Jimmy Connors beat John McEnroe 6-3, 6-3 in the Toulouse Indoor final, 1989 on carpet
It was the second last meeting between the two players. Connors was ranked 14th at the time, McEnroe 4th
Connors won 70 points, McEnroe 54
McEnroe serve-volleyed all but 2 times off first serve and occasionally off second
Serve Stats
Connors...
- 1st serve percentage (49/66) 74%
- 1st serve points won (31/49) 63%
- 2nd serve points won (11/17) 65%
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (6/66) 9%
McEnroe...
- 1st serve percentage (35/58) 60%
- 1st serve points won (22/35) 63%
- 2nd serve points won (8/23) 35%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (12/58) 21%
Serve Patterns
Connors served...
- to FH 30%
- to BH 69%
- to Body 2%
McEnroe served...
- to FH 53%
- to BH 40%
- to Body 7%
Return Stats
Connors made...
- 45 (21 FH, 24 BH)
- 6 Winners (3 FH, 3 BH)
- 8 Errors, all forced...
- 8 Forced (6 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (45/57) 79%
McEnroe made...
- 59 (18 FH, 40 BH, 1 ??), including 1 runaround FH & 13 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 6 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH), including 2 return-approaches
- 3 Forced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (59/65) 91%
Break Points
Connors 4/9 (5 games)
McEnroe 1/8 (5 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Connors 33 (9 FH, 15 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV, 3 OH)
McEnroe 17 (5 FH, 2 BH, 7 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Connors had 14 passes (5 FH, 9 BH)
- FHs - 1 cc, 3 dtl (2 returns) and 1 inside-in return
- BHs - 2 cc, 5 dtl (3 returns) and 2 lobs
- regular FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl and 1 cc running-down-drop-volley at net hit at a very fine angle
- regular BHs - 2 cc, 3 dtl (1 at net) and 1 inside-out
- 2 BHVs were first volleys off serve-volley points
McEnroe had 7 first volleys off serve-volley points (6 FHV, 1 BHV)
- FHs - 1 cc pass, 3 dtl and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 1 cc pass and 1 net chord dribbler return
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Connors 24
- 12 Unforced (4 FH, 7 BH, 1 BHV)
- 12 Forced (5 FH, 7 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.8
McEnroe 30
- 10 Unforced (4 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 20 Forced (5 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48
(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
Connors was...
- 20/24 (83%) at net, including...
- 4/4 (100%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 2/2 off 1st serve and..
- 2/2 off 2nd serve
McEnroe was...
- 29/58 (50%) at net, including...
- 18/37 (49%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 16/29 (55%) off 1st serve and..
- 2/8 (25%) off 2nd serve
--
- 6/13 (46%) return-approaching
- 0/4 forced back
Match Report
A strange match on what looks like a fast carpet court, the star of the show being Connors returning and passing
If the surface is so fast, why are the unreturned serve percentages so low (Connors 9, Mac 21)?
For one thing, Connors largely rolls the serve in... why, I don't know. He's serving so gently that one thinks it must be a second serve and the video has cut the missed first serve. But no, when he misses first serves, it becomes clear that he actually was serving this gently. Mac isn't slow to pick up on this... 9/13 of his chip-charge returns are against the first serve. Good move by Mac... so many players who like to chip-charge returns don't desist from trying just because they're facing a first serve, even when the first serves are coming down as gently as second serves from other players who they do chip-charge against
Two, McEnroe also rolls in a few first serves, especially in the first set... again, why, I don't know. And same story with thinking there must be a mistake, but no, that's just how he chose to serve
Third, both players return well. A addendum to this is that Connors lays focus on getting the ball back in play. Most of Mac's 6 first volley FHV winners could be called OHs... generally, Connors tends not to return like this, but bangs returns so that they either give the server a challenging volley or are an error. What he does in this match - getting some returns back to give an easy putaway volley, is uncharacteristic and statistically, raises his return rate (and allows Mac to get a few more winners in, at the cost of lower unreturned serve rate)
In all other ways, play resembles fast court tennis. Baseline rallies are short, routine-ish balls tend to draw slightly rushed unforced errors, errors are forced by just slightly hitting harder or placing slightly wider, normal attacking shots tend to go for winners and so on
Routine looking 3 & 3 scoreline is deceptive too. Note break chances - Connors 9, Mac 8... both with chances in 5 separate games. Connors just happens to play these points better
In first set, Connors serves 37 times, Mac 26 (Connors serving the extra game), which is a fair reflection of how matters weren't straightforward. Second set is decided by Connors going on a spectacular 3 and a 1/2 game zoning run
Connors is clutch and appropriately bold all match. When down break point, he takes the net to deal. More impressive still, he does via serve-volley just once - otherwise, outmuscling McEnroe from the back slightly, orchestrating the approach and then winning the point at net. That's the bold part. Recognizing the pattern at play, the ever sharp Mac ventures forward first on consecutive break points... only to be passed BH dtl both times. That's the clutch
Despite Mac's poor 50% net points won, I thought he was very good in the forecourt. Its just that he was facing powerful passing shots all match (sans the putaway first volleys, which he puts away as just about anyone could have). The 8 forecourt FEs would be testament to how well Connors passed, but actually, doesn't cover it because McEnroe put back in play so many volleys that would have been forced error had he not... every volley he makes seems to be to a ball of some combination of extra power/placed wide/down low... yet make them he does. Note also Mac with just 1 volleying UE (there are two, but one wasn't a net point). Good stuff from Mac up front, even better from Connors on the pass. The power passes are supplemented with precise lobs to boot
Final act of the match is of the epic variety. 3-2 up, Mac reaches 15-40 with some fine play - 2 chip-charges that lead to him winning points and a superbly disguised touch FH drop shot winner he makes after being run around all over the place. And then Connors steps it up
He saves the break points by coming to net and goes on to hold. Then breaks to love in one of the best return games you'll see.
