Stefan Edberg beat Aaron Krickstein 6-4, 7-5 in the Tokyo Outdoors final, 1990 on hard court
Edberg would go onto win Wimbledon later in the year and finish world number for the first of two times
Edberg won 80 points, Krickstein 70
Edberg serve-volleyed off all first serves and the majority of seconds
Serve Stats
Edberg...
- 1st serve percentage (51/72) 71%
- 1st serve points won (35/51) 69%
- 2nd serve points won (9/21) 43%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/72) 25%
Krickstein...
- 1st serve percentage (55/78) 71%
- 1st serve points won (34/55) 62%
- 2nd serve points won (8/23) 35%
- Aces 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (11/78) 14%
Serve Patterns
Edberg served...
- to FH 25%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 13%
Krickstein served...
- to FH 38%
- to BH 60%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Edberg made...
- 67 (26 FH, 40 BH, 1 ??), including 9 return-approaches
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 5 Forced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (67/78) 86%
Krickstein made...
- 51 (20 FH, 31 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 5 Winners (2 FH, 3 BH)
- 13 Errors, all forced...
- 13 Forced (5 FH, 8 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- Return Rate (51/69) 74%
Break Points
Edberg 5/16 (5 games)
Krickstein 3/6 (4 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Edberg 32 (2 FH, 3 BH, 12 FHV, 11 BHV, 4 OH)
Krickstein 20 (7 FH, 11 BH, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Edberg had from 18 serve-volley points -
- 13 first volleys (6 FHV, 7 BHV)
- 4 second volleys (2 FHV, 2 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 OH)
- 2 from return-approach points (1 FHV, 1 OH)
- 1 other FHV was played from significantly behind service line and has not been counted a net point
- FHs - 1 dtl pass at net and 1 running-down-drop-shot-off-a-drop-shot at net
- BHs - 2 dtl and 1 lob
Krickstein's FHs - 5 cc (2 passes - 1 a return, 1 at net), 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in return pass
- BH passes - 7 cc (2 returns) and 3 dtl (1 return, 1 net chord pop over)
- regular BH - 1 net chord dribbler
- the OH was on the bounce from no-man's land and not a net point
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Edberg 36
- 20 Unforced (9 FH, 8 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 16 Forced (1 FH, 2 BH, 7 FHV, 6 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 43.5
Krickstein 30
- 12 Unforced (6 FH, 5 BH, 1 BHV)
- 18 Forced (6 FH, 12 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.2
(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
Edberg was...
- 57/87 (66%) at net, including...
- 38/58 (66%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 30/46 (65%) off 1st serve and...
- 8/12 (67%) off 2nd serve
--
- 5/9 (55%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back
Krickstein was...
- 6/11 (55%) at net, with...
- 1/1 forced back
Match Report
Good contest between the net rushing of Edberg and the steadiness of Krickstein from the back
There are 5 breaks in first set. Krickstein strikes first to go up 2-0 in a 14 point game featuring 3 return winners. He wraps up the game in style - a strong return that yorks Edberg at net, sandwiched between two return winners - all against first serves. Edberg breaks right back by taking net 4 times in a deuce game, though the killing thrust is a fine BH dtl winner. The key point comes earlier, Krickstein missing an ambitious FH winner attempt that was out of sync with the way he was playing
They go through the same dance a few games later; Krickstein breaking with strong passes, Edberg breaking back with net play - again, a baseline BH dtl winner tipping the balance in his favour
For the final act of the set, Edberg breaks to go up 5-4. This time, Krickstein falters some by opening with 2 groundstroke UEs to fall behind 0-30. Edberg hits an excellent reflex BHV winner a couple of points later. Its another reflex volley, while down 0-30 in the next game, that turns a tricky situation for Edberg as he serves out the set
Of play, this first set is high level and interesting. Edberg does his usual silky serve-volleying bit off first serves but mostly stays back on seconds and one can readily understand why. Krickstein returns both strongly and consistently - even against first serves
On points starting from the baseline, Krickstein is impressive. He thoroughly dominates Edberg, moving him around and drawing errors. Most are unforced, but rallies do go on for awhile before they come. Krickstein never seems to miss a ball. Just 3 baseline UEs from Aaron in the set (he has 1 on the volley too, but barely comes in) - 2 in the last game he's broken. Edberg has 12 from baseline... Aaron moves him around with shots off and to both wings and waits for the error
