Match Stats/Report - Connors vs Mecir, Miami semi-final, 1988

[Waspsting]

Jimmy Connors beat Miloslav Mecir 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the Miami semi-final, 1988 on hard court

The second seeded Connors would go onto lose the final to top seed and recently crowned Australian Open champion Mats Wilander. Mecir, the defending champion, was seeded third. The tournament featured a full 128 man draw, seven rounds and all matches best of 5 sets

Connors won 131 points, Mecir 114 (including a point penalty)

Serve Stats
Connors...
- 1st serve percentage (90/120) 75%
- 1st serve points won (56/90) 62%
- 2nd serve points won (11/30) 37%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (26/120) 22%

Mecir...
- 1st serve percentage (79/124) 64%
- 1st serve points won (41/79) 52%
- 2nd serve points won (19/45) 42%
- Aces 3 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/124) 19%

Serve Patterns
Connors served...
- to FH 24%
- to BH 72%
- to Body 4%

Mecir served...
- to FH 51%
- to BH 49%

Return Stats
Connors made...
- 99 (49 FH, 50 BH), including 3 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 20 Errors, comprising...
- 9 Unforced (5 FH, 4 BH)
- 11 Forced (5 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (99/122) 81%

Mecir made...
- 93 (21 FH, 72 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 25 Errors, comprising...
- 18 Unforced (8 FH, 10 BH)
- 7 Forced (7 BH)
- Return Rate (93/119) 78%

Break Points
Connors 10/16 (12 games)
Mecir 8/9 (9 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Connors 17 (4 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 4 BHV, 3 OH)
Mecir 24 (5 FH, 16 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)

Connors' FHs - 1 cc at net, 2 dtl (1 pass), 1 inside-out/longline
- BHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in return

- 1 from a serve-volley point, a second volley OH
- 1 from a return-approach point, a FHV

Mecir's FHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 1 inside-out, 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net, 1 net chord dribbler
- BHs - 7 cc (4 passes), 7 dtl (1 pass), 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in/cc return

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Connors 66
- 47 Unforced (23 FH, 17 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH, 1 Point Penalty)... with 1 FH at net & 1 BH at net
- 19 Forced (9 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.7

Mecir 86
- 59 Unforced (22 FH, 34 BH, 1 FHV, 2 OH)... with 1 BH at net
- 27 Forced (10 FH, 17 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.5

(Note 0: Connors' Point Penalty UE has been excluded from his UEFI score)
(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 are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Connors was...
- 31/51 (61%) at net, including...
- 5/9 (56%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 4/8 (50%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/1 off 2nd serve
---
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back

Mecir was 7/13 (54%) at net, with...
- 0/1 forced back

Match Report
Connors is tougher and more powerful off the baseline and willing to take net to finish. Mecir is unsuccessful with over-done down-the-line aggression, especially off the BH, and ultimately loses stomach (or perhaps stamina) for rallying tough. Court is on slow side of normal

Mecir’s BH is front and center of action. It has by far match high 16 winners (Jimbos has 17 total winners, and Mecir’s non-BH winners amount to 8) and also, match high 34 UEs (with other 3 groundies having 22, 23 and 17 respectively)

Other telling stats is net points - Connors makes 51 approaches (winning 61%), Mecir just 13 (wins 54%)

It’s a baseline match with two trading dual winged groundies. Connors is orthodox; keep ball in play firmly, look to extract short ball, take net off short ball and only rarely go for point ending shots from the back. He keeps it dual winged; no moving over to take BHs in lieu of FHs as he sometimes does

Mecir is just as dual winged (contrary to what stats might suggest), not as powerful of shot and sooner or later, goes dtl. Off both wings and not necessarily attackingly, let alone for a winner. Minority of Mecir’s dtl shots are downright neutral (as in, as likely to draw error as most basic cc shot). Majority of the time, attacking shots that Connors has to be quick to cover with fair chances of drawing error (which will be marked an FE if Connors misses). Some of the time, looking for the clean winner

