Match Stats/Report - Bruguera vs Becker, Monte Carlo final, 1991

[Waspsting]

Sergi Bruguera beat Boris Becker 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in the Monte Carlo final 1991 on clay

It was the first of 2 titles Bruguera would win at the event and the 2nd of 3 finals Becker would play there (previously lost in '89 to Alberto Mancini and would go onto lose in '95 to Thomas Muster)

Bruguera won 168 points, Becker 166

Serve Stats
Bruguera...
- 1st serve percentage (113/179) 63%
- 1st serve points won (71/113) 63%
- 2nd serve points won (34/66) 52%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/179) 13%

Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (98/155) 63%
- 1st serve points won (68/98) 69%
- 2nd serve points won (24/57) 42%
- Aces 3
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/155) 16%

Serve Patterns
Bruguera served...
- to FH 26%
- to BH 72%
- to Body 2%

Becker served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 57%
- to Body 11%

Return Stats
Bruguera made...
- 128 (56 FH, 72 BH), including 16 runaround FHs & 3 return-approaches
- 22 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (4 FH, 4 BH), including 1 return-approach attempt
- 14 Forced (6 FH, 8 BH)
- Return Rate (128/153) 84%

Becker made...
- 153 (56 FH, 97 BH), including 17 runaround FHs, 3 return-approaches & *3 drop-returns
- 4 Winners (2 FH, 2 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 19 Errors, comprising...
- 18 Unforced (9 FH, 9 BH), including 4 runaround FHs
- 1 Forced (1 FH)
- Return Rate (153/176) 87%

(*Note: Becker played a large number of short, BH cc sliced returns that can readily be called drop returns. I've marked 3 as drop returns - those that were particularly clearly so. There were roughly a dozen similar shots that have not been so marked)

Break Points
Bruguera 7/15 (7 games)
Becker 7/24 (10 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Bruguera 46 (18 FH, 14 BH, 7 FHV, 2 BHV, 5 OH)
Becker 54 (21 FH, 11 BH, 8 FHV, 10 BHV, 3 OH, 1 Tweener)

Bruguera had 16 passes (9 FH, 7 BH)
- FH passes - 3 cc (1 at net), 4 dtl, 1 lob and 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl/inside-out at net
- BH passes - 1 cc, 3 dtl, 1 inside-out at net (that can reasonably be called a running-down-drop-shot at net), 1 lob and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc (non-net)

- regular FHs - 4 cc, 2 inside-out (1 at net), 1 inside-in, 1 drop shot and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc/drop shot at net
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 3 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 drop shot, 1 running-down-drop-shot cc at net

- 1 from a serve-volley point, a 2nd volley FHV
- 1 from a return-approach point, a FHV

- 1 OH was on the bounce from no-man's land and not a net shot and 1 other OH can reasonably be called a FHV

Becker's regular FHs - 4 cc (2 returns - 1 a runaround), 2 dtl, 6 inside-out, 2 inside-in (1 runaround return) and 1 longline
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl, 2 inside-out returns and 2 drop shots

- FH passes - 4 cc and 2 dtl (1 net chord flicker)
- BH passes - 1 cc, 1 dtl (a slice), 1 inside-out and 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net

- 5 from serve-volley points - 4 first volleys, 1 second volley - all BHVs

- 2 OHs were on the bounce

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Bruguera 84
- 46 Unforced (18 FH, 26 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 38 Forced (10 FH, 22 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)… with 1 BH at net (a pass attempt), 2 BH running-down-drop-shot at net (1 a net touch) & 1 non-net FHV pass attempt
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.8

Becker 97
- 70 Unforced (35 FH, 30 BH, 5 FHV)... with 3 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 27 Forced (7 FH, 11 BH, 2 FHV, 3 FH1/2V, 2 BHV, 1 Tweener, 1 Back-to-Net)… with 2 FH running-down-drop-shot at net & 1 FHV was a lob attempt (but a net shot)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.1

(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
Bruguera was...
- 39/68 (57%) at net, including...
- 2/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
---
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
- 2/7 (29%) forced back/retreated

Becker was...
- 52/92 (57%) at net, including...
- 13/17 (76%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 1/3 (33%) return-approaching
- 1/6 (17%) forced back

