Match Stats/Report - Edberg vs Ivanisevic, Stuttgart Indoor final, 1994

[Waspsting]

Stefan Edberg beat Goran Ivanisevic 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in the Stuttgart Indoor final, 1994 on carpet

The two had previously played the final in 1992, with Ivanisevic winning in four sets

Edberg won 118 points, Ivanisevic 91

Both players serve-volleyed off all first serves and almost all seconds

(Note: I’m missing 1 point
Set 2, Game 6, Point 1 - an Ivanisevic service point that he lost)

Serve Stats
Edberg...
- 1st serve percentage (60/96) 63%
- 1st serve points won (46/60) 77%
- 2nd serve points won (24/36) 67%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (34/96) 35%

Ivanisevic...
- 1st serve percentage (72/112) 64%
- 1st serve points won (53/72) 74%
- 2nd serve points won (12/40) 30%
- ?? serve points won (0/1)
- Aces 21, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (38/112) 34%

Serve Patterns
Edberg served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 60%
- to Body 7%

Ivanisevic served...
- to FH 30%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 5%

Return Stats
Edberg made...
- 67 (22 FH, 45 BH), including 4 runaround FHs & 3 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (2 FH), including 1 runaround FH
- 16 Errors, all forced...
- 16 Forced (6 FH, 10 BH)
- Return Rate (67/105) 64%

Ivanisevic made...
- 56 (21 FH, 35 BH), including 4 runaround FHs
- 5 Winners (2 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 28 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH)
- 26 Forced (11 FH, 15 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- Return Rate (56/90) 62%

Break Points
Edberg 6/8 (7 games)
Ivanisevic 2/6 (4 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Edberg 25 (7 FH, 4 BH, 7 FHV, 5 BHV, 2 OH)
Ivanisevic 24 (6 FH, 6 BH, 6 FHV, 6 BHV)

Edberg had 13 from serve-volley points -
- 10 first volleys (6 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
- 3 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)

- 1 from a return-approach point, a BHV

- 11 passes - 2 returns (2 FH) & 9 regular (4 FH, 5 BH)
- FH returns - 1 runaround cc, 1 inside-in
- regular FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-in (a net chord pop over)
- regular BHs - 3 cc, 2 dtl

- regular (non-pass) FH - 1 inside-in

Ivanisevic had 13 from serve-volley points -
- 8 first 'volleys' (3 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 FH at net)
- 5 second volleys (3 FHV, 2 BHV)

- 11 passes - 5 returns (2 FH, 3 BH) & 6 regular (3 FH, 3 BH)
- FH returns - 1 runaround cc, 1 inside-out
- BH returns - 2 cc, 1 dtl
- regular FHs - 2 dtl (1 at net), 1 lob
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 net chord pop over)

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Edberg 23
- 7 Unforced (2 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
- 16 Forced (4 FH, 8 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 52.9

Ivanisevic 51
- 16 Unforced (2 FH, 5 BH, 4 FHV, 5 BHV)... with 1 FH at net & 2 BH at net
- 35 Forced (16 FH, 8 BH, 2 FHV, 2 FH1/2V, 5 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot (non-net)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 54.4

(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
Edberg was...
- 64/83 (77%) at net, including...
- 60/79 (76%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 40/54 (74%) off 1st serve and...
- 20/25 (80%) off 2nd serve
---
- 3/3 (100%) return-approaching

Ivanisevic was...
- 45/82 (55%) at net, including...
- 43/80 (54%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 31/50 (62%) off 1st serve and...
- 12/30 (40%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/5 (40%) forced back/retreated

Match Report
Great showing from Edberg and very interesting in that its different from his normal master class. Court is a normal ‘90s carpet one i.e. fast and Ivanisevic is a formidable opponent on it. Match is virtual all serve-volley

Your usual Edberg high end showing centers around killer finishing on the volley, with ball after ball swished away for winners as if there’s nothing else to be done against decent returns

Here, the focus is on making difficult volleys. Goran smacks returns low and powerfully, Edberg gets them back habitually, often with reasonable authority

Whole bunch of stats showcase it

Edberg with 14 volley OH winners, Goran with 24 ground FEs (passing errors). For Edberg, that’s irregular. He usually has a much higher ratio of winners to passing errors drawn. It is the way it is because he’s making difficult volleys so often, balls that can’t be putaway

Just 4 volley FEs is another important stat for Edberg, in the context of how often he faces potentially error forcing returns and passes