Whatever the case, he goes dtl. A lot. A lot, a lot. Off both wings, but mostly the BH
He’s got 9 BH dtl winners. Most of the the 16 Jimbo ground FEs are drawn by dtl shots
He’s also got 20 attacking UEs (Jimbo 12) and 19 winner attempt ones (Jimbo 7)

At best, Mecir breaking even with all these dtl shots. More often, net negative. Certainly, less successful than Jimbo’s 61% success at net
And he’s either worn down by the end or not upto fighting for points and gives up ground errors quite easily. He’s broken 7/8 last service games, before holding the last one (saving 2 break points)

Jimbo plays much of the match with a (presumably cold) water soaked, light ‘scarf’ around his neck and appears fitter by the end. He towels off more often than anyone I’ve seen around the period. Roughly every second points (serve or return), often keeping Mecir waiting to serve (and of course, to return). Whatever he does, he seems fresher of 2 players by the end. Does some other funny things, like talk into camera directly to tell everyone how he thinks things are going and gets into a prolonged argument with the Chair, for which he’s first warned then docked a point

Temperature is 81 degrees at start of match. In the final, it’d be 131

It’s a good match, better than the stats coming out of it (it would be difficult not to be)

Jimbo finishes with 30 more UEs than winners, Mecir 35
Throw in FEs with the winners, Jimbo still -3, Mecir -16 points won aggresively/UE differential

Can happen when baseline rallies are tough. ‘Tough’ isn’t the most juste to describe it, but its better than soft

Scoreline fair reflection of Jimbo’s suepriority and he wins 53% of the points, serving 49% of them (excluding point penalty, technically, a return point from Jimbo’s point of view

Serve & Return
Ordinary serving from both players (Mecir’s is stronger), and Jimbo’s returning is the stand out shot of the 4 serves/returns on show

It is is not a 2 second serve showing from the 2 players, and one can differentiate between both players first and second serves (which for these 2 players, isn’t a given)

Return UEs - Jimbo 9, Mecir 18
Return FEs - Jimbo 11, Mecir 7
Ace’d - Jimbo 3, Mecir 1

Indicator of Mecir having stronger serve. He’s got Jimbo jumping and lunging occasionally, minor amount of time. By contrast, Mecir is rarely rushed about to return. Jimbo’s only ace is last point of match

Despite Mecir forcing more return errors and having triple the aces, Jimbo still leads return rate 81% to 78%. First indicator of his having returning better, though its anything but proof of it

He returns with categorical better force too. Mecir returns normally (light swings that get ball in play and leave Jimbo in control of thrid ball), Jimbo returns powerfully (thumps them hard, with good lot deep near baseline).

So Jimbo returning more consistently (and against a better serve) and more damagingly. Clear cut that his return is the start show among the serves and returns

Jimbo return-approaching 3 times is unusual. Hard hit shots, not chips. Mecir all but perfectly evenly distributes serves across wings (serves 62 to FH, 60 to BH) and Jimbo all but perfectly even in how well he returns across wings (has 1 more BH return and errors are dead even across wings)

Large difference of 62% first serves won and 37% seconds for Jimbo sign of Mecir being able to get something done returning second serves. The first serves don’t have him struggling to return, but he is able to swipe seconds wide or dtl to put Jimbo on defensive right away

Of limited value, with Jimbo serving at 75%. And the dynmaic is similar to baseline action, where Jimbo’s force of shot is enough to keep Mecir from getting to fancy with his attacking angles

Commentators tell story of how in their last match in 1985, Mecir had gotten so nervous that he took to under-arming serves to make sure he didn’t fault

 

[Waspsting]

Play - Baseline (& Net)
Essentially a baseline match, with Jimbo also using net. All court showing from Jimbo is fair summary, but baseline with net support is probably better still, Mecir comes to net to shake hands

Dual winged rallies from the back. Jimbo bit more powerful. Mecir playing a crazy number of dtl shots off both sides, ranging from neutral shots (small number) to winner attempts (minority number) with most being attacking shots