Match Report
Great match - magnificent for first two sets, with staple solid baseline play spiced up by drop shots and short slice/baiting-to-net play by both players, particularly Becker - and very good thereafter, with still significant chunks of net play & drop shotting involved though toned down. And its very close. Becker wins the first set and is up a break for varying lengths of time in each of the next 3 sets but Bruguera pips him at the post all 3 times

Its a touch misleading to say 'spiced up'. Drop shotting and short slice/baiting to net is almost as much part of action is staple, solid baseline play for first two sets

Court is standard slow but low of bounce, with slices staying under knee height and other groundstrokes, around hip or so. Only when ball is looped up does it get to about lower ribs and rarely as high as chest. Still neither player can hit through court with regularity or without straining for power. Its Becker who does so at times. Its also Becker that slices a lot. Some of the best slicing you'll see - kniefed shots, one after the other, clinging to the ground, under knee and occasionally around ankle height. No trouble coping with it though by Brug, who just bops the ball back orthodoxly with his BH. Against sharp slices like this, that's not a given or easy, but Brug makes it look routine

The match is very close -

Points won - Brug 168, Boris 166
Points served - Brug 179, Boris 155 (or Brug 54%)
Break points - Brug 7/15 (7 games), Boris 7/24 (10 games)

So Brug breaking every game he has chances, while prolonging service games when he's down break point and being able to save a few. With each player serving 13 games, number of games that have break points in them reflect a healthy contest between server and returner too

Both players serve at 63% first serves in
Boris leads first serve points won by 6%, Brug second serve points by 10%

Match can't get much closer. You'd be hard pressed to tell who won and who lost from any or even all stats, effectively making the contest a who-plays-big-points-better contest. Not too common on clay, where trends of who has better of action tend to show up

To my eye, Bruguera edges play and has the more stable and less likely to falter way of playing. Particularly in last set, and somewhat in the 3rd, his basic consistency of the ground comes through. In other words, he wins the bulk of the who-blinks-first rallies that are staple of normal, clay court tennis - an expected outcome

Not easily. Rallies are tough and long. They tend to end with errors, and Becker's the one to blink majority of the time, but he's solid too. Brug's just more so

In light of that being predictable, what are Boris' prospects for upsetting the apple cart? And how does he fare at it?

He does not serve-volley. Just 17 times total, or 18% of the time off first serves and never off a second

He doesn't attack unduly baseline to baseline (wisely). Some success when he does - power baseline to baseline winners read Brug 11, Boris 15. Basically even, given small number of Boris' winners are set up by very powerful serves. Brug's also the one to more often go for the dtl winner from tough rallies. Brug has 12 winner attempt UEs (with 3 forecourt errors, which tend to be winner attempts), Becker has 13 (with 8 forecourt errors) and leads UEFI 47.8 to 46.1

So not much between the two in terms of power baseline aggression

But there is something between the two in baseline consistency. Groundstroke UEs read Brug 44, Boris 65. Limited to neutral UEs (an indicator of basic consistency), that gap is Brug 22, Boris 40. This gap goes up in last set in particular, when is at his most orthodox

He does come to net significantly from rallies in the normal ways (i.e. coming in off short balls or manufacturing an approach from neutral ball), but so does Brug
Rallying to net, Boris is 38/72 or 53% won. Brug is 35/63 or 56%. Those numbers aren't great indicators of rallying to net in 'a normal way'

A very large portion of of those approaches are forced or 'encouraged' by drop shots or short slices and a good number are behind drop shots. For both players. Boris indulges more with drop shots than Brug does, but both do. Boris employs short slices, drawing Brug forward very regularly, especially in first two sets, also in a way Brug doesn't

The short slices and drop shots is what makes the match, leading to all manners of exciting action - running-down-drop-shot shots and net-to-net contests and lob volleys and lobs at net or very near it and forced back points and so on. The most similar action I can think of is the '77 Wimbledon semi between Bjorn Borg and Vitas Gerulaitis, and there are few compliments higher than that. Its Boris who indulges more, as he has to, given he's liable to be outlasted from the back and isn't able to do damage from there to compensate (or get cheap points out of the serve)

Great touch and control by Boris on the BH, with his kniefing slices and short angled shots and bona fida drop shots. Even on the return. He's got 3 drop-returns and about a dozen more that could reasonably be called drop-returns. Very short angled cc BH slices that effectively act as drop shots. They draw Brug in, but virtually never leaves him an easy putaway at net. And Boris rarely misses playing theses shots, that could so easily go wrong... excellent from Boris