In general, return rate of about 65% with mode force of firm, around net high (varying from bit over to bit under) is good to break against serve-volleyers. Against a volleyer of Edberg’s calibre, one would probably look to return with more force than that general formula (higher return rate probably wouldn’t help, other than to bolster Edberg’s winner count)

Here, Goran returns at 62% and his mode force of return shot is categorically stronger. This could easily be a return-pass masterclass from him - regularly driving returns powerful and low and overwhelming serve-volleyer. We still get a masterclass, but its Edberg giving it in difficult volleying

Returns Goran makes aren’t bullets to the feet calibre (the highest caliber). Mode return is powerful and low-ish (not to feet but considerably below net), with good few to feet thrown in. At 62% return rate, should be good enough to break any serve-volleyer

It only does so twice because of Edberg’s stellar handling of the tough volleys (and both times it does, the return-passing is unanswerably good). Anything short of that, Edberg handles - all credit to him

Other unusual aspect of match is Edberg’s serving. Around this period, he was apt to serve a lot to and close to the body. Not here

Just 7% serves to body and serves to either wing aren’t crampingly close. Just normal serving - 60% to BH, 32% to FH, not too wide, not at great pace on a quick court. With Goran able to reach returns without much trouble, there’s potential for a lot of return-pass winners. It’d take some doing, and its certainly not a negative that Goran doesn’t manage. Given what he’s up against, not much short of that works. He gains his first break by reeling off 3 return winners in a row

With Goran making Edberg hitting difficult first volleys so often, inevitably he gets a few good looks on follow-up passes. Less often than he might expect because Edberg often volleys even the tough stuff with authority (angling them from under net to side of court or getting them deep etc.), but a substantial lot. Not the best follow-up passing from Goran, who misses a few good looks but again, he’d have to be top-notch because Edberg’s just as difficult to get the ball by on the second, reaction/reflex volley

To be clear, Edber’g finishing on the volley is excellent too, its just that he doesn’t face much that can be so treated. When Edberg swishes away a first volley in third set for a typical winner, it brings home how rarely he’s done so all match in

 

[Waspsting]

So much for Edberg’s serve-volleying. There remains the small matter of returning Goran’s ridiculously powerful serve. How does he do there?

Excellently. Nothing to be done against the Act-of-God flurry of aces but anything less than that is returned about as comfortably as possible by Edberg

Goran’s got 21 aces, 1 service winners but draws just 16 return errors (all forced, many of the hard forced nature). His unreturned rate is 34% - low for him on such a court and surprisingly, 1% lower than Edberg’s whose serve is at least 2 categories below of strength

Return rate of 64% against Goran is excellent start, but how’s the force of the returns? It gets better and better as match goes on. At least, its of the firm, around net high type previously outlined as being good to get breaks. It gets better and goes into regularly under net and low-ish

This calibre returning would be good to break almost any serve-volleyer and Goran’s not a reliable volleyer (in general and in this match), so more than good enough for him. The difficulty against Goran, as always, is getting that many returns back in first place (let alone with such force)

Edberg does both - returns high lot (given court, serve-volley frequency and serve quality) and returns with decent/good to very good force. Throw in the odd, bold return-approach when he sees Goran’s got a shoelace volley to make (Edberg’s 3/3 on the play). Like his volleying, excellent stuff from Edberg on the return

He’s helped by Goran getting into trouble with his positioning while serve-volleying. Common problem for players with serves of this pace is that they aren’t at net when the return comes back, and Goran gets his fair bit of it in general. Gets more than that here because of quality and frequency of Edberg’s returns. Some are solid, good returns and some are forced weak ones that land short but with Goran well short of net, he’s effectively in no-man’s land to handle third ball (often literally as well as figuritively).

4/5 of Goran’s forced back/retreated points are retreats. Not a bad idea. When coming in behind the serve and finding it at awkward length, he leans back to hit groundstroke and falls back to baseline. Combo of pace of serve, firmess of return and Goran’s footspeed makes these balls awkward enough that retreating isn’t a bad option

Both players serve-volley off all first serves. Off seconds, Edberg does so 83% of time, Goran 91%. Essentially, a full serve-volley match

Success serve-volleying is telling. Ordered by success rate -
- Edberg’s second 80%
- Edberg’s first 74%
- Goran’s first 62%
- Goran’s second 40%

The second serve numbers get to heart of how well Edberg both volleys and returns