Winners - Jimbo 17, Mecir 24
Errors Forced - Jimbo 27, Mecir 19
UEs - Jimbo 47, Mecir 59

Not a pretty picture. Action is better than that at least because of lively rallies and good lot of attacking-defending dynamics (as opposed to up-&-down who-blinkds-first stuff), but with numbers like that, there’s only so much better action can be than stats. That is ton of UEs from both players

Neutral UEs - Jimbo 27, Mecir 19 (+ 1 defensive UE)
That isn’t entirely what it looks like
It looks like Mecir just being steadier hitting routine groundies. Which usually means he has freedom to attack

Here, its influenced by some lot of Jimbo’s errors being on the move (relatively hard for UEs) and Mecir having low UEs because he usually opts for attacking shot instead
Still, its not an outright lie. Jimbo’s no wall and makes good lot of routine UEs, as does Mecir

On more aggressive stuff -
Attacking UEs - Jimbo 12, Mecir 20
Errors forced - Jimbo 27, Mecir 19

Winner attempt UEs - Jimbo 7, Mecir 19
Winners - Jimbo 17, Mecir 24

… in light of Jimbo with 8 UEs at net, Mecir 4 and Jimbo at net 51 times, Mecir 13

That is a very poor yield of attacking UEs for errors forced by Mecir, but it its also a high yield of errors forced from the baseline on a slow court. He keeps playing dtl shots off both wings in situations where stock cc would be normal shot choice

Good if you can pull it off. Dumb if you can’t. Unnecessarily dumb if you have no need to because you have basic consistency advantage but still go for it and can’t pull it off

Mecir doesn’t seem to have a dtl off switch. There are times when he’s playing as many dtl or longline shots as cc. Including straight out neutral shots. Wins a few points, but loses more than its worth it

Whatever extenuating circumstances around the neutral UE balance, he’s still got some advantage on it. Making straining trying to attack unnecessary - and given how poorly he does all the worse

Jimbo is more powerful hitter and that might have a hand in keeping Mecir from setting up his dtl attacks. Alternative to all the dtl stuff is hitting attackingly wide cc. A safer shot and liable to have the same effect of getting Jimbo running. Or a wide cc shot to set up the dtl shot

He does some of this but not much. Doesn’t get the cc shot too wide or doesn’t even try before going dtl. Probably due to Jimbo’s power, which is difficult to sharply angle away. Which makes it hard to dtl too, but Mec has no qualms about that clearly

Lot of running for Jimbo to do (he even tells the camera in one of his asides about it). Does it gamely and doesn’t give up the running errors easily, but inevitably, they come. Mecir’s shots aren’t powerful. A very fast, defensively game opponent like Michael Chang could probably get most of the attackingly dtl shots back in play. That would be exceptional - not too powerful, but very much playing dtl shots that opponent has to run to reach, and you can’t get them all

Which makes it more telling that its Mecir whose more tired as match goes on. He’s 12 years younger than Connors. He’d have been 23, Jimbo 35 at time of this match. Its Jimbo that’s done most of the running, but is fresher at the end (aided by leisurely time taken between points, towelling off and controlling pace of match)

Few more wide cc’s, few less dtl’s might do Mecir’s spear some good. If he finds it difficult from stock positions, he can do it after Jimbo makes running get to dtl shot. He does some, but doesn’t get ball too wide. This isn’t a running Jimbo corner-to-corner thing, more like get him to run once to a corner and next shot is milder, almost stock cc shot. With light enough power that there’s good chance the dtl will be reached to begin with

So there are flaws in how Mecir goes about attacking. Could set up his dtl shots better with wide cc shots (possibly finds it difficult against Jimbo’s force of shot) or replace low percentage dtl with wide cc shots (presumably, an easier shot to make, perhaps little less effectivev), or at least, use wide cc after dtl shot that comes back. Or take net behind the dtl shots. He doesn’t do any of that - just keeps going dtl off both wings, and is near back to neutral if Jimbo makes the get, as he often does