 

[Waspsting]

So a very interesting approach to play from Boris, who is the one that would need to do something different or particularly attacking, given strong likelihood (as it turns out, fulfilled) of Brug outlasting him from the back. He -

- Doesn't serve big regularly - it doesn't do him much good when he does
- Doesn't serve-volley much - he's very successful when he does, winning 76% of points, but only doing so 18% of the time off first serves (and never off 2nds)
- Doesn't attack much with power from the back - and isn't particularly succesful when he does
- Instead, throws in a huge lot of drop shots and short slices, that require immaculate control and mixes that in with normal approaching from the back. He also mixes up his shots from the back, especially the BH to a remarkable degree - now hammering BHs, now slicing them, now drive-slicing, now short slicing, dtl, cc... the works. And remains pretty consistent doing all that

To be clear, Brug isn't a silent, reactive partner in playing dynamics either. He
- hits hard and firmly off both sides - his forte. And handles Boris' first class, ground clinging slices so easily as to make it a non-factor
- is about as aggressive as Boris in power-baseline play, regularly going for the the winner, often making it
- also indulges with drop shots, that he sometimes follows to net
- manufactures approaches orthodoxly to attack near same amount as Boris. And actually, is the better volleyer. Also the better passer

Brug has 46 winners, forces 27 errors and makes 46 UEs to finish +27 points ended forcefully (and is dead even on winners/UE differential, which is rare for clay in this period)
Boris has 54 winners, forces 38 errors and makes 70 UEs to finish +22 points ended forcefully (and is -16 winners/UE differential)

Great figures from both, representing great showings. Particularly in light of baseline rallies being long and tough (match is over 4 hours, despite very large, combined 160 net points), so the UEs aren't sloppy, they have to be earned through grit and persistence against tough opposition

Serve & Return
Both players mix up their serves, particularly Boris

Brug's serve is at most average and more often, downright soft. Good lot of his first serves would qualify as weak 2nd serves. He might even have at least 1 foot on the ground when serving. At times, particularly in last set, you could be excused for thinking he must be injured to see him roll serves in

17/19 of Boris' return errors have been marked unforced. 1 of the 2 forceds are the last point of the match, a body serve that seems to be Brug going strong as he can - and its generous to call that a 'forced error'. Its greater pace from the slow norm surprises Becker a bit, but generally, would still qualify as a routine error

Boris isn't overly adventurous on the return, but picks and chooses when to attack. A good balance, for 87% return rate and given that he holds up well enough from the back. And its these choices that result in him having considerably more chances to break, so justified. His attacking returns are balls taken early and smacked hard. He's particularly powerful on the runaround FH when he chooses. 4 return winners from Boris

Otherwise, he advances his game plan by drop-returning. On top of the 3 drop-returns, there are about dozen that can reasonably be so labelled. Short, angled, slice returns that Brug has to take from around service line with the ball staying low.

Just the 3 return-approaches. He doesn't have a particularly good time of it at net in the match (more on that later), so not a bad idea to keep the chip-charging down to minimum. His other attacking options work well enough

63% first serves in is high for Boris. He rarely goes for lines (that is, aces) and has just 3 (Bruguera surprisingly has 1 more - his odd big ones have huge element of surprise going for them). Serves some downright gentle first serves and more often than not, keeps it to just regulation, normal serving. So little as 'hefty' is a slight exaggeration

And he sends down some big, powerful ones not far out of Brug's reach that draw errors fairly often. Worth doing more off, but his in-count would fall. He also misses his more powerful attempts quite often.

Always a hefty serve to serve-volley behind, and he wins 13/17 so doing. Its the only part of net play that he wins a comfortable majority on

Meanwhile, very good, consistent returning from Brug. His return rate is 84% - just 3% shy of Boris' - and he's facing a much stronger serve (it'd be difficult to be weaker). He isn't able to attack with the return, but returns firmly enough. From baseline, Boris would have to be particularly proactive to go on the attack against third ball, which he rarely does. Only when he's drawn a genuinely, weak return that he can hit from well inside the court

3 smart, return-approaches by Brug and he wins 2 (Boris won 1 off the same number of attempts). No hesitation in coming in and they're premeditated

In nutshell, lots of variety in the serving - Brug's fluctuating from average to weak, Boris' from strong to ordinary
Brug impressively consistent in returning. Boris mixing in choice attacking returns in different ways (drop-returning/short slices, blasting the return especially with runaround FHs or return-approaching) while generally returning orthodoxly and consistently too

Play - Baseline & Net
Brug is the more solid baseliner, which is obfuscated for 2 sets by Boris' drop shotting but comes through more in next 2 sets. The FH is particularly solid and has match low 18 UEs.