First point, whack... return winner that goes through with Mac about half-way to the service line. Second point, whack, forces difficult volley which leads to step-in power pass that Mac can only reflex volley an error to. 3rd point, whack, defensive volley, Connors advancing and low lob BHV'ng the ball to force Mac back, where the younger man can only net a turnaround BH pass attempt. 4th point, Connors orchestrates approach from neutral rally and finishes with a BHV winner
Connors consolidates the break with 2 FH cc would-be-approach shot winners and forcing another volley error of a chip-charge return point
What turns out to be the final game is almost as impressive as the last Connors return game. 30-0 down, Connors whacks 2 FH return pass winners (1 inside-in, 1 dtl), and just to show its not all about whacking, throws in a perfect BH lob winner to bring up match point, which he coverts by forcing an error
Shot of the match is worth mentioning. BH inside-out winners are rare, usually hit just slightly inside-out and even then, tend to surprise the player on the receiving end. The one Connors hits in this match is not slight - he's 1/2 way into the ad court when he makes it. McEnroe is stone as he watches it go through for the winner
Summing up, a high quality match with Jimmy Connors thundering down passes and returns while showing tip top net instinct. McEnroe actually copes fairly well with the barrage he faces at net... but its just a bit too much for him in all
It was the second last meeting between the two players. Connors was ranked 14th at the time, McEnroe 4th
Connors won 70 points, McEnroe 54
McEnroe serve-volleyed all but 2 times off first serve and occasionally off second
Serve Stats
Connors...
- 1st serve percentage (49/66) 74%
- 1st serve points won (31/49) 63%
- 2nd serve points won (11/17) 65%
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (6/66) 9%
McEnroe...
- 1st serve percentage (35/58) 60%
- 1st serve points won (22/35) 63%
- 2nd serve points won (8/23) 35%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (12/58) 21%
Serve Patterns
Connors served...
- to FH 30%
- to BH 69%
- to Body 2%
McEnroe served...
- to FH 53%
- to BH 40%
- to Body 7%
Return Stats
Connors made...
- 45 (21 FH, 24 BH)
- 6 Winners (3 FH, 3 BH)
- 8 Errors, all forced...
- 8 Forced (6 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (45/57) 79%
McEnroe made...
- 59 (18 FH, 40 BH, 1 ??), including 1 runaround FH & 13 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 6 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH), including 2 return-approaches
- 3 Forced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (59/65) 91%
Break Points
Connors 4/9 (5 games)
McEnroe 1/8 (5 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Connors 33 (9 FH, 15 BH, 2 FHV, 4 BHV, 3 OH)
McEnroe 17 (5 FH, 2 BH, 7 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Connors had 14 passes (5 FH, 9 BH)
- FHs - 1 cc, 3 dtl (2 returns) and 1 inside-in return
- BHs - 2 cc, 5 dtl (3 returns) and 2 lobs
- regular FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl and 1 cc running-down-drop-volley at net hit at a very fine angle
- regular BHs - 2 cc, 3 dtl (1 at net) and 1 inside-out
- 2 BHVs were first volleys off serve-volley points
McEnroe had 7 first volleys off serve-volley points (6 FHV, 1 BHV)
- FHs - 1 cc pass, 3 dtl and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 1 cc pass and 1 net chord dribbler return
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Connors 24
- 12 Unforced (4 FH, 7 BH, 1 BHV)
- 12 Forced (5 FH, 7 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.8
McEnroe 30
- 10 Unforced (4 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 20 Forced (5 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48
(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
Connors was...
- 20/24 (83%) at net, including...
- 4/4 (100%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 2/2 off 1st serve and..