6 BH dtl winners from Mec. 3 are in his last service game, when he’s down 2-5 and Jimbo rolls his ankle early in game and doens’t give chase to the shots. He doesn’t have any FH dtl winners, but plays it there regularly too

Jimbo with 9 FH FEs and 7 BHs. Most drawn by dtl shots. FH has been more successful than BH for Mec

While Mecir is very much the aggressor from the back, Jimbo isn’t all defence and relying on opponent’s attacking efficiency problems to win points either

Ground-to-ground winners - Jimbo 7, Mecir 13
Connors tends to go for the odd winner against short ball. Not often, but with 7 winner attempt UEs and 7 UEs at net, he usually makes them when he does. Unlike Mec

Jimbo attacks by taking net. At net -
- Jimbo 31/51 or 61%
- Mecir 7/13 or 54%

 

[Waspsting]

Just rallying to net, Jimbo’s 24/39 or 62% (all of Mec’s approaches are from rallies)

Good approach day, with negligible errors. He mostly approaches FH cc. For him, its good idea (and typical) because he needs the angle and low part of net to get his flat shots over safely. Contrary to how he plays from baseline, Mec’s best passes are wrong-footingly cc and he’s got 4 BH cc pass winners to just 1 dtl. When he has choice, he goes cc

One gets the sense of Mecir being self-conscious in his stylish play, a bit of cute for cuteness’ sake. Somewhat like Marcelo Rios

With his hitting advantage and Mec occasionally hitting soft shots (more so off FH than BH), decent chances for Jimbo to come in. Strikes a good balance of coming in and hitting hard, staying (relatively) steady from the back

60% winning rate is a lot better than Mec’s doing with his dtl attacking plays, which would be hovering around 50% success rate. Its kept that low with some fine passes from Mec

Jimbo with 8 volley winners, 6 UEs, 3 FEs
Mec with 7 passing winners and roughly 20 passing FEs, most of them not good looks

Poor volleying numbers for Jimbo and the winners are often putaways. But he strongly forces errors or Mec is nowhere near getting the pass off (amidst a few lovely winners). Approach shots are more effective than volleys, which aren't tested much (and not too good when they are)

Mecir misses 2 very easy OHs

Gist - from baseline, Connors stronger hitter, while Mecir plays dtl attacking shots, particularly off the BH. Not much set up or follow-up on and with it and a poor hit rate winning points. Connors steadier from back too, and moderately looking for net from rallies, which needs some proactivity. Does well at net. Lot better than Mecir does with his attacking play from the back

Match Progression
Ground UEs are key to first set, with Mecir making more of them. Stock UEs, he doesn’t play undue number of attacing dtl shots in this part of match

Mec breaks to love for 2-1 - winning couple of points with Jimbo at net, and Jimbo with a pair of FH UEs (1 approach shot)

Jimbo breaks back in time for 3-3 in a 14 point game. Its Mecir who goes for his shots early in the game, with errors and winning plays keeping the game in balance. Jimbo turns it around near the end with a catch-out surprise BH inside-out winner, a BH dtl from well outside court and on his second break point, a hard hit return-approach tha the consummates with a FHV winner

He wins remaining games in the set to take it. Lot of poor return errors from Mec to give up holds. He’s broken missing attacking shots - FH drop shots, sharp BH cc winner atempt and a typical dtl/inside-out attacking BH

The tennis is similar in second set, but freer from both players. Mecir indulging more often with BH dtl play, Jimbo coming to net more often

Two trade breaks to 30 early on - Mec gaining his with shot-making and passes, Jimbo levelling with Mec missing attacking groundies
Mec holds for 4-3 in 10 point game where he saves a break point with a strong serve that sets up third ball BH cc winner. Jimbo with a great defensive return earlier in the game and an easy BHV miss
Horrendous game by Jimbo by Jimbo to be broken to love, with 3 early ground UEs (2 third balls) and Mec putting away BH dtl pass winner