UE counts per groundstrokes read -
- Brug FH 18
- Brug BH 26
- Boris BH 30
- Boris FH 35

Brug's BH does superbly in handling Boris' kniefed, ankle height slices. Its off the BH that he misses his winner attempts dtl

Boris' FH is the most destructive shot on on show with 21 winners. Its the only shot on on show that can somewhat regularly hit through the slow court and be damaging. Particularly the inside-out, but he doesn't runaround to play many FHs, usually confining himself to when serve has drawn weak return. The attacking errors also come eventually, with Brug resisting being beaten down by powerful shots. By contrast, Brug doesn't seem to have ability to hit through the court off either side

Becker mixes up his BHs all match - firmly hit shots (harder than Brug's, but neither players' is unduly troubling to the other), superb slices, short-angled pseudo-drop shots, genuine drops shots, drive slices. Pretty good job keeping the errors down to 30 playing so many types of shots. And the errors don't come easy... a product of Brug being better, not Boris being bad

Couple of short spells of Boris losing his temper and getting loose off the ground for a bit

A small weakness in Boris is his defensive retrieving. Its not terrible, but he's apt to give up the error on the run against moderately hard hit balls. The type of ball good clay courters are in habit of putting back in play, as Brug does and he's faced with more such than Boris is

Rarely are there lots of pure baseline points in a row. One or the other is apt to come to net or draw the other one there. Both players do both - Boris more, particularly the drop shotting Brug in

Brug has at least 7 drop shot related winners (drop shots or running-down-drop-shots), 1 UE and 2 FEs. Boris has at least 3 winners, 3 UEs and FEs. Note also the large lot of forced back/retreated net points (13 between the two players). Both players also approach behind their drop shots, leading to all kinds of exciting points net-to-net

Finally, there's the orthodox approaching net. Rallying to net (i.e. excluding serve-volley and return-approaching), Boris is 38/72 or 53% won. Brug is 35/63 or 56%.

A huge chunk of those are drop shot related or forced approaches. I'd estimate (without great confidence) near 50% for both players. Somewhat surprisingly, Brug is the better volleyer, as well as passer, with both volleying well and Brug passing particularly well

Its not just miserly 1 UE on the volley that's at center of Brug's volleying. He also puts away volleys almost flawlessly. Better than Boris does, and Boris does well enough, just struggling as is normal to get the ball through the clay. And Boris has 4 UEs

Brug's quicker to reach ball on the pass and able to get more off to to test Boris. He regularly gets ball in wide or low from on the move in a way Boris isn't able to. Boris isn't as quick to reach the ball and tends to just blast it best he can, which doesn't trouble Brug on the volley. 'Volley' FEs read Brug 5, Boris 7

So a great battle between passer and volleyer as well

 

[Waspsting]

Match Progression
From the get-go, Becker utilizes drop shots and drop'ish returns to draw Bruguera to net. A smorgasbord of spectacular points that follow. Between all that are orthodox, hard hitting rallies from the back, with Becker mixing in great, ground clinging slices amidst them

Brug scores the first break in a 14 point game to go up 3-1, but Becker reels of the next 3 games. Both breaks he gets feature particularly poor FH errors from Brug near end of the games

The 2 trade breaks again near end of set, Becker finishing by drop shotting Brug in and passing him BH inside-out before serving out the set

Second set carries on in same vein, if anything, intensifying in the spectacular. Brug struggles through his first 2 service games before getting broken to 15, only to break right back. Brug's under the gun next service game too, saving 2 break points. In a match overflowing with stunning plays, Becker pulls off the most memorable, a tweener winner on a point Brug comes to net, is forced back, Becker is forced in and then back and Becker hits the last shot as Brug is in the act of retreating

The set ends on a break, a long, 16 point game, where Boris succumbs after saving first 5 break points. Boris serves 37 points in the set to Brug's 44

Play drops a bit of creativity starting in the third set, with fewer drop shots and net-to-net battles. Both players still approach net regularly, Boris behind overpowering shots. Odd loose errors from Boris from the back and the contest between his volley and Brug's passing is high end, with Brug making some spectacular winners

Boris breaks to go up 2-1 in a 14 point game, in a game with 9 winners (and 2 double faults, including on break point). He holds comfortably and is 2 games away from the set when he coughs up a stinker of a game to be broken to love. For first time, Boris starts losing his cool but plays well enough.

