Match Stats/Report - Edberg vs Mansdorf, Wimbledon third round, 1990

[Waspsting]

Stefan Edberg beat Amos Mansdorf 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-2, 9-7 in the Wimbledon third round, 1990 on grass

Edberg would go onto win the title, beating Boris Becker in the final. Mansdorf had won his previous tournament coming into this event, Rosmalen on grass

Edberg won 160 points, Mansdorf 157

Edberg serve-volleyed off all but 1 first serve and all but 3 seconds, Mansdorf off all but 1 first serve and majority of time off seconds

Serve Stats
Edberg...
- 1st serve percentage (115/160) 72%
- 1st serve points won (86/115) 75%
- 2nd serve points won (22/45) 49%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (53/160) 33%

Mansdorf...
- 1st serve percentage (101/157) 64%
- 1st serve points won (72/101) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (33/56) 59%
- Aces 9
- Double Faults 8
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (47/156) 30%

Serve Patterns
Edberg served...
- to FH 14%
- to BH 76%
- to Body 10%

Mansdorf served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 60%
- to Body 8%

Return Stats
Edberg made...
- 102 (33 FH, 69 BH), including 3 runaround FHs & 8 return-approaches
- 7 Winners (2 FH, 5 BH)
- 38 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH), including 1 return-approach attempt
- 35 Forced (16 FH, 19 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- Return Rate (102/149) 68%

Mansdorf made...
- 101 (18 FH, 83 BH), including 3 runaround FHs & 2 return-approaches
- 14 Winners (6 FH, 8 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 48 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 FH)
- 47 Forced (11 FH, 36 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- Return Rate (101/154) 66%

Break Points
Edberg 5/7 (6 games)
Mansdorf 4/7 (5 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Edberg 56 (4 FH, 11 BH, 23 FHV, 14 BHV, 4 OH)
Mansdorf 61 (13 FH, 12 BH, 18 FHV, 10 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 7 OH)

Edberg had 38 from serve-volley points
- 24 first volleys (16 FHV, 8 BHV)
- 12 second volleys (6 FHV, 4 BHV, 2 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 FHV)
- 1 fourth volley (1 OH)

- 1 from a return-approach point, a BHV which was also a pass

- 15 passes (4 FH, 11 BH) - 7 returns (2 FH, 5 BH) & 8 regular (2 FH, 6 BH)
- FH returns - 1 dtl and 1 inside-in
- BH returns - 1 cc, 3 dtl and 1 inside-in
- regular FHs - 1 cc and 1 lob
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out, 1 longline and 1 lob

Mansdorf had 34 from serve-volley points
- 19 first 'volleys' (9 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 2 OH, 1 BH at net)... 1 OH can reasonably be called a FHV
- 13 second volleys (7 FHV, 3 BHV, 3 OH)
- 2 third volleys (2 OH)

- 22 passes (12 FH, 10 BH) - 13 returns (6 FH, 7 BH) & 9 regular (6 FH, 3 BH)
- FH returns - 4 cc (1 runaround), 1 dtl and 1 inside-out
- BH returns - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out, 1 inside-in and 1 inside-in/cc
- regular FHs - 3 cc, 2 dtl and 1 lob
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl and 1 lob

- regular (non-pass) FH - 1 dtl/inside-out
- regular BH return - 1 net chord dribbler (with Edberg at net)

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Edberg 43
- 12 Unforced (1 BH, 3 FHV, 6 BHV, 2 OH)... 1 OH can reasonably be called a FHV
- 31 Forced (9 FH, 11 BH, 2 FHV, 2 FH1/2V, 7 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 55.8

Mansdorf 43
- 16 Unforced (3 FH, 5 BH, 5 FHV, 3 BHV)... with 2 BH at net
- 27 Forced (7 FH, 9 BH, 3 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 51.3

(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 this match are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Edberg was...
- 110/162 (68%) at net, including...
- 101/145 (70%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 80/109 (73%) off 1st serve and...
- 21/36 (58%) off 2nd serve
---
- 3/8 (38%) return-approaching
- 0/2 forced back

Mansdorf was...
- 94/137 (69%) at net, including...
- 84/121 (69%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 63/91 (69%) off 1st serve and...
- 21/30 (70%) off 2nd serve
---
- 1/2 return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back

Match Report
A silky, high quality affair with nothing between the two players. Edberg happens to win, but result is not only a coin-flip, Mansdorf would be slightly favoured in the deciding set