Mec serves out to ‘30’. Chair overrules Mec’s winning serve being called out to make score 30-30 and Jimbo has a substantial tantrumb. Misses a very easy, half-tracker FH approach next point. He says something after the point that gets him a warning, which sets him off some more and has a long rant with the Chair, demanding to the see the referee. He’s finally docked a point, that gives the set to Mec

Jimbo continues his tantrum at/with the referee and chair in between sets. Most of what he says makes little sense. Standard Jimbo reasoning in case of calls that are overruled against him are telling the Chair that he’s going to call him on every close call from now on - and then doing so (McEnroe’s standard routine is asking ‘all this time out here, and that’s the first wrong call, every other call has been perfect, rigth?’)

It seems to have a bad effect on his game and he fall to 0-3, 2 breaks down making errors off the ground
He wins 12 of the next 15 games to take the set 7-5 and open up 5-1 lead in the fourth

Both players tire some at this stage and are occasionally slow of movement. Jimbo takes his sweet time between points, including return ones. Plays up to the crowd and talks into the camera too, probably to help him waste time and catch his breath. The secondary benefits of throwing tantrums. Sans the tantrum, he’d likely get called for time wasting. Mecir is patient through it all but would be well within his rights to complain about Jimbo keeping him waiting as he towles off with Mecir ready to serve. According to commentary, server has 30 seconds between points and Jimbo probably doesn’t go over that often, though he uses every second

Jimbo’s able to overpower Mec from the back to greater extent than earlier, with Mec’s movements not what they had been earlier. If Jimbo’s slower, he’s still fully commited to chasing down balls

Mec is broken 4/5 times from 3-0 up to lose the set, but breaks to open the fourth. Then loses next 5 games, so 3 broken 3 more times, taking his run to holding 1/8 games in a row

He seems to be tired or/and lost stomach for tough baseline contests. Makes tired or wild errors from the back and doesn’t move well
Does manage to break and prolong match and even holds form 15-40 down to prolong still futher. Jimbo turns his ankle slighlty early in the game and gives no chase to a couple of BH dtl winners after that

Jimbo serve-volleys and comes to net to serve-out the match, slighlty favouring his leg and apparently wanting to get the match over with quickly. Good serve on break point sets up a third ball FH dtl winner and he finishes the match with is only ace

Summing up, interesting encounter. Connors returns sturdily and is more powerful baseliner. Mecir has better serve (with neither player having a strong one) and it doesn’t take him long to play down-the-line attacking shots off the BH in particular amidst normal rallies. He doesn’t set them up or follow them up particularly well and loses as many points as he wins when attacking so

Connors by contrast attacks by taking net in a well balanced way and and is much more successful so doing than Mecir is with his dtl mis-adventures
And Mecir tiring more or/and losing concentration to greater extent as match ticks on in challenging heat
Connors considerably better of and comfortable winner

Stats for the final between Mats Wilander and Connors - Match Stats/Report - Wilander vs Connors, Miami final, 1988 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)

 

[jrepac]

I recall this match as very entertaining, albeit it erractic. Mecir was such a character and he had a deceptively good game. I think Connors threw him off a bit...perhaps a little more unpredictable than he'd like. Smart net play from Connors made the difference, IMHO. He played pretty well for a guy over 35yrs old; gave Wilander a run for it in the final too.

 

[WCT]

I watched this match live and recorded it in 1988. Have't watched it since then. Wasn't Cliff Drysdale critical of his behavior? I remember in Sunday's final Connors talking to the camera and taking shots at the commentators. Drysdale was there Sunday as wel. but Ashe did the color because it was ABC instead of Espn.

Connors with less winners than Mecir? Well, take away the passes and it's about even. That would have never,okay, almost never, happened 10 years before.

51 net approaches in 255 points isn't exactly a net rushing demon in my mind. Moreso when the other player came in 13 times. He clearly came in on some short balls,but I'm guessing there were a whole lot he didn't come in on.

