Match Stats/Report - Edberg vs Stich, Hamburg final, 1992

[Waspsting]

Stefan Edberg beat Michael Stich 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the Hamburg final, 1992 on clay

It was Edberg's sole Masters level title on clay. He won 3 titles on the surface in total. Stich also won 3 career titles on clay

Edberg won 102 points, Stich 100

Edberg serve-volleyed off all but 4 first serves, Stich 2. Both players serve-volleyed minority of time off seconds

(Note: An Edberg service game cuts off at 40-30 that Edberg won. Based on time elapsed, its been assumed there was 1 further point. I'm missing serve direction and return data for 1 other point
Missing point - Set 2, Game 9, Point 6
Partial missing point - Set 2, Game 3, Point 3)

Serve Stats
Edberg...
- 1st serve percentage (69/110) 63%
- 1st serve points won (44/69) 64%
- 2nd serve points won (22/41) 54%
- Unknown serve point (1/1)
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (26/110) 24%

Stich...
- 1st serve percentage (62/91) 68%
- 1st serve points won (41/62) 66%
- 2nd serve points won (15/29) 52%
- Aces 1, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/91) 20%

Serve Patterns
Edberg served...
- to FH 13%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 14%

Stich served...
- to FH 23%
- to BH 74%
- to Body 2%

Return Stats
Edberg made...
- 72 (14 FH, 58 BH), including 4 return-approaches
- 5 Winners (1 FH, 4 BH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH)
- 14 Forced (5 FH, 9 BH)… including 1 return-approach attempt
- Return Rate (72/90) 80%

Stich made...
- 82 (15 FH, 66 BH, 1??), including 1 runaround FH & 1 return-approach
- 9 Winners (9 BH)
- 24 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 21 Forced (2 FH, 19 BH)
- Return Rate (82/108) 76%

Break Points
Edberg 4/8 (5 games)
Stich 2/7 (4 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Edberg 38 (3 FH, 11 BH, 11 FHV, 11 BHV, 2 OH)
Stich 41 (3 FH, 19 BH, 5 FHV, 12 BHV, 1 OH, 1 BHOH)

Edberg had 17 from serve-volley points
- 12 first volleys (6 FHV, 6 BHV)… 1 BHV was not clean and 1 was a net chord dribbler
- 4 second volleys (2 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 1 third volley (1 FHV)

- FHs (all passes) - 1 dtl, 1 inside-out return and 1 lob
- BH passes - 2 cc (1 return), 7 dtl (2 returns) and 1 inside-in return
- regular BH - 1 cc

Stich had 17 from serve-volley points
- 9 first 'volleys' (4 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 BH at net)… the BH at net was a drop shot
- 8 second volleys (1 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 OH, 1 BHOH)

- FH passes - 1 cc and 1 dtl
- regular FH - 1cc
- BH passes - 11 cc (7 returns - 1 Edberg left, 1 running-drop-volley) and 5 dtl (2 returns - 1 Edberg left)
- regular BHs - 1 dtl and 1 net chord dribbler (with Edberg at net)

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Edberg 39
- 16 Unforced (6 FH, 6 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- 23 Forced (6 FH, 8 BH, 8 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)… with 1 BH at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.1

Stich 36
- 18 Unforced (5 FH, 6 BH, 4 FHV, 3 BHV)… with 1 BH pass attempt
- 18 Forced (6 FH, 6 BH, 4 FHV, 2 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.8

(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...
- 58/93 (62%) at net, including...
- 46/73 (63%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 41/63 (65%) off 1st serve and...
- 5/10 (50%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/4 (50%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back

Stich was...
- 46/75 (61%) at net, including...
- 41/66 (62%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 37/58 (64%) off 1st serve and...
- 4/8 (50%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 return-approaching
- 1/3 (33%) forced back/retreated

Match Report
High quality serve-volley match on clay, especially the first set which is filled with long and tightly contested games. Rest of match is still good, though comfortable for the server and there's little in it. Its more like a fast court, serve-volley match where a couple of good or bad shots decide outcome than a clay one where one player comes off better than the other

Both players serve-volley virtually all the time off first serves (Edberg 94% of the time, Stich 97%) and to similar degree off seconds (Edberg 26%, Stich 29%). Edberg serves a lot more points (110-91) due to having couple of longer games in the tough first set (and serving 1 game extra). Starting from the back court, Edberg is keener to take net

103/202 points take place in the first set, where Edberg's games include 18 and 12 point games to go along with a couple of normal deuce games. Stich has a 16 point game also on top of a standard, 8 point deuce one

Serve, Return & Volley
The surprise stat here is unreturned serves: Edberg serving at 63% with 24% unreturned to Stich serving at 68% with 20% unreturned. And this is with both players serve-volleying at about the same rate (Stich slightly more, in fact)

In general, Stich has a much bigger serve. So what's going on here?