On whole, match is as close as can get. Both players win exactly the same number of points that they serve - Edberg 160, Mans 157

By parts, scores for first 4 sets accurately captures who better player is and by what extent. Both players winning a set with 1 break and 1 with 2 break advantages - and both getting better of play to what you’d expect them to with that outcome

Final set is different kettle of fish. Both save their best serving for the decider and neither is troubled on serve. Mans in particular is very secure. He loses just 9 points in 8 service games - and 6 of those are in the game he’s broken in right at the end. In other words, going into his last service game, he’d lost 3 points in 7 holds, including a run of winning 27/28 points at one stage

He can’t conjure break point either but does push Edberg to deuce in a couple of games and looks the player more likely to get himself a break

Fine game from Edberg to break. He takes his first break point, with Mans missing routine volley on break point having volleyed nearly flawlessly all set

On the whole, Edberg is better volleyer, though Mans volleys well too. Mans is the better returner and passer

Edberg being better volleyer is based on him being that much more decisive in his finishing. Not much that’s dispatchable doesn’t get dispatched. Mans isn’t far behind, but not quite top drawer on finishing. Edberg’s in 1-volley mode. Mans doesn’t look a player that can be cleanly sorted as ‘1-volley’ or ‘2-volley’ net player… he plays the volley on merits of ball, preferring ending with 1 volley when possible but able to go 2 when not. Neither player misses much on the volley

Serve-volleying winners
- 1st volley - Edberg 24, Mans 19
- 2nd volley - Edberg 12, Mans 13
- post 2nd volley volley - both 2

That’s against backdrop of Mans being stronger returner and Edberg serve-volleying 145 times to Mans’ 121. Virtually even. Edberg being more decisive volleyer hasn’t come through in clearly in numbers

Little in it in areas other than decisivenes of the ‘volley’
- UEs - Edberg 11, Mans 10
- FEs - Edberg 12, Mans 11

Higher lot of Edberg’s FEs would be from theoritically low-percentage return-approaches against a serve-volleying Mans. Edberg’s just 3/8 on the play. In fact, Edberg usually comes in after drawing a weak half-volley, so they’re not particularly low percentage. Edberg's FEs tend to be harder forced than Mans' - higher lot of shoelace volleys for Edberg, and more lunging, wide volleys for Mans

In short, everything looks pretty close on the volley. As they're likely to, given -
- net points won - Edberg 68%, Mans 69%
- serve-volleying points won - Edberg 70%, Mans 69%

Mans’ advantage on the return in particular but also the pass is greater than Edberg’s on the volley. Edberg serves relentlessly to BH, directing 76% there with an additional 10% to the body. Early on in particular, he barely serves to FH at all and eventually starts going there when the stock stuff starts getting predictable to point of Mans being able to get into groove

The serving pattern is justified. Mans has 6 FH return winners, from just 18 successful returns. Efficiency of return winners -
- Mans FH 6/18 or 33%
- Mans BH 8/83 or 10%
- Edberg BH 5/69 or 7%
- Edberg FH 2/33 or 6%

Those numbers are slanted by Mans not serve-volleying as much (he serve-volleys 63% of time off 2nd serves. Remaining 3 serves are virtually 100% - both players staying back off 1 first serve and Edberg 3 times off second serve), but still, the vast superiority of Mans’ FH return shines through. Looking at that, might be worth running around to hit a few FH returns for Mans. Edberg's serve isn't powerful enough to discourage it and with large lot of crampingly close serves to BH, its well on the card. Mans doesn't try much - just 3 runaround FH returns (including a winner) and 2 errors trying

Some very elegant BH returning from Mans, particularly the slicey’ily directed inside-outs and slice’ily controlled, short inside-ins. Edberg’s faced with wide volleys and low ones occasionally. More so then he can dish out to Mans.