Not only good stuff from Krickstein, but the fairly dynamic way he goes about it makes it difficult for Edberg to manufacture an approach. This, coupled with strong returns and passes (Edberg staying back on second serves suggests he was well aware of what Krickstein was capable of on this front) makes him dangerous
Krickstein draws first blood in second set as well. On break point, he forces serve-volleying Edberg back from net, moves him around in the now baseline rally and gets the error he was looking for
It would be inaccurate to describe a 22 game match 'turning' in the 17th game, but that is how it appears. Serving to consolidate his break, Krickstein, who'd been toying with Edberg from the baseline to this point, finds a different opponent. One who wants to try a new dance - coming to net
Edberg finds the net 7 times in the 16 point game, and demonstrates an eagerness to get there that had been missing til then. Most remarkable point is Edberg dashing forward amidst a regulation baseline rally (meaning, Krickstein has the power and prospective consistency advantage BH to BH), and FHV'ng a winner from a couple steps behind the baseline. Still, he needs Krickstein's help to get the break. Aaron opened the game with a bad BH miss when fully in control and ends missing a routine 3rd ball BH slice
Edberg gains decisive break after errors set Aaron back 15-40. He fights back to save 3 break points, but Edberg finishes strongly. An excellent stretch drop BHV winner brings up his 4th break point and he converts with a strong running FH cc that forces an error. And Edberg serves out the match comfortably
Stats & Play
Krickstein's play is that off a solid but artful baseliner. He misses little, moves Edberg around (i.e. doesn't just put balls in play) but stops short of going for the kill shots to end points. He actually does step up under pressure to hit a couple step in winners at critical times but the general plans seems to be to outlast Edberg
That he's capable of is clear. He's far, far better from the baseline. But its a risky strategy. Just as serve-volleying is dangerous because a missed volley plus a couple of good returns leaves the server in trouble, planning to win games regularly by outlasting a decent baseliner like Edberg is dangerous. Sooner or later, there'll come a game where Edberg holds steady and the errors come from Aaron... that's probably a break
That's what happens to a degree. Note Edberg with 17 groundstroke UEs, to Aaron's 11. That comparison looks less in Aaron's favour than action looked, but 9/11 of his errors came in the games he was broken. Very difficult to count on not making errors indefinitely on a hard court to win game after service game
On top of that, Edberg starts finding ways to net as the match wears on. With little to lose and everything to gain, its a good move from Edberg. Its a common enough mistake from a player clearly outclassed from the back to just remain there - hoping things change, but Edberg takes a more proactive path. And with success
The flip side of this is Krickstein's return and passing shots are strong enough that Edberg can't be too sure of holding serve indefinitely either. Note the very large 13 volleying FEs for Edberg - a testimony to Aaron's passing/returning. But Edberg volleys well enough to keep the odds in his favour. Just 3 UEs and 27 winners - 13 of them first volleys. A number of far from easy ones in those - balls under the net or/and powerfully struck are slipped away to end points
In short, tactically, Edberg's more likely to break than Krickstein is. The threat of Kricsktein breaking is based on his strong play - but Edberg proves to be still stronger in forecourt. The threat of Edberg breaking is based on for how long can Krickstein keep outlasting him from the back - and Edberg nudges those odds in his favour by coming to net. Credit to Edberg for a tactically smart match
Note both players low second serves points won. Edberg 43%, Aaron 35%.
Edberg's figure is based on staying back. Serve-volleying, he's a healthy 8/12. Sans double faults then, he's just 1/9... that's being outlasted from baseline. Krickstein's 35% second serve points won is disastrous for him though, especially in light of 0 double faults, Edberg missing 3 easy returns and Edberg only managing 5/9 returning approaching. Plenty of being at net on them by Edberg (even sans return-approaching), but a fair few groundstroke errors from Aaron too
Summing up, fine play from both players - Edberg with his precise volleying, net instincts and tactical adjustments of when to come in, Krickstein for solidity, strength and good passing/returning. Edberg is the more daring in face of resistance and it pays off
Edberg would go onto win Wimbledon later in the year and finish world number for the first of two times
Edberg won 80 points, Krickstein 70
Edberg serve-volleyed off all first serves and the majority of seconds
Serve Stats
Edberg...
