when he does
Boris utilizes serve, return and baseline hitting advantage to take net - few good passes from Volk's, but its still hopeless for him with Boris winning 72% net points
Match Progression
First set isn't too one-sided, given that its a breadstick. Boris is taken to deuce 2/4 games and has to save 2 break points to keep from going down 2-1. Boris' strong returning defines the set
Match starts with a bang, with Volk slapping away an unexpected BH inside-in winner before Boris holds the game while making just 1/5 first serves. Couple of great returns from Boris game after - a semi-charging BH inside-out winner and a beautiful, pseudo drop-return that he follows to net - takes score to deuce before Volk comes in to dispatch his sole volley winner and bang down his sole ace to hold
Volk hits consecutive winners to move ahead 15-30 game after, but misses an approach shot point to make it 30-30. He ends up having 2 break points (his only ones for the match), the second one brought up by a forced back Boris whiffing a FH to an awkwardly deep ball. Boris though goes on to hold - and doesn't lose another game in the set
He gains both breaks on back of return-approaches, winning 2 points with them in each game. Serves out the set in deuce game, ending with his first ace of the match. Just 12/29 first serves in for Boris
Next set is worse from Volk, though he wins 1 extra game. His FH falls apart, including on the return and gives up 12 UEs (including 4 returns). Boris gets his breaks - and to large extent, his holds - on back of that
Typically, Boris ends with a bang as he serves out to 15. Makes 4/5 first serves (his higest in count for a game in the match and only 1/2 where its more than 50%), hits 2 aces (as many as rest of match combined), hits his only genuine volley winner serve-volleying (he has 2 other groundstroke at net winners in rest of match) and stays back off first serve for only time in the match, but comes in to blast a smash away
Summing up, good showing from Becker against an outmatched Volkov. Powerful returns mixed in with daring return-approaches and handling difficult returns from in front of his body stand out for quality. He's also hard hitting and secure off both wings from the back, and though making very few first serves, makes each one count
Few memorable BHs from Volkov - a beautiful lob, an inside-in, an inside-out based strike - but his FH falls apart and he's simply, outclassed
Stats for Becker's semi with John McEnroe - Tri Match Stats/Reports - Becker vs McEnroe, Paris Indoor, Milan & Year End Championship semi-finals, 1989 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
It was Becker’s second title at the event and he’d go on to win a record equalling 4 in due time. Volkov was ranked 61 in the world
Becker won 58 points, Volkov 34
Becker serve-volleyed off all but 1 first serve
Serve Stats
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (20/51) 39%
- 1st serve points won (18/20) 90%
- 2nd serve points won (17/31) 55%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/51) 33%
Volkov...
- 1st serve percentage (23/41) 56%
- 1st serve points won (10/23) 43%
- 2nd serve points won (8/18) 44%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (9/41) 22%
Serve Patterns
Becker served...
- to FH 50%
- to BH 42%
- to Body 8%
Volkov served...
- to FH 26%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 15%
Return Stats
Becker made...
- 30 (6 FH, 24 BH), including 6 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 1 return-approach attempt
- 5 Forced (4 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (30/39) 77%
Volkov made...
- 31 (18 FH, 13 BH)
- 3 Winners (2 FH, 1 BH)
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (5 FH)
- 8 Forced (1 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (31/48) 65%
Break Points
Becker 4/5 (4 games)
Volkov 0/2 (1 game)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Becker 11 (2 FH, 3 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH)
Volkov 11 (5 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
Becker had 3 from serve-volley points
- 2 first 'volleys' (1 FH at net, 1 BH at net)
- 1 second volley (1 FHV)
- 3 from return-approach points (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- FH pass - 1 dtl
- BHs - 1 cc pass and 1 inside-out return
Volkov's FHs - 1 cc return pass, 1 cc/longline (a Becker whiff), 1 dtl, 1 inside-out return and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net
- BHs - 1 dtl return pass, 1 inside-out/dtl, 1 inside-in and 1 lob
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Becker 11
- 6 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 5 Forced (1 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50
Volkov 28
- 17 Unforced (12 FH, 3 BH, 2 BHV)... with 1 BH pass attempt
- 11 Forced (4 FH, 5 BH, 2 FHV)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net & 1 non-net FHV pass attempt from close to baseline
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.9
(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...
- 26/36 (72%) at net, including...
- 15/21 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 13/15 (87%) off 1st serve and..
- 2/6 (33%) off 2nd serve
---
- 5/6 (83%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back
Volkov was...