That’s in context of comfortable volleying on whole for both players. Not many bullet returns to the feet, not great power on the returns. Most returns reach serve-volleyer above net (i.e. routine volleys), and both deal with it neatly and efficiently. Edberg’s tested more on shoelace volleys, low volleys and wide volleys. Mans at times struggles some with slightly wide volleys he has to lunge slightly for

 

[Waspsting]

On the non-return pass, Mans has 9 winners, Edberg 8. That’s with Edberg’s volleys leaving Mans low chances to get a good pass off, compared to the other way around

Mans’ superiority on the return comes through in breakdown of serve-volley points won
- 1st serve-volleying won - Edberg 73%, Mans 69%
- 2nd serve-volleying won - Edberg 58%, Mans 70%

Quality of volleying and passing has already been covered. Now the serve. First serve strengh is about a wash. Edberg mixes up his first serves more, Mans more often sends down his biggest ones. The biggest ones aren’t particularly big and Edberg’s biggest ones are about same of force. Edberg volleying that little bit better accounts for him with advantage on the 1st serve-volleying figure

Edberg has stronger second serve with Mans’ being above average at most. Hence, Mans dominating his 2nd serve-volley points to that 70% point extent is impressive. Not very good returning from Edberg. Far less so than Mans - the large discrepancy is 2nd serve-volley points won is biggest indicator of difference in 2 players returning quality

Its a breezy day, how much so varying randomly, which has hand in curbing serving accuracy. Particularly for Edberg who occasionally takes a lot of first serves when breeze is on the up

Mans’ mixes up serve-volleying and staying back off 2nd serves.
- serve-volleying, he’s 21/30 at 70%
- staying back, he’s 12/18 at 67%

Both excellent numbers and both better than Edberg’s 58% serve-volleying (Edberg’s 1/3 staying back). Like the flexible way he volleys and can’t be pigeon-holed as either a 1-part of 2-part volleyer, Mans’ choices to come in and stay back are formless. This is high-quality ‘mixing it up’ - not staying back when serve is getting pounded or desperate or unthinking. Random, unpredictable and well done regardless of whether he serve-volleys or not

Usually, Mans comes in early when staying back, usually off third ball, but again, not to a patterned extent. Its a beautiful, free flowing showing from him

Other than serve-volley, net points -
- return-approaching - Edberg 3/8, Mans 1/2
- rallying to net - Edberg 6/9, Mans 9/14

Few points on that. Most of Edberg’s return-approaches come after seeing that Mans has to hit a half-volley (usually a wide one) first up and turn into net-to-net points, not chip-charges against a staying back Mans. Some excellent passes from Mans in the less common latter situation

Regarding the rallying to net figures, Mans comes in early on points he hasn’t seve-volleyed. Normal approaches, similar to serve-volley points and he wins bulk. Edberg less so, and he edges forward while making passes from baseline until he finds himself net-to-net with Mans. In that light, excellent 6/9 by Edberg

The edging forwad thing does speak to an inability or lack of confidence (largely justified) in his ability to make passes from the baseline. He takes more time away from himself to make the pass than he does Mans. Which goes back to Edberg not doing particularly well on the pass - or looking like he could even. Its the strategy of a player in a hopeless situation with nothing to lose. Mans plays very well at net, but not that well. Not hard to imagine a strong passing display giving him a much harder time at net than Edberg can manage

Late in the match in particular, Mans indulges a bit of edging forward stuff too. With him, it looks more like mixing it up than desperation and he’s able to get stronger passes off, even against the excellent volleying of Edberg

Finally, stats are fair indication of a very well played match
- Edberg 56 winners, 43 errors (12 UEs, 31 FEs)
- Mans 61 winners, 43 errors (16 UEs, 27 FEs)

More winners than total errors is common for all out serve-volley matches with no baseline play, particularly with high unreturned rates Here, there is some baseline play - there are 6 UEs and 1 winner baseline-to-baseline (all of those, save 1 UE, are by Mans), unreturned rates are moderate (33% Edberg, 30% Mans) and the difference in winners and errors is substantial. Excellently played match from both players - and very evenly matched

Match Progression
Mansdorf stays back off odd serve right from the start, usually coming in off the third ball when he does early on. Edberg serve-volleys all the time at start of match by contrast

Edberg has considerably better of first set, based largely on getting 80% first serves in to Mans' 59%. Strange winning rates for Mans in the opener - he wins 9/20 first serves points and 9/14 second serve wons

Mans struggles to hold more and endures 8 and 10 point holds (saving 1 break point) but grabs the first break to go up 4-3. Lovely BH inside-in/cc chopped return pass winner in the game. From 30-30, Edberg double faults and misses a regulation BHV. Edberg breaks back in strong fashion, finishing by return-approaching after drawing a 1/2volley and forcing volleying error net-to-net. Another good return game from Edberg to break to love next chance to take the set. Edberg serves 25 points, Mans 34 in the set