Brug is in control of the tiebreak and leads 4-1 and then 6-3. Boris though levels at 6-6 with a powerful runaround FH return to the baseline. It takes 2 good passing shots for Brug to take the point after and bring up his 4th set point, on which Boris misses a slightly wide slice attempt to give up the set

The fourth set is most mundane of action, with little drop shotting and not even much approaching. Boris sticks to hitting hard from the back, Brug counter-punches firmly. Not many slices from Boris. Both players are likely tiring and both - particularly Boris - decline to chase the odd ball. Brug's serving is downright feeble, and Boris attempts to blast some runaround FH returns against second serves. He could probably have done the same to firsts, but doesn't try

Brug breaks to open, before Boris, like in the first, reels off 3 games. He serves for the set at 5-3, but missed attacking shots gets him broken. Set heads into another tiebreak

Boris wins opening 2 points at net and misses a a very aggressive return the point after. Brug claws back in, with 2 spectacular FH winners (cc pass and inside-in). A slightly rattled Boris thrashes 2 strong FHs just long to bring up match point for Brug, who sends down one of his better serves to finish things off

Summing up, outstanding and entertaining match with a bit of everything. Baseline play is hard hitting from both ends, with Becker throwing in top notch, ground clinging slices that Bruguera handles without trouble. Becker in particular, mixes up his shots, especially BHs. Both players - particularly Becker - use drop shots to bring the other to net. Becker also uses short angled slices to achieve the same end. There are countless thrilling points that spring from such plays. Both players come to net to attack - both volleying very well (Bruguera more) and passing strongly (Becker via power, Bruguera more with placement and precision, including on the lob)

Some strong serving from Becker and Bruguera handles it on the return. Some weak serving from Bruguera, and Becker attacks it selectively and in measured fashion. Small amount of Becker losing his cool and going off the boil just a bit

Little in the outcome. The winner of all 4 sets is down a break for significant portions of the sets in question. The loser Becker has more more chances to break and threatens on returns more often than the winner Bruguera is able to

Final result is most fitting. Bruguera is the more solid player from the back, more even-keeled in maintaining his standard, adventurous enough in attacking both from back and front and with drop shots and even volleys better than his opponent, while passing artfully and very well. Becker throws Bruguera's baseline consistency advantage for a complete loop with a fusillade of drop shot related plays and is more able to power through the slow court but at considerable cost of unforced errors and defensively, he's not too difficult to break down

@Drob

Stats for Becker's semi with Goran Prpic - (3) Match Stats/Report - Becker vs Prpic, Monte Carlo semi-final, 1991 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
Stats for first round match between Jordi Arrese and Bjorn Borg - (3) Match Stats/Report - Arrese vs Borg, Monte Carlo first round, 1991 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)

 

[BringBackWood]

This is the best match nobody has heard about. I disagree about the last couple of sets being weaker. They were played differently sure but the shotmaking continued. In the 4th set Boris goes on a magnificient stretch of sustained hitting both accurate and powerful. In each of the sets Boris lost he just let up slightly towards the end and Sergi was very clutch in making him pay. I was very impressed with his BH. I started off thinking he was the archetypal Spaniard with great FH and functional BH. Not a bit of it. It was deceptively very effective, and his DTL shots caught Boris out plenty.

 

[NicoMK]

That was indeed a great match to watch. I had it on tape and used to watch it a lot. Wished that Boris'd had it, he played really great. One thing that I remember too from that final is that Boris lost his temper on some occasions and it amused me at the time. Solid play from Bruguera in the end.

Great stats @Waspsting

 

[dryeagle]

BB lost some tough grinding finals at MC, here in 91 and 95 vs a juiced Muster.

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

BB lost some tough grinding finals at MC, here in 91 and 95 vs a juiced Muster.