I don't know that I'd call the Connors in this match all court. For me, it's dicier. It certainly can be debated, though. It's a subjectiive thing. Just saying I think it's far dicier than Segura's Connors where I don't think it can be argued.

I suppose I shouldn't give a strong opinion with watching the match again. My opinion is more supposition on how Connors played in this period.To actually know how many short balls he stayed back on I'd have to watch the match again. What I remember most about this match is Connors' behavior.

I do remember the finals better and I believe you did the stats. I would definitely call Connors an all court player in that match.

 

[Waspsting]

Mecir was such a character and he had a deceptively good game. I think Connors threw him off a bit...perhaps a little more unpredictable than he'd like.

I got the sense that Connors' running spat with the Chair disrupted Mecir, though he shows no obvious signs of it
Also, Connors completely controlling pace of play, with the towelling off and keeping Mecir waiting regularly
Mecir is uncomplaining to a fault, probably to his mental detriment

Thanks to Connors' asides, we know what he was thinking and was aware of Mecir's game. In one of them, he tells the camera something like "... going to have to run down a few balls now"... which is exactly what was happening with Mecir's down-the-line plays

Wasn't Cliff Drysdale critical of his behavior?

Very and in my opinion, for too long
Connors had an incident with the Chair and went off about it for a good while, but Drysdale was going on about well after the incident was done. And bringing it up sporadically after that
Virginia Wade was the other commentator. Think this is first time I've heard her. She's good

I remember in Sunday's final Connors talking to the camera and taking shots at the commentators.

I don't rememeber that (from statting the match, not from 1988). Probably copy I watched started and ended as games began. In this match, Connors gives his asides before games

Connors with less winners than Mecir? Well, take away the passes and it's about even. That would have never,okay, almost never, happened 10 years before.

True, but to give even picture, I'd look to take away the volley winners when doing that

In baseline rallies, Jimbo with 7 winners, Mecir 13 (including a return for both players, excluding a net chord dribbler for Mecir

Mecir goes for an obscene number of dtl shots. He's going for winner from the back at a rate I don't think Connors ever did

Mecir 19 winner attempt UEs, Jimbo just 7
With Jimbo having 8 UEs at net, Mecir 4 (net UEs are always at least attacking shots, and often winner attempts)

At least 15 attempts at winners from teh baseline from Mecir + the large lot he actually pulls off... I can't think of many players around '88 who went for so many

I don't know that I'd call the Connors in this match all court. For me, it's dicier. It certainly can be debated, though. It's a subjectiive thing. Just saying I think it's far dicier than Segura's Connors where I don't think it can be argued.

I suppose I shouldn't give a strong opinion with watching the match again. My opinion is more supposition on how Connors played in this period.To actually know how many short balls he stayed back on I'd have to watch the match again. What I remember most about this match is Connors' behavior.

Moderatly net seeking by an overall standard. Of course a far cry from Segura days, but more than most of his mid-80s matches I've looked at
Less than the final, but dynamics and match-up are substantially different

With Wilander, you won't get UEs off the ground and you will get a few short balls
With Mecir here, you'll get UEs off the ground (just trading groundies, he gives up more than Connors), and he's liable to go on the attack with down-the-line shots before he gives up a short ball - and then Connors is in no position to come in

Taking net is spearhead of Connors' offence, not trying to overpower from the back or hit winners from there, but as winner counts suggest, Mecir is more the aggressor

I though Connors approached wisely and well here. For starters, not many approach UEs (for him, that's unusual)
Best approaches are line, but majority are FH cc. He'd very likely make more errors going line and needs good angle and lowest part of net to ease the ball over, as low as his net clearance is

Slippery passer too Mec. FH cc approach leaves BH dtl open for him and that's where he's going for his winners in baseline rallies
But on the pass, he usually goes back cc, somewhat wrong footing Jimbo, who on approaching at an angle looks to cover line and the BHV

I get the sense Mecir is a cute-for-cute's sake type of player, the kind of guy who'll play a stop volley when courts open for a routine volley to finish point. Marcelo Rios is another such

----------

Do either of you remember anything about Mecir serving under-arm in '85 World Team Cup match with Connors?