Play picks up in the second set with Mans volleying with greater confidence and getting more nicely guided returns off. Few long games on both players serve but just 1 break point (Edberg saves it). Fantastic return game by Mans at the end to break - forcing volleying errors, striking a BH cc return pass winner and on his second break point, forcing Edberg back to baseline and coming in to finish. Mans wins 20/24 first serve points for the set - a huge leap from first set. A first 'volley' BH1/2V winner by him is shot of the set

Mans has much better of third set and secures it with 2 breaks. Continues his dominance on first serve, winning 11/12 points. Returns with more power than before and Edberg stays back off occasional serve. Edberg slips and falls once - 1 of the rarest sights in tennis. Edberg misses the odd routine or even easy volley

Mans breaks to start the set in a game begining and ending with Edberg volley UEs, but Mans strikes consecutive FH return winners to bring up ultimately successful break point. He breaks again to finish set, another strong game, ending with consecutive passing winners. 2-1 Mansdorf and he looking much better player after shakey start

Worm turns in the 4th set and its Edberg who commands it. A few volley misses to slightly wide or close to body balls from Mans. Not quite routine volleys, but marked UEs. He doesn't have his opponents flawless movement around net. Edberg at the other end is brisk and breezy on serve, despite Mans continuing to get some good, well placed returns off

2 breaks for Edberg. First is mostly about Mans missing trickily, not-difficult volleys but Edberg finishes with a perfect FH lob winner. Second break is stronger from Edberg and he finishes with 2 BH passing winners (a longline from well up in court and a cc return)

With Edberg serving for the set, Mans open with consecutive BH return winners (inside-out and cc) before Edberg wins the next 4 points, ending with a point where he needs 2 difficult volleys to win. Onto the decider

Decider has the best serving of the match. In basic numbers -
- first serve in - Edberg 76%, Mans 78%
- first serve won - Edberg 80%, Mans 78%
- second serve won - Edberg 36%, Mans 78%

I'd back Mans to have come out ahead looking at those numbers. He loses 3 points in his first 7 service games, 2 of them in his opening game (which he loses when up 40-0). Virtual complete security on serve by Mans for the set. He serves at his best for the match, but its nowhere near being untouchable or unplayable stuff. Edberg doesn't face break point either, though he's taken to deuce twice. 2 double faults threaten to unravel him in the second deuce game in game 8, before he comes through to hold

Great game from Edberg to finally break. He punishes average volleys with BH lob winner, followed by BH dtl pass one gets him to 30-30 and an ace and double fault later, its deuce. Finally secures the break after 10 points, where Mans mistimes a slightly quicker than routine second volley that he tries to drop into the net. Not great volleying from Mans in the game, but not disimilar to what he'd been doing for much of set. Its Edberg pulling up his socks on the pass that gets him the break. And Edberg serves out to love with 4 first serves, 3 unreturned and a fluke-ish looking second FHV winner

Summing up, a coin-flip match of fine and elegant play. Edberg has slightly better serve, but Mansdorf returns more damagingly, with his FH (that doesnt' see much action) particularly deadly. Edberg is the better volleyer -both in being decisive and at coping with tougher volleys - but Mansdorf is also good. Edberg does not pass particularly well from the baseline and improvisational return-approaches and edging forward while hitting passes are usually unsucessful too. Mansdorf passes better, but against Edberg's better placed volleying, doesn't get as many good looks at the pass

It all comes out very even on the scoreboard as both men save their best serving for the decider. Mansdorf has better of the set, though Edberg's not troubled much either and finally, one decent return game from Edberg gets him the break to snatch the win

Stats for the final between Edberg and Boris Becker - Match Stats/Report - Edberg vs Becker, Wimbledon final, 1990 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)

 

[onehandbh]

Full match video.
Edberg vs Charlie Sheen

 

[andreh]

Nice report. This match is a great exponent of classic grass court tennis - a highlight of the 1990 W.

 

[bluetrain4]

Edberg had multiple dramatic close calls during some of his Slam runs. This Mansdorf match, the 1988 Wimbledon semis to Mecir (down 0-2 sets and I think a break in the fifth), and of course the 1992 US Open run where he was down a break in the fifth in the Rnd 16, QFs, and SFs (Krajicek, Lendl, Chang) - and won all of them and then beat Sampras in the final. Whew. He sure could gut out a win.

Seems like Mansdorf has a tricky serve that Edberg really didn't like.