Stich holds back some on serve. Note just the 1 ace (and 1 service winner). On very rare occasions when he lets go with a big 1, it becomes apparent just how much he's held back. Both first serves he stays back on are unreturned and it seems like he didn't bother coming to net behind them because he knew they would be. Basically, he's chosen to hold back on serve to get a high percentage in, trusting to his volleys more than the serve

I would still primarily credit Edberg's returning, which is very consistent with return rate of 80%. The trade-off to that would usually be he's returning safely - which would manifest as leaving Stich easy first volleys
That's not what happens though. While Edberg doesn't return as attackingly as Stich (Edberg has 5 return winners. Stich 9), he returns about as offensively as you could hope with 80% return rate

Its not even 'offensive returning' exactly.... more like his regular return against serve-volleys is very good. Very few easy first volleys for Stich. The volleys that would be marked unforced error had he missed (he has 7 volleying UEs) tend to be tricky - balls about net high, or slow but dropping. The kind its not hard to put in play but difficult to hit winners and not easy to volley as to leave a difficult pass off

Stich's volleying suffers by comparison to Edberg, but is good. Makes most of the tricky ones and deals well with the tough ones. 6 FEs on the volley for Stich to Edberg's 9

On flip side, Edberg serves about his usual, less than strong showing. He goes less to the body than he's wont (14% there isn't high for him). Stich strainlessly attacks with returns... so strainlessly, you'd wonder if he is attacking or like Edberg, its just that his stock returning is this good. The 9 return winners testify to its damaging ability. Its precise placement more than power that does the damage - though he hits them firmly enough

Edberg has to be at his quickest and sharpest on the first volley. The first volleys he's presented with are typically against harder hit balls than the ones' he give Stich, with a good few that are wide and some low too. He's very secure on the volley with just 3 UEs (plus a bad OH miss)

To counter-balance, the 9 forecourt FEs are relatively not hard... below the knees but not to the feet, firm but not overpowering, coverable with 2 steps to the side but not at other end of court type stuff. Still very much forced, but worth noting Edberg's FEs aren't of the flagrant sort

Note both players serving about 75% to BH (Edberg 73%, Stich 74%). Edberg's strategy is more question here... Stich looks grooved and ready on the BH return, and better to mix it up to him a bit more. Stich's serve is strong enough that Edberg doesn't look in command when returning

Note unusual distribution of Edberg's BHV errors. 1 UE and 9 FEs (including 1 BH1/2V). The UE comes right at the end of the match and is about as tough as a UE can be. Serving to Stich's BH so much and with Stich preferring returning cc, the Edberg BHV is chief under the gun

 

[Waspsting]

Play - Volley & Pass
Edberg's better on the volley. There aren't many easy balls over the net for either player, but what there is, Edberg volleys more decisively. And places them away from Stich that much better to. In the latter area, Stich is less than top class, though as noted earlier, the easier volleys he gets are still tricky. Primarily credit to Edberg's returning for this, no discredit to Stich's volleying... just noting it isn't highest calibre. Occasionally, Stich's a bit lazy in getting down to volleys, but that's rare. Edberg is never like this though

Stich's better on the pass. Edberg's volley gives him more work and running to do and he pulls off some blinders. Pick of them is a running across and forward after turning sharply out of a corner to perfectly place a BH cc winner from just behind the service line but not far behind is a flick FH cc, played almost with his back to the net

The balance of power and placement in Stich's passing is beautiful. He hits firm-to-powerfully with timing rather than woodcutter swings and places precisely but short of cute for cutes sake. Combined with his easy court coverage, it's elegant stuff

Edberg struggles on the pass more. He has 8 non-return pass winners to Stich's 9, but his volleying made Stich play tougher passes. He doesn't have Stich's power and compensates with 1-2 combos, the '1' usually being the return shot drawing an 'up volley' and then going for the passing winner