 

[jrepac]

Do either of you remember anything about Mecir serving under-arm in '85 World Team Cup match with Connors?

IIRC, he had a big lead against Jimmy in the 3rd set, on a red clay court in Dusseldorf (?), Connors least preferred surface. Mecir got super-nervous and tense, leading to an under-arm serve. Connors of course, smelled blood liked the shark he was and poured it on. I believe he won 7-5 in the third. That underarm serve was picked up on the sports report, but I don't believe I've ever seen the whole match posted anywhere? Anyone know?

 

[buscemi]

Do either of you remember anything about Mecir serving under-arm in '85 World Team Cup match with Connors?

Here's footage of it at 3:52 (the graphic says 1987, but this was clearly their 1985 World Team Cup match):

 

[jrepac]

fuzzy clip, but neat to see! I kind of forgot that he was the "It" boy for awhile there....yah, that was definitely '85 vs. Connors....he's playing w/the T2000 and his apparel are circa '85

 

[WCT]

fuzzy clip, but neat to see! I kind of forgot that he was the "It" boy for awhile there....yah, that was definitely '85 vs. Connors....he's playing w/the T2000 and his apparel are circa '85

It's definitely that 85 match. Another thing I forgot, that underarm serve. And I did watch it in 85. A long time ago, but that's the type of thing I should remember. Mecir had beaten him in Philadelphia earlier that year.

 

[WCT]

I got the sense that Connors' running spat with the Chair disrupted Mecir, though he shows no obvious signs of it
Also, Connors completely controlling pace of play, with the towelling off and keeping Mecir waiting regularly
Mecir is uncomplaining to a fault, probably to his mental detriment

Thanks to Connors' asides, we know what he was thinking and was aware of Mecir's game. In one of them, he tells the camera something like "... going to have to run down a few balls now"... which is exactly what was happening with Mecir's down-the-line plays



Very and in my opinion, for too long
Connors had an incident with the Chair and went off about it for a good while, but Drysdale was going on about well after the incident was done. And bringing it up sporadically after that
Virginia Wade was the other commentator. Think this is first time I've heard her. She's good


I don't rememeber that (from statting the match, not from 1988). Probably copy I watched started and ended as games began. In this match, Connors gives his asides before games


True, but to give even picture, I'd look to take away the volley winners when doing that

In baseline rallies, Jimbo with 7 winners, Mecir 13 (including a return for both players, excluding a net chord dribbler for Mecir

Mecir goes for an obscene number of dtl shots. He's going for winner from the back at a rate I don't think Connors ever did

Mecir 19 winner attempt UEs, Jimbo just 7
With Jimbo having 8 UEs at net, Mecir 4 (net UEs are always at least attacking shots, and often winner attempts)

At least 15 attempts at winners from teh baseline from Mecir + the large lot he actually pulls off... I can't think of many players around '88 who went for so many


Moderatly net seeking by an overall standard. Of course a far cry from Segura days, but more than most of his mid-80s matches I've looked at
Less than the final, but dynamics and match-up are substantially different

With Wilander, you won't get UEs off the ground and you will get a few short balls
With Mecir here, you'll get UEs off the ground (just trading groundies, he gives up more than Connors), and he's liable to go on the attack with down-the-line shots before he gives up a short ball - and then Connors is in no position to come in

Taking net is spearhead of Connors' offence, not trying to overpower from the back or hit winners from there, but as winner counts suggest, Mecir is more the aggressor

I though Connors approached wisely and well here. For starters, not many approach UEs (for him, that's unusual)
Best approaches are line, but majority are FH cc. He'd very likely make more errors going line and needs good angle and lowest part of net to ease the ball over, as low as his net clearance is

Slippery passer too Mec. FH cc approach leaves BH dtl open for him and that's where he's going for his winners in baseline rallies
But on the pass, he usually goes back cc, somewhat wrong footing Jimbo, who on approaching at an angle looks to cover line and the BHV

I get the sense Mecir is a cute-for-cute's sake type of player, the kind of guy who'll play a stop volley when courts open for a routine volley to finish point. Marcelo Rios is another such

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Do either of you remember anything about Mecir serving under-arm in '85 World Team Cup match with Connors?