- 1st serve percentage (51/72) 71%
- 1st serve points won (35/51) 69%
- 2nd serve points won (9/21) 43%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/72) 25%
Krickstein...
- 1st serve percentage (55/78) 71%
- 1st serve points won (34/55) 62%
- 2nd serve points won (8/23) 35%
- Aces 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (11/78) 14%
Serve Patterns
Edberg served...
- to FH 25%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 13%
Krickstein served...
- to FH 38%
- to BH 60%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Edberg made...
- 67 (26 FH, 40 BH, 1 ??), including 9 return-approaches
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 5 Forced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (67/78) 86%
Krickstein made...
- 51 (20 FH, 31 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 5 Winners (2 FH, 3 BH)
- 13 Errors, all forced...
- 13 Forced (5 FH, 8 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- Return Rate (51/69) 74%
Break Points
Edberg 5/16 (5 games)
Krickstein 3/6 (4 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Edberg 32 (2 FH, 3 BH, 12 FHV, 11 BHV, 4 OH)
Krickstein 20 (7 FH, 11 BH, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Edberg had from 18 serve-volley points -
- 13 first volleys (6 FHV, 7 BHV)
- 4 second volleys (2 FHV, 2 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 OH)
- 2 from return-approach points (1 FHV, 1 OH)
- 1 other FHV was played from significantly behind service line and has not been counted a net point
- FHs - 1 dtl pass at net and 1 running-down-drop-shot-off-a-drop-shot at net
- BHs - 2 dtl and 1 lob
Krickstein's FHs - 5 cc (2 passes - 1 a return, 1 at net), 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in return pass
- BH passes - 7 cc (2 returns) and 3 dtl (1 return, 1 net chord pop over)
- regular BH - 1 net chord dribbler
- the OH was on the bounce from no-man's land and not a net point
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Edberg 36
- 20 Unforced (9 FH, 8 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 16 Forced (1 FH, 2 BH, 7 FHV, 6 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 43.5
Krickstein 30
- 12 Unforced (6 FH, 5 BH, 1 BHV)
- 18 Forced (6 FH, 12 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.2
(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
Edberg was...
- 57/87 (66%) at net, including...
- 38/58 (66%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 30/46 (65%) off 1st serve and...
- 8/12 (67%) off 2nd serve
--
- 5/9 (55%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back
Krickstein was...
- 6/11 (55%) at net, with...
- 1/1 forced back
Match Report
Good contest between the net rushing of Edberg and the steadiness of Krickstein from the back
There are 5 breaks in first set. Krickstein strikes first to go up 2-0 in a 14 point game featuring 3 return winners. He wraps up the game in style - a strong return that yorks Edberg at net, sandwiched between two return winners - all against first serves. Edberg breaks right back by taking net 4 times in a deuce game, though the killing thrust is a fine BH dtl winner. The key point comes earlier, Krickstein missing an ambitious FH winner attempt that was out of sync with the way he was playing
They go through the same dance a few games later; Krickstein breaking with strong passes, Edberg breaking back with net play - again, a baseline BH dtl winner tipping the balance in his favour
For the final act of the set, Edberg breaks to go up 5-4. This time, Krickstein falters some by opening with 2 groundstroke UEs to fall behind 0-30. Edberg hits an excellent reflex BHV winner a couple of points later. Its another reflex volley, while down 0-30 in the next game, that turns a tricky situation for Edberg as he serves out the set
Of play, this first set is high level and interesting. Edberg does his usual silky serve-volleying bit off first serves but mostly stays back on seconds and one can readily understand why. Krickstein returns both strongly and consistently - even against first serves
On points starting from the baseline, Krickstein is impressive. He thoroughly dominates Edberg, moving him around and drawing errors. Most are unforced, but rallies do go on for awhile before they come. Krickstein never seems to miss a ball. Just 3 baseline UEs from Aaron in the set (he has 1 on the volley too, but barely comes in) - 2 in the last game he's broken. Edberg has 12 from baseline... Aaron moves him around with shots off and to both wings and waits for the error