Play - Baseline
By match end, baseline UEs are almost identical - Edberg 12, Stich 11 (including a pass)

Stich is the better baseliner, though not by much and its not a big factor in play. His shots are firmer and pointedly gets good depth compared to Edberg's. Stich controls baseline points more than not... but control of baseline points isn't too relevant. Rallies are fairly passive - thanks to Stich, a bit livelier than all-out who-blinks-first, but certainly, neither player is looking to end points forcefully. Rather, Stich in particularly looks to give Edberg awkward 'routine' shots... placed a bit wide and especially, deep

I think Stich errs in leading with BHs. For most of match, Edberg's FH was the more error prone from neutral situations and also lacking punch compared to his BH. Stich's by contrast is about the same strength as his BH. Near the end, Stich makes a few FH errors to leave UEs near even (Edberg 6, Stich 5)… I'd say that's a bad FH run from Stich, while Edberg's FH is weaker on the whole

Edberg compensates by coming in more. Coming to net from rallies, the two are identical of success rate - Edberg 10/16, Stich 5/8. That's a comparative win for Edberg since Stich was the stronger baseliner, hence coming in was harder for Edberg and Stich was stronger on the pass

Stich doesn't miss chances to come in, but could have done so more with minor risk. He prefers to play from baseline from mildly advantageous positions where manufacturing an approach would be an option. Edberg is more wise in this area... he comes in just enough. To have done so more would have been high risk, given the baseline positions

Match Progression
First set is glorious contest between server and returners. Average game length is 8.58 points per game (for rest of match, its 5.82). There's only 1 love game - the last, where Stich serves out the set

Edberg plays 1-2s on return - the returns low, Stich volleying up, and Edberg looking for the finishing pass after that. Stich hits lovely, clean BH returns that can end points all by themselves - and also engages in 1-2 combos like Edberg as a secondary option

It could be near even... but Stich hitting some very difficult passes from awkward to defensive positions gives him an edge in play

Stich gains first break with 2 BH cc pass winners (1 return) and forcing a BH1/2V error before Edberg double faults on break point. He manages to hold off 4 break points in a 16 point game right after to hold, but can't do it again the service game after that

Long games continue to be the norm. Stich gains the decisive break in an 18 point affair where there's just 1 UE and Stich strikes 4 return winners

Rest of match is still good, but not dramatic contest. 0 break points, 0 deuces in second set. Out of blue, Edberg breaks to take it - wrapping up with BH dtl pass set up by a low return and a BH dtl return pass. At times in the set, Stich goes big with first serves. He also misses most where he's trying to, and still holds back on it on the whole

Despite the 6-1 scoreline, play is fairly even in set 3 even. First break is a bit loose from Stich... he's a bit lazy to move to a slow, dropping volley that he misses and misses another volley to a slightly above average powerful return. Not bad play in an absolute sense, but an indication that match was never easy... these types of not easy but more makeable-than-not-balls are the staple of the match. He does have one horror shot though - a wild BH inside-out winner attempt that he goes for out of the blue and misses by a long way to give Edberg break point. Which he converts with a strong return to second serve that Stich cant' handle

Second break is one of Edberg's best return games. He strikes back-to-back return pass winners - the first BH inside-in, the second FH inside-out - having scarcely played either shot all match. Throws in an excellent wide return-approach that would possibly have forced an error even without the approach part, comes out ahead in a net-to-net battle he ends with OH and even the FH UE that ends the game isn't too easy for Stich

Summing up, good, net-based attacking match on typical slow clay. The volleying is good, the returning is better, the baseline contests are decent, the passing is good. First set is in particular is good stuff. Not much in it between the two - Stich's the better player in highest quality first set and a couple of spurts of extra something gives Edberg the next two, which are serve dominated
@Drob might find this interesting

Stats for pair's '93 Grand Slam Cup semi - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/match-stats-report-stich-vs-edberg-grand-slam-cup-semi-final-1993.668565/
Stats for Edberg's '93 Madrid final with Sergi Bruguera - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/match-stats-report-edberg-vs-bruguera-madrid-final-1993.655841/

 

[California]

Quick question, do you watch all the matches you write about on YouTube or do you have a big DVD or VHS collection of these matches? I love your write ups and would enjoy seeing these matches after reading about them. Thanks in advance.