So,you think Drysdale was overly critical? Interesting. I just remember thinking Connors behavior was really bad. .Like, don't overrule in the other player's favor. Then Connors will want anything even remotely close overruled in his favor. I can still hear it ."You set the precedent.'

As to whether he commented on Sunday, I thought he did. Somewhere, I could have sworn he took a swipe at the commentary without naming Drysdale. Mind you, I could have sworn that Mcenroe's do the broadcast on my head line came from Sampras Korda and Moose says no and named the match it did come from.

As I said, I should watch the match before commenting too strongly. You have to see where the balls are landing to judge. For me, at least Couple things, though. No argument that this is in line with much of Connors 80s play. That's why I didn't cite that. And when I call Connors an all court player, I talk 70s although there are 80s matches/periods where I think it applies.

Winners. I would not remove net winners. For me, it's about level of aggression, be it baseline or net. I remove passing shots because they are, for the most part, counter shots, a form of defense. There are a bunch of 80s Connors Mcenroe matches where the winners are pretty close, but only because of all Connors' passing shots. Rarely would I call him as aggressive.

 

[Waspsting]

So,you think Drysdale was overly critical? Interesting. I just remember thinking Connors behavior was really bad. .Like, don't overrule in the other player's favor. Then Connors will want anything even remotely close overruled in his favor. I can still hear it ."You set the precedent.'

I think Drysdale went on about it for too long
Jimbo went on for a fair big - he was yapping with Chair off and on for 10-15 minutes, including at changeovers, but Drysdale continued bringing it up long after it was a closed chapter

Jimbo and Mac have their set pieces in situations like this

Jimbo likes to warn Chair that if he overrules 1 close call, Jimbo'll put him on the spot for every close one
Mac likes warm up with something along the lines of, "so all day, not 1 bad call. every other call has been perfect, not 1 bad call, is that right and that's the only bad one, right?"

Here's footage of it at 3:52 (the graphic says 1987, but this was clearly their 1985 World Team Cup match):

Thanks

Now I'm wondering if it was just once
That looks like pure nerves there. No attempt to disguise it or be tricky... just get the ball over the net

 

[WCT]

I think Drysdale went on about it for too long
Jimbo went on for a fair big - he was yapping with Chair off and on for 10-15 minutes, including at changeovers, but Drysdale continued bringing it up long after it was a closed chapter

Jimbo and Mac have their set pieces in situations like this

Jimbo likes to warn Chair that if he overrules 1 close call, Jimbo'll put him on the spot for every close one
Mac likes warm up with something along the lines of, "so all day, not 1 bad call. every other call has been perfect, not 1 bad call, is that right and that's the only bad one, right?"


Thanks

Now I'm wondering if it was just once
That looks like pure nerves there. No attempt to disguise it or be tricky... just get the ball over the net

Also, it's not as simple as just don't overrule in you are the umpire in a Connors match. I have seen him go off on an umpiire in a close call where Connors lost the point. I mean when there has been no overrules till that point in the matchg. Then it's, "what are you up there for?"

That said, I saw that a lot less than his going off on the umpire for overruling in the other player's favor. Odds wise, if they are looking to avoid confrontation, my advice to them would be not to overrule in any Connors match.

Early on, late 70s/early 80s, I thought Drysdale was pro Connors. So, hearing him so critical of Connors here was pretty jarring at the time. I didn't remember that it had gone on so long. I did remember how pointed it was.