- 2/2 off 2nd serve
McEnroe was...
- 29/58 (50%) at net, including...
- 18/37 (49%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 16/29 (55%) off 1st serve and..
- 2/8 (25%) off 2nd serve
--
- 6/13 (46%) return-approaching
- 0/4 forced back
Match Report
A strange match on what looks like a fast carpet court, the star of the show being Connors returning and passing
If the surface is so fast, why are the unreturned serve percentages so low (Connors 9, Mac 21)?
For one thing, Connors largely rolls the serve in... why, I don't know. He's serving so gently that one thinks it must be a second serve and the video has cut the missed first serve. But no, when he misses first serves, it becomes clear that he actually was serving this gently. Mac isn't slow to pick up on this... 9/13 of his chip-charge returns are against the first serve. Good move by Mac... so many players who like to chip-charge returns don't desist from trying just because they're facing a first serve, even when the first serves are coming down as gently as second serves from other players who they do chip-charge against
Two, McEnroe also rolls in a few first serves, especially in the first set... again, why, I don't know. And same story with thinking there must be a mistake, but no, that's just how he chose to serve
Third, both players return well. A addendum to this is that Connors lays focus on getting the ball back in play. Most of Mac's 6 first volley FHV winners could be called OHs... generally, Connors tends not to return like this, but bangs returns so that they either give the server a challenging volley or are an error. What he does in this match - getting some returns back to give an easy putaway volley, is uncharacteristic and statistically, raises his return rate (and allows Mac to get a few more winners in, at the cost of lower unreturned serve rate)
In all other ways, play resembles fast court tennis. Baseline rallies are short, routine-ish balls tend to draw slightly rushed unforced errors, errors are forced by just slightly hitting harder or placing slightly wider, normal attacking shots tend to go for winners and so on
Routine looking 3 & 3 scoreline is deceptive too. Note break chances - Connors 9, Mac 8... both with chances in 5 separate games. Connors just happens to play these points better
In first set, Connors serves 37 times, Mac 26 (Connors serving the extra game), which is a fair reflection of how matters weren't straightforward. Second set is decided by Connors going on a spectacular 3 and a 1/2 game zoning run
Connors is clutch and appropriately bold all match. When down break point, he takes the net to deal. More impressive still, he does via serve-volley just once - otherwise, outmuscling McEnroe from the back slightly, orchestrating the approach and then winning the point at net. That's the bold part. Recognizing the pattern at play, the ever sharp Mac ventures forward first on consecutive break points... only to be passed BH dtl both times. That's the clutch
Despite Mac's poor 50% net points won, I thought he was very good in the forecourt. Its just that he was facing powerful passing shots all match (sans the putaway first volleys, which he puts away as just about anyone could have). The 8 forecourt FEs would be testament to how well Connors passed, but actually, doesn't cover it because McEnroe put back in play so many volleys that would have been forced error had he not... every volley he makes seems to be to a ball of some combination of extra power/placed wide/down low... yet make them he does. Note also Mac with just 1 volleying UE (there are two, but one wasn't a net point). Good stuff from Mac up front, even better from Connors on the pass. The power passes are supplemented with precise lobs to boot
Final act of the match is of the epic variety. 3-2 up, Mac reaches 15-40 with some fine play - 2 chip-charges that lead to him winning points and a superbly disguised touch FH drop shot winner he makes after being run around all over the place. And then Connors steps it up
He saves the break points by coming to net and goes on to hold. Then breaks to love in one of the best return games you'll see.
First point, whack... return winner that goes through with Mac about half-way to the service line. Second point, whack, forces difficult volley which leads to step-in power pass that Mac can only reflex volley an error to. 3rd point, whack, defensive volley, Connors advancing and low lob BHV'ng the ball to force Mac back, where the younger man can only net a turnaround BH pass attempt. 4th point, Connors orchestrates approach from neutral rally and finishes with a BHV winner
Connors consolidates the break with 2 FH cc would-be-approach shot winners and forcing another volley error of a chip-charge return point
What turns out to be the final game is almost as impressive as the last Connors return game. 30-0 down, Connors whacks 2 FH return pass winners (1 inside-in, 1 dtl), and just to show its not all about whacking, throws in a perfect BH lob winner to bring up match point, which he coverts by forcing an error
Shot of the match is worth mentioning. BH inside-out winners are rare, usually hit just slightly inside-out and even then, tend to surprise the player on the receiving end. The one Connors hits in this match is not slight - he's 1/2 way into the ad court when he makes it. McEnroe is stone as he watches it go through for the winner
Summing up, a high quality match with Jimmy Connors thundering down passes and returns while showing tip top net instinct. McEnroe actually copes fairly well with the barrage he faces at net... but its just a bit too much for him in all
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