Muster immediately took a test after the final (on his own volition) and it came out negative.

 

[dryeagle]

Muster immediately took a test after the final (on his own volition) and it came out negative.

Source?

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Source?

Boris Becker, Thomas Muster und das Drama von Monte Carlo

tennisnet.com blickt auf das denkwürdige Endspiel 1995 in Monaco zurück. Es sollte die "schlimmste Niederlage" des Deutschen werden.

www.tennisnet.com

Is in German though.

 

[NicoMK]

Muster immediately took a test after the final (on his own volition) and it came out negative.

I remember well the buzz that it created just after the final. Of course a test would come negative, especially if done on Muster's own will. Plus, we're talking about ATP top players so… I'm not saying he was clean or not clean, I have no idea. Fact is, Muster was victim of a sunstroke during his semifinal against Gaudenzi and he was barely able to conclude the match. Whatever he took to recover and being able to play a five-setter the following day, he knew he risked nothing in terms of antidoping control. Becker was surprised that he was 100% fit the day of the final and commented about it. Muster took the test. It was negative. End of story.

 

[King_olaf_the_hairy]

In a match overflowing with stunning plays, Becker pulls off the most memorable, a tweener winner on a point Brug comes to net, is forced back, Becker is forced in and then back and Becker hits the last shot as Brug is in the act of retreating.

Going to give this thread a belated bump. During this year's tournament, the Monte Carlo Masters YT channel uploaded a video entitled "ATP Tennis Stars Decide The Best-Ever Play In Monte Carlo!"

Among all the modern rallies shortlisted was the one @Waspsting described. None of the pros were familiar with it, and it was great to see them be so enthusiastic; in fact it was the most popular of all the rallies they watched. (I wish modern fans could be as open-minded about "old fashioned" [sic] tennis as the players themselves were.)

I ended up posting the match highlights on my Old School Tennis subreddit, since that exchange was only the best of many great rallies. The thing that really struck me about the final was how comfortable Becker was on clay. His reputation nowadays — among fans too young to have watched him, at least — is that he was a fast-court specialist and a bit second-rate on the red dirt. But his movement and footwork, his use of the whole court, and his point construction (especially that vicious low slice) were all really satisfying.

Terrific match.

 

[Waspsting]

This is the best match nobody has heard about.

Check out Edberg vs Noah, '86 Masters round robin if you get the chance

As good a match as I've seen, and a lot more obscure than this one

 

[BringBackWood]

I've seen it, and won't forget the lob tweener.

 

[NicoMK]

I ended up posting the match highlights on my Old School Tennis subreddit, since that exchange was only the best of many great rallies. The thing that really struck me about the final was how comfortable Becker was on clay. His reputation nowadays — among fans too young to have watched him, at least — is that he was a fast-court specialist and a bit second-rate on the red dirt. But his movement and footwork, his use of the whole court, and his point construction (especially that vicious low slice) was really satisfying.

Terrific match.

Yes, such a great match! I wanted Boris to win but Sergi played too good.

I wish I could rewatch it entirely and in great quality, even if I still have the VHS in a box (but no player).

There were quite a few matches that I loved to watch over and over again way before the internet (blissed period). Mostly were Wilander's matches but this one, I loved it.

That same year at MC, Borg also attempted a come-back. Lost 2 and 3 against Jordi Arrese in the first round. Well, famous story anyway.

 

[Waspsting]

I've seen it, and won't forget the lob tweener.

You might. Or I have if we're thinking of different points

It wasn't a lob, but rather special, with Noah angling his run back to hit the tweener cc at angle. I can't think of any other tweener where guy does that. Usually, just hit it where and how you can and hope for the best

 

[BringBackWood]

You might. Or I have if we're thinking of different points

It wasn't a lob, but rather special, with Noah angling his run back to hit the tweener cc at angle. I can't think of any other tweener where guy does that. Usually, just hit it where and how you can and hope for the best

oh dear haha, I may have to rewatch it. I do remember it being a very special example of the tweener.

 

[7thKingSlam]

Going to give this thread a belated bump. During this year's tournament, the Monte Carlo Masters YT channel uploaded a video entitled "ATP Tennis Stars Decide The Best-Ever Play In Monte Carlo!"