‘Volleying’ numbers (including OHs, 1/2volleys and groundstrokes at net)
- Winners - Edberg 14, Goran 13
- FEs - Edberg 4, Goran 11
- UEs - Edberg 4, Goran 12

… with near identical approaches (Edberg 83, Goran 82) and unreturneds (Edberg 35%, Goran 34%), these numbers are all you need to look at to gauge volleying quality. Winners being virtually equal makes it even easier

FEs tell the tale for Edberg. 4 is very low, given how often he’s faced with tough volleys. 11 for Goran is indicator of how well Edberg returns and passes (though Goran isn’t particularly good at dealing with them and misses more than he makes)

UE figures not surprising - Goran prone to missing the routine volley, Edberg not

With the usual counter-weight of to all this (Goran with big advantage on freebies) missing, that leaves Edberg well ahead

Passing numbers
- return winners - Edberg 2, Goran 5
- regular winners - Edberg 9, Goran 6
- Ground FEs (virtually interchangable with passing errors) - Edberg 12, Goran 24

Well as Edberg returns, hitting winners with the shot is a bridge too far (and not reasonable to expect against Goran’s serve). Goran by contrast would fancy chances at making return winners. Room for improvement for him on that front

Stellar regular pass/ground FE numbers for Edberg and not good from Goran on same front. Nothing wrong with the force or placement of the volleys Goran makes, so all credit to Edberg for fine passing. Quite a few good looks at passes for Goran - he’s done poorly going on that alone. Partially due to Edberg’s net coverage and handling tough follow-up volleys, but some discredit to Goran’s passing here too

Match Progression
In first Edberg returns with reasonable comfort, but serves neither damagingly wide or crampingly close and Goran gets stuck into few returns. Enough there for returner to be competitive and of course, flurry of aces from Goran thrown in too

Goran breaks for 3-2, striking 3 successive return-pass winners from 40-15 down before Edberg misses an easy first OH on break point. He has to save a break point to consolidate

Almost all of Goran’s first serves go unreturned at start, but Edberg gradually gets a grip on it to break back for 4-4 in a 14 point game with 9 first serves, due mostly to net UEs. No problem as Goran hits back at once with a break to love - an impossible volley and 2 passing winners - to go up again before serving out the set 6-4

Edberg serves 25 points in the set, to Goran’s 42

More impressive power passes and returns see Goran have 15-40 in the second set’s opener. He has a good look at the FH pass on second break point but can’t make it and Edberg goes on to hol

Thereafter, routine holds for both players to the end where a terrible game from Goran (2 double faults, an easy BH at net error and a regulation BHV miss) hands over the set to Edberg

Couple of shakey holds from Edberg at start of third set. Double faults twice in the first from 40-0 up and makes a pair of BHV UEs to go down break point. Goran has a very good look a the pass on it after drawing a weak volley with his return, but misses. Edberg saves another break point to hold

Sandwiched in between is a strong Edberg return game to break to 15 with 2 BH passing winners (1 cc, 1 dtl) and daring FHV one return-approaching as Goran deals with a first half-volley

Thereafter, Edberg cruises on serve. He loses 2 points in his last 6 service games of the match, including a run of winning 15 straight service points. Just shy of 50% unreturneds during this period, with but faces difficult volleys when Goran can make the return, but is flawless against it

He breaks again to end the third set, forcing a couple of volleying errors. He’s gained his breaks in the set with regularly getting firm returns around net high - and very good follow-up passing

Fourth set is a step up from that. While carrying on the near flawless service games (he loses 2 points - 1 to a double fault), Edberg’s returning goes up a step to regular low returning, while barely missing a return

Goran makes 15/24 first serves or 63%. All but 3 come back (2 that don’t are aces) or Edberg with return rate of 88%. How often does that happen to Goran on a fast carpet court?