 

[Waspsting]

Quick question, do you watch all the matches you write about on YouTube or do you have a big DVD or VHS collection of these matches? I love your write ups and would enjoy seeing these matches after reading about them. Thanks in advance.

Mostly youtube, though this particular one isn't there

There's a user who's uploaded a few Edberg matches recently that you might like. I'll get around to them soon

Samprasfan1987

www.youtube.com

 

[Drob]

[

Stefan Edberg beat Michael Stich 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the Hamburg final, 1992 on clay

It was Edberg's sole Masters level title on clay. He won 3 titles on the surface in total. Stich also won 3 career titles on clay

Edberg won 102 points, Stich 100

Edberg serve-volleyed off all but 4 first serves, Stich 2. Both players serve-volleyed minority of time off seconds

(Note: An Edberg service game cuts off at 40-30 that Edberg won. Based on time elapsed, its been assumed there was 1 further point. I'm missing serve direction and return data for 1 other point
Missing point - Set 2, Game 9, Point 6
Partial missing point - Set 2, Game 3, Point 3)

Serve Stats
Edberg...
- 1st serve percentage (69/110) 63%
- 1st serve points won (44/69) 64%
- 2nd serve points won (22/41) 54%
- Unknown serve point (1/1)
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (26/110) 24%

Stich...
- 1st serve percentage (62/91) 68%
- 1st serve points won (41/62) 66%
- 2nd serve points won (15/29) 52%
- Aces 1, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/91) 20%

Serve Patterns
Edberg served...
- to FH 13%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 14%

Stich served...
- to FH 23%
- to BH 74%
- to Body 2%

Return Stats
Edberg made...
- 72 (14 FH, 58 BH), including 4 return-approaches
- 5 Winners (1 FH, 4 BH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH)
- 14 Forced (5 FH, 9 BH)… including 1 return-approach attempt
- Return Rate (72/90) 80%

Stich made...
- 82 (15 FH, 66 BH, 1??), including 1 runaround FH & 1 return-approach
- 9 Winners (9 BH)
- 24 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 21 Forced (2 FH, 19 BH)
- Return Rate (82/108) 76%

Break Points
Edberg 4/8 (5 games)
Stich 2/7 (4 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Edberg 38 (3 FH, 11 BH, 11 FHV, 11 BHV, 2 OH)
Stich 41 (3 FH, 19 BH, 5 FHV, 12 BHV, 1 OH, 1 BHOH)

Edberg had 17 from serve-volley points
- 12 first volleys (6 FHV, 6 BHV)… 1 BHV was not clean and 1 was a net chord dribbler
- 4 second volleys (2 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 1 third volley (1 FHV)

- FHs (all passes) - 1 dtl, 1 inside-out return and 1 lob
- BH passes - 2 cc (1 return), 7 dtl (2 returns) and 1 inside-in return
- regular BH - 1 cc

Stich had 17 from serve-volley points
- 9 first 'volleys' (4 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 BH at net)… the BH at net was a drop shot
- 8 second volleys (1 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 OH, 1 BHOH)

- FH passes - 1 cc and 1 dtl
- regular FH - 1cc
- BH passes - 11 cc (7 returns - 1 Edberg left, 1 running-drop-volley) and 5 dtl (2 returns - 1 Edberg left)
- regular BHs - 1 dtl and 1 net chord dribbler (with Edberg at net)

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Edberg 39
- 16 Unforced (6 FH, 6 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- 23 Forced (6 FH, 8 BH, 8 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)… with 1 BH at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.1

Stich 36
- 18 Unforced (5 FH, 6 BH, 4 FHV, 3 BHV)… with 1 BH pass attempt
- 18 Forced (6 FH, 6 BH, 4 FHV, 2 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.8

(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...
- 58/93 (62%) at net, including...
- 46/73 (63%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 41/63 (65%) off 1st serve and...
- 5/10 (50%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/4 (50%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back

Stich was...
- 46/75 (61%) at net, including...
- 41/66 (62%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 37/58 (64%) off 1st serve and...
- 4/8 (50%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 return-approaching
- 1/3 (33%) forced back/retreated