- 5/12 (42%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Match Report
Mismatch on a quick-ish court, in line with what you might expect from a 1 & 2 scoreline. Becker's powerful returning is chief standout against an average serve and he dominates baseline exchanges with Volkov's FH weakly inconsistent. A few unusual and impressive BH shots from Volkov, but they're just little treats amidst being thoroughly outplayed
Boris serve-volleys off virtually all 1st serves (the sole exception draws such a weak return that he's forced to net for third ball anyway), but with just 39% 1st serves in, that leaves most action to be baseline rallies. He dominates the small number of 1st serve points, winning 90% of them, mostly with unreturned serves (33% is high, given such a low in count). Volkov has his moments return-passing - he's got 2 winners and wins 4/6 of Boris' 2nd serve-volley points (and they're hefty 2nd serves), but Boris' 1st delivery is just too much for him to handle
Despite the low in count, Boris doesn't go all in with the first serve. 2/4 aces come in last game, sans which, he's got just 2 aces from 16 first serves
With Volkov serve-volleying just once and Boris with such a low in count, that leaves plenty of baseline-baseline starting point that mostly end with UEs or someone approaching net
Baseline UEs read Boris 3, Volkov 14 (12 of them FHs)
Net points from rallying read Boris 6/9, Volkov 5/11
Throw in Boris returning at 77% and winning 5/6 return-approach points, that's a disaster for Volkov. He holds thrice while being broken 4 times
Volkov's serve is average. At most decent, but not weak. And its a quick-ish court. Serve like that can potentially be troublesome in such conditions. Not only is Boris not troubled, he goes on the attack returning
Some big powerful swings from Boris on the return, but more than that, what stands out is a general strenght of his; the ability to powerfully muscle body serves. Volkov serves significant 15% to body (both 1st and 2nd serves) and Boris hits some meaty returns despite being jammed for room
Boris' 6 return-approaches are off all kinds (except chip-charges that is). Power returns. Blocked back returns to body serves. Delayed approaches behind not-strong returns. And 1 particularly good pseudo drop-return. He wins 5/6 coming in behind the return
Volkov is a lefty with a wristy, flexible 2-handed BH. The FH by contrast is usually a scoopy, top spun shot and a little awkward looking. He clearly prefers his BH
Volk starts the match with a very, very rare BH inside-in winner. Players that play - let alone hit winners - with that shot typically have vulnerable FHs, and so it proves
Volk's FH has match high 12 UEs to go with 5 on the return. Putting that in perspective
- both players have 11 winners
- Boris has 11 total errors (6 UEs, 5 FEs)
- Volk has 5 non-FH UEs
- Volk has 11 FEs
Rallies are orthodox cc affairs, so Volk's FH is up against Boris' BH, which has 2 UEs
There's some good tennis on flip side between Boris FH and Volk's BH. Boris is more powerful and able to create approaches (he rallies to net 9 times) from them. Consistency is a near wash and high end - Boris with 1 UE, Volk 2 (excluding a mid-court pass attempt where he's likely surprised by Boris making a 'suicidal' approach)
Not much desire to be at net shown by Volk's and not much scope to come in either. His FH sprays ball. His BH is outhit. He doesn't look like much of a volleyer either - at net, he's got 2 winners (both easy shots), 2 UEs and 1 FE
In short, not many options for Volk's
- His serve is returned regularly and often, attackingly
- He can't return Boris' big first serve. Eventually, he falters against regulation 2nd serves too (he has 5 return UEs, to 8 FEs)
- From the back, he's outlasted to large extent and somewhat outhit too
- Doesn't have much room to come in given the above and doesn't look too good up front when he does
Boris utilizes serve, return and baseline hitting advantage to take net - few good passes from Volk's, but its still hopeless for him with Boris winning 72% net points
Match Progression
First set isn't too one-sided, given that its a breadstick. Boris is taken to deuce 2/4 games and has to save 2 break points to keep from going down 2-1. Boris' strong returning defines the set
Match starts with a bang, with Volk slapping away an unexpected BH inside-in winner before Boris holds the game while making just 1/5 first serves. Couple of great returns from Boris game after - a semi-charging BH inside-out winner and a beautiful, pseudo drop-return that he follows to net - takes score to deuce before Volk comes in to dispatch his sole volley winner and bang down his sole ace to hold
Volk hits consecutive winners to move ahead 15-30 game after, but misses an approach shot point to make it 30-30. He ends up having 2 break points (his only ones for the match), the second one brought up by a forced back Boris whiffing a FH to an awkwardly deep ball. Boris though goes on to hold - and doesn't lose another game in the set
He gains both breaks on back of return-approaches, winning 2 points with them in each game. Serves out the set in deuce game, ending with his first ace of the match. Just 12/29 first serves in for Boris
Next set is worse from Volk, though he wins 1 extra game. His FH falls apart, including on the return and gives up 12 UEs (including 4 returns). Boris gets his breaks - and to large extent, his holds - on back of that
Typically, Boris ends with a bang as he serves out to 15. Makes 4/5 first serves (his higest in count for a game in the match and only 1/2 where its more than 50%), hits 2 aces (as many as rest of match combined), hits his only genuine volley winner serve-volleying (he has 2 other groundstroke at net winners in rest of match) and stays back off first serve for only time in the match, but comes in to blast a smash away
Summing up, good showing from Becker against an outmatched Volkov. Powerful returns mixed in with daring return-approaches and handling difficult returns from in front of his body stand out for quality. He's also hard hitting and secure off both wings from the back, and though making very few first serves, makes each one count
Few memorable BHs from Volkov - a beautiful lob, an inside-in, an inside-out based strike - but his FH falls apart and he's simply, outclassed
Stats for Becker's semi with John McEnroe - Tri Match Stats/Reports - Becker vs McEnroe, Paris Indoor, Milan & Year End Championship semi-finals, 1989 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
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