Edberg grabs first break with impressive BH inside-in returns and working over Goran on the low volley. Grabs the second to end the match by working him over on half-volleys (both with hard hit returns and forced soft ones), ending with a particularly good, full running FH dtl pass winner

Top quality set of tennis by Edberg to wrap up

Summing up, a great overall showing from Edberg that gets better and better as match goes on

His orthodox serving (not crampingly close) is met with powerful, low returns and Edberg’s handling of the tough volleys is outstanding against a strong, and potentially over-powering return-pass performance from his opponent

On the return, he’s as comfortable as possible against his opponents overtly overpowering serve and anything shy of completely untouchable serves are returned firmly and at least, not high to leave easy volleys. The returns get better as match goes on and by end, he’s regularly giving Ivanisevic low volleys to make first up

Good showing from Ivanisevic too. With his primary big serve weapon neutralized as much as possible, his volleying isn’t quite up to scratch, even accounting for Edberg’s fine returning, but he returns vigorously, only to find Edberg impenetrable at net

(Ko Yo - if you’re reading this, thanks! - and get an account here, it’ll be fun talking shop)

 

[Drob]

These are big, big tourneys. some of the late-season Euro Indoors of the early 1990s were Slam-like. This might be Stefan's last great triumph, or penultimate maybe.

Goran smacks returns low and powerfully

Here, Goran returns at 62% and his mode force of return shot is categorically stronger. This could easily be a return-pass masterclass from him - regularly driving returns powerful and low and overwhelming serve-volleyer. We still get a masterclass, but its Edberg giving it in difficult volleying

Goran could do this. Sometimes. There is a close Wimbledon final or semifinal Sampras beats Ivanisevic, where Goran's returns are kind of like what you are describing, and Pete also does pretty well to get to and do something with the ball. I have notes on it somewhere. May not be as dramatic as the contest here.

Edberg’s stellar handling of the tough volley

I gotta watch this match.

Sometimes, when Edberg is hot . . . you might as well go have a cup of tea. This match sounds different than, but kind of like the scary-perfection Edberg brought to 1991 USO.

 

[NedStark]

These are big, big tourneys. some of the late-season Euro Indoors of the early 1990s were Slam-like. This might be Stefan's last great triumph, or penultimate maybe.

I think the big ones until 1994 were Stockholm, Paris and ATP Finals/Masters, not Stuttgart.

 

[Drob]

I think the big ones until 1994 were Stockholm, Paris and ATP Finals/Masters, not Stuttgart.

You are right. I must have been thinking of the 1996 Stuttgart, which was Slam-like.

I am looking at my notes on this.

The real "Super Tournament" of the early 1990s was Paris. The 1991 edition was not as strong. But 1990, and the 1992-94 tournaments were slam-like. Virtually all the top players in the world and the prize money was considerably better than any of the other "Grandfathered Super Nines" of the time. The Paris Bourse was close to ATP Finals and above Key Biscayne, the next highest money of the "Super Nines." The 1995 tournament is not as strong. After 1995 no sense talking about "Super Tournaments" with the beginning of the genuine Super Nines.

At those four Paris Indoor Super Tournaments, champs were: Edberg '90, Becker '92, Ivanisevic '93, Agassi '94. In the very good, but regular years of '91 and '95, it was Forget and Sampras.

Stockholm was consistently strong - with fields about on par with Paris - from 1990 to '94. But Stockholm was at the low end among the "Grandfathered Super Nines." Then, in 1995, it fell off sharply. It is hard to call Stockholm a "Super Tournament" in the same sense as Paris because the prize money was not exceptional for the caliber of tournament. It was a heck of a tournament, though.

As to Stuttgart, my notes have it as being equal to the majority of the "Grandfathered Super Nines" for 1992-95. Had excellent fields and paid a lot of prize money - better than most of the others in a couple of those years. The other tournaments I noted were equal to the Grandfathered tournaments were Grand Slam Cup, of course and at least; World Team Cup, 1990-91, '93, '95; Tokyo Indoor 1990 and '93 editions; Lombardia International 1992 edition; European Community Championships (Antwerp) 1992 edition.

Some of the Grandfathered tournaments were not up to scratch in the first years of the 90s decade, but those that were not had pretty well put their act together by 1993 or earlier. I am not one to question the Grandfathered nine as Super Nines. I think by '93 they were all strong tournaments.

 

[tennistiger]

I think the big ones until 1994 were Stockholm, Paris and ATP Finals/Masters, not Stuttgart.

Stuttgart which startet as an official ATP event in 1990 was bigger in price money and points than Stockholm! Stuttgart and Paris where the two biggest that time. Like 1000 today. Stockholm always had the disadvantage of the bad light in the Globen since starting there in 1989. It was only famous in the Becker/Edberg peak era from 90-92. The two Finals 90/91 are famous!

 

[andreh]

True about Stockholm. It was also downgraded and moved back to Kungliga tennishallen a few years later.

 

[NedStark]

There was a time when the majority of the most prestigious non-Slam events were indoor tourneys.