Match Report
High quality serve-volley match on clay, especially the first set which is filled with long and tightly contested games. Rest of match is still good, though comfortable for the server and there's little in it. Its more like a fast court, serve-volley match where a couple of good or bad shots decide outcome than a clay one where one player comes off better than the other

Both players serve-volley virtually all the time off first serves (Edberg 94% of the time, Stich 97%) and to similar degree off seconds (Edberg 26%, Stich 29%). Edberg serves a lot more points (110-91) due to having couple of longer games in the tough first set (and serving 1 game extra). Starting from the back court, Edberg is keener to take net

103/202 points take place in the first set, where Edberg's games include 18 and 12 point games to go along with a couple of normal deuce games. Stich has a 16 point game also on top of a standard, 8 point deuce one

Serve, Return & Volley
The surprise stat here is unreturned serves: Edberg serving at 63% with 24% unreturned to Stich serving at 68% with 20% unreturned. And this is with both players serve-volleying at about the same rate (Stich slightly more, in fact)

In general, Stich has a much bigger serve. So what's going on here?

Stich holds back some on serve. Note just the 1 ace (and 1 service winner). On very rare occasions when he lets go with a big 1, it becomes apparent just how much he's held back. Both first serves he stays back on are unreturned and it seems like he didn't bother coming to net behind them because he knew they would be. Basically, he's chosen to hold back on serve to get a high percentage in, trusting to his volleys more than the serve

I would still primarily credit Edberg's returning, which is very consistent with return rate of 80%. The trade-off to that would usually be he's returning safely - which would manifest as leaving Stich easy first volleys
That's not what happens though. While Edberg doesn't return as attackingly as Stich (Edberg has 5 return winners. Stich 9), he returns about as offensively as you could hope with 80% return rate

Its not even 'offensive returning' exactly.... more like his regular return against serve-volleys is very good. Very few easy first volleys for Stich. The volleys that would be marked unforced error had he missed (he has 7 volleying UEs) tend to be tricky - balls about net high, or slow but dropping. The kind its not hard to put in play but difficult to hit winners and not easy to volley as to leave a difficult pass off

Stich's volleying suffers by comparison to Edberg, but is good. Makes most of the tricky ones and deals well with the tough ones. 6 FEs on the volley for Stich to Edberg's 9

On flip side, Edberg serves about his usual, less than strong showing. He goes less to the body than he's wont (14% there isn't high for him). Stich strainlessly attacks with returns... so strainlessly, you'd wonder if he is attacking or like Edberg, its just that his stock returning is this good. The 9 return winners testify to its damaging ability. Its precise placement more than power that does the damage - though he hits them firmly enough

Edberg has to be at his quickest and sharpest on the first volley. The first volleys he's presented with are typically against harder hit balls than the ones' he give Stich, with a good few that are wide and some low too. He's very secure on the volley with just 3 UEs (plus a bad OH miss)

To counter-balance, the 9 forecourt FEs are relatively not hard... below the knees but not to the feet, firm but not overpowering, coverable with 2 steps to the side but not at other end of court type stuff. Still very much forced, but worth noting Edberg's FEs aren't of the flagrant sort

Note both players serving about 75% to BH (Edberg 73%, Stich 74%). Edberg's strategy is more question here... Stich looks grooved and ready on the BH return, and better to mix it up to him a bit more. Stich's serve is strong enough that Edberg doesn't look in command when returning

Note unusual distribution of Edberg's BHV errors. 1 UE and 9 FEs (including 1 BH1/2V). The UE comes right at the end of the match and is about as tough as a UE can be. Serving to Stich's BH so much and with Stich preferring returning cc, the Edberg BHV is chief under the gun

Notwithstanding both serve-volleyed roughly three-quarters of the time (combining 1st and 2nd serves), this is still a lot of winners for both in relation to total games played, especially on clay, no?

 

[Waspsting]

Notwithstanding both serve-volleyed roughly three-quarters of the time (combining 1st and 2nd serves), this is still a lot of winners for both in relation to total games played, especially on clay, no?

Extremely so. Anything over 1 per game on clay is high

With 29 games, winners per game comes to Edberg 1.31, Stich 1.41

Factors that help are long game length - 6.93 (excluding point with unknown ending) and low unreturned rates

And note more winners than total errors, let alone just unforced ones, in play - 79 to 75... that'd be very rare regardless of surface or style of play and most likely to happen with very high unreturned rates

Very well played match from both