Not only good stuff from Krickstein, but the fairly dynamic way he goes about it makes it difficult for Edberg to manufacture an approach. This, coupled with strong returns and passes (Edberg staying back on second serves suggests he was well aware of what Krickstein was capable of on this front) makes him dangerous
Krickstein draws first blood in second set as well. On break point, he forces serve-volleying Edberg back from net, moves him around in the now baseline rally and gets the error he was looking for
It would be inaccurate to describe a 22 game match 'turning' in the 17th game, but that is how it appears. Serving to consolidate his break, Krickstein, who'd been toying with Edberg from the baseline to this point, finds a different opponent. One who wants to try a new dance - coming to net
Edberg finds the net 7 times in the 16 point game, and demonstrates an eagerness to get there that had been missing til then. Most remarkable point is Edberg dashing forward amidst a regulation baseline rally (meaning, Krickstein has the power and prospective consistency advantage BH to BH), and FHV'ng a winner from a couple steps behind the baseline. Still, he needs Krickstein's help to get the break. Aaron opened the game with a bad BH miss when fully in control and ends missing a routine 3rd ball BH slice
Edberg gains decisive break after errors set Aaron back 15-40. He fights back to save 3 break points, but Edberg finishes strongly. An excellent stretch drop BHV winner brings up his 4th break point and he converts with a strong running FH cc that forces an error. And Edberg serves out the match comfortably
Stats & Play
Krickstein's play is that off a solid but artful baseliner. He misses little, moves Edberg around (i.e. doesn't just put balls in play) but stops short of going for the kill shots to end points. He actually does step up under pressure to hit a couple step in winners at critical times but the general plans seems to be to outlast Edberg
That he's capable of is clear. He's far, far better from the baseline. But its a risky strategy. Just as serve-volleying is dangerous because a missed volley plus a couple of good returns leaves the server in trouble, planning to win games regularly by outlasting a decent baseliner like Edberg is dangerous. Sooner or later, there'll come a game where Edberg holds steady and the errors come from Aaron... that's probably a break
That's what happens to a degree. Note Edberg with 17 groundstroke UEs, to Aaron's 11. That comparison looks less in Aaron's favour than action looked, but 9/11 of his errors came in the games he was broken. Very difficult to count on not making errors indefinitely on a hard court to win game after service game
On top of that, Edberg starts finding ways to net as the match wears on. With little to lose and everything to gain, its a good move from Edberg. Its a common enough mistake from a player clearly outclassed from the back to just remain there - hoping things change, but Edberg takes a more proactive path. And with success
The flip side of this is Krickstein's return and passing shots are strong enough that Edberg can't be too sure of holding serve indefinitely either. Note the very large 13 volleying FEs for Edberg - a testimony to Aaron's passing/returning. But Edberg volleys well enough to keep the odds in his favour. Just 3 UEs and 27 winners - 13 of them first volleys. A number of far from easy ones in those - balls under the net or/and powerfully struck are slipped away to end points
In short, tactically, Edberg's more likely to break than Krickstein is. The threat of Kricsktein breaking is based on his strong play - but Edberg proves to be still stronger in forecourt. The threat of Edberg breaking is based on for how long can Krickstein keep outlasting him from the back - and Edberg nudges those odds in his favour by coming to net. Credit to Edberg for a tactically smart match
Note both players low second serves points won. Edberg 43%, Aaron 35%.
Edberg's figure is based on staying back. Serve-volleying, he's a healthy 8/12. Sans double faults then, he's just 1/9... that's being outlasted from baseline. Krickstein's 35% second serve points won is disastrous for him though, especially in light of 0 double faults, Edberg missing 3 easy returns and Edberg only managing 5/9 returning approaching. Plenty of being at net on them by Edberg (even sans return-approaching), but a fair few groundstroke errors from Aaron too
Summing up, fine play from both players - Edberg with his precise volleying, net instincts and tactical adjustments of when to come in, Krickstein for solidity, strength and good passing/returning. Edberg is the more daring in face of resistance and it pays off