Among all the modern rallies shortlisted was the one @Waspsting described. None of the pros were familiar with it, and it was great to see them be so enthusiastic; in fact it was the most popular of all the rallies they watched. (I wish modern fans could be as open-minded about "old fashioned" [sic] tennis as the players themselves were.)

I ended up posting the match highlights on my Old School Tennis subreddit, since that exchange was only the best of many great rallies. The thing that really struck me about the final was how comfortable Becker was on clay. His reputation nowadays — among fans too young to have watched him, at least — is that he was a fast-court specialist and a bit second-rate on the red dirt. But his movement and footwork, his use of the whole court, and his point construction (especially that vicious low slice) were all really satisfying.

Terrific match.

Becker was pulling full-sprint tweener passing shots in 1991, my god

I still maintain that US Open 2009 tweener by Fed is overrated. Good shot but we see tweeners every week nowadays, and the truly special ones are the crazy full sprint desperation attempts. Plus he was far from the first to do a tweener despite what fans may have you believe.

 

[objection_]

Becker was pulling full-sprint tweener passing shots in 1991, my god

I still maintain that US Open 2009 tweener by Fed is overrated. Good shot but we see tweeners every week nowadays, and the truly special ones are the crazy full sprint desperation attempts. Plus he was far from the first to do a tweener despite what fans may have you believe.

Fed's tweener was pretty hard but we've seen tougher ones pulled off for sure - That being said, part of the allure comes from the significance of the shot. Probably one of the most important matches where it was pulled off, semis of a slam against Nole, setting up match points in a pretty tight encounter. Most technically "better" tweeners came in less important points and matches.

 

[7thKingSlam]

Fed's tweener was pretty hard but we've seen tougher ones pulled off for sure - That being said, part of the allure comes from the significance of the shot. Probably one of the most important matches where it was pulled off, semis of a slam against Nole, setting up match points in a pretty tight encounter. Most technically "better" tweeners came in less important points and matches.

I'll say the main thing with Fed's tweener is how hard he hit it. It went faster than most crosscourt forehands, almost unnecessarily so since Djokovic probably wasn't gonna get a play on it anyways. So yeah, it's a fantastic shot. At the same time, it wasn't exactly a super tight encounter in that he was up 2 sets and the tweener was the difference between 15-30 (Djokovic serving) vs 0-40. The score of the first 2 sets is irrelevant at that point. Would it be less significant if Fed was up 6-2 6-3 6-5 30-0?

I just don't think it should be considered a contender for greatest shot ever. But the big 3 are kinda so immortalized that it's hard to complain when some of their stuff gets overrated.

 

[objection_]

I'll say the main thing with Fed's tweener is how hard he hit it. It went faster than most crosscourt forehands, almost unnecessarily so since Djokovic probably wasn't gonna get a play on it anyways. So yeah, it's a fantastic shot. At the same time, it wasn't exactly a super tight encounter in that he was up 2 sets and the tweener was the difference between 15-30 (Djokovic serving) vs 0-40. The score of the first 2 sets is irrelevant at that point. Would it be less significant if Fed was up 6-2 6-3 6-5 30-0?

I just don't think it should be considered a contender for greatest shot ever. But the big 3 are kinda so immortalized that it's hard to complain when some of their stuff gets overrated.

Agreed, the tweener was pretty flat and shot through like a bullet. Fed has other shots that could be contenders for greatest ever, the smash off a smash against roddick in basel and the agassi dubai reverse lob stick out. IIRC he also hit a harder, more accurate reverse tweener in Dubai 2007.

 

[Mainad]

Seems Monte Carlo was the clay event Becker came closest to winning.

 

[Waspsting]

regarding tweener winners - I agree that its mostly position in match of the play that's spiced up its reputation

Still, no such thing as an easy tweener and that's as well hit as any I've seen
I like the back-to-net flick lob winner against Agassi more

Nadal hit a lob tweener winner against Djoko in either Madrid or Rome 2011 that was pretty cool too

 

[objection_]

regarding tweener winners - I agree that its mostly position in match of the play that's spiced up its reputation

Still, no such thing as an easy tweener and that's as well hit as any I've seen
I like the back-to-net flick lob winner against Agassi more

Nadal hit a lob tweener winner against Djoko in either Madrid or Rome 2011 that was pretty cool too

Madrid 11
Shot of the year this year involved a great lob tweener - shame it's cropped for shorts: