Roger Federer beat Richard Gasquet 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the Canadian Open final, 2006 on hard court in Toronto
It was Federer's 17th consecutive final, one short of the Open Era record by Ivan Lendl. Federer would lose to Andy Murray at his next tournament (Cincinnati) in the third round. Gasquet was unseeded and ranked 51 at the time
Federer won 85 points, Gasquet 80
Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (50/88) 57%
- 1st serve points won (37/50) 74%
- 2nd serve points won (18/38) 47%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/88) 19%
Gasquet...
- 1st serve percentage (44/77) 57%
- 1st serve points won (32/44) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (15/33) 45%
- Aces 2, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (12/77) 16%
Serve Patterns
Federer served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 56%
- to Body 2%
Gasquet served...
- to FH 28%
- to BH 70%
- to Body 1%
Return Stats
Federer made...
- 62 (21 FH, 41 BH), including 5 runaround FHs & 1 return-approach
- 9 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (2 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 4 Forced (2 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (62/74) 84%
Gasquet made...
- 67 (27 FH, 40 BH)
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 7 Forced (4 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (67/84) 80%
Break Points
Federer 3/11 (4 games)
Gasquet 2/10 (4 games)
Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Federer 23 (8 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 8 BHV, 2 OH)
Gasquet 17 (8 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
Federer's FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 4 inside-out and 1 longline net-to-net
- BHs - 1 cc pass and 3 dtl (1 pass)
- 1 from a serve-volley point - a first volley, BHV that was a net chord dribbler
Gasquet's FHs - 3 cc (2 passes), 1 dtl net-to-net, 2 inside-out and 2 inside-in
- BHs - 3 cc passes and 1 inside-out
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Federer 47
- 34 Unforced (21 FH, 11 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
- 13 Forced (6 FH, 5 BH, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50.9
Gasquet 42
- 22 Unforced (11 FH, 9 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 20 Forced (8 FH, 10 BH, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.8
(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)
(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
Federer was...
- 25/37 (68%) at net, including...
- 2/5 (40%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 2/4 (50%) off 1st serve and...
- 0/1 off 2nd serve
---
- 1/1 return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back
Gasquet was...
- 12/21 (57%) at net, including...
- 2/3 (67%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 0/1 forced back
Match Report
A lively match in which Federer's frequent trips to the net puts him over though the unseeded Gasquet makes it a tough match by being solid and holding even from the baseline
After taking the first set convincingly 6-2, Gasquet has Federer down 0-40 in the opening game of the second set and 15-40 in the return game after that. Fed not only holds both games - erasing all but 1 break point with aggressive plays, and carrying on to hold in the same vein - but breaks himself in between. Gasquet sees no further break points, though he remains 'in' Federer's service games, if not a huge threat to break, for rest of match
The court is perfect - neither too fast, nor too slow. Neutral rallies are edgy, with extra hard or well placed shots being challenging but not overwhelming. Attacking play is likely to be rewarded. One can readily imagine a grinder style of play being effective on it - though neither player goes this route
Serve & Return
The returning is better than the serving from both players and largely cancel out
Unreturned rates of 19% and 16% are distinctly low. There is potential to do more damage with the serve and I would credit sure returning from both for keeping it so low, especially Gasquet, who faces the stronger serve
Federer has a better serve, as evidenced by his 6 aces (Gasquet has 2 and 1 service winner). He's able to swing Gasquet out wide to open court to set up third ball groundies to open court when so inclined. Gasquet tends to fall back to second serves and is firm as well as sure in returning it
By contrast, much of Gasquet's serving presents regulation returns for Fed, who can swing through the ball without having to move. Its not too powerful a serve either, and Fed returns comfortably. Late in the match, he takes to attacking the odd second serve with runaround FHs and once, chip-charges his way to net
In a nutshell, Federer with the stronger serve and slightly more attacking returning. With return rates so high, that might not seem too important, but give how close action is, it turns out to be
When return is made, Fed wins 65 points, Gasq 64... with matters so close, Fed's edge in serve-return complex. The points Fed wins in play are also set up by the serve in play to a greater extent than Gasquet's too
Play - Baseline & Net
Play is lively and mostly on Federer's racquet
Fed's 50.9 UEFI with 32/34 errors being baseline one's is extremely high. A bit deceptively so. I'd describe Fed's baseline play as 'ambitious' rather than 'wild' (which is what a 50.9 score would be more in line with). He rallies neutrally most of the time, with an eye to shifting to attacking. Gasquet holds even in the neutral rallies off both sides (neutral unforced errors - Fed 14, Gasquet 12). He too shifts to attacking - usually with an extra hard hit ball, usually a FH inside-out or inside-in - moderately, relative to Fed, who goes for winners from half-chances arising from neutral rallies
Gasquet's way is better, even with Fed defending quite well. The edge moves to Fed due to net play. Fed looks to come in throughout the match. Whenever he's pushed Gasquet out of position a bit - wide or deep - he dashes to net. Fed's at net 37 times (almost double Gasquet's 21 trips forward), winning 25 or 68%. When coming in off rallies, its an even higher 71%
Gasquet starts coming in more to an extent likely due to keeping Fed from doing so. Otherwise, he's happy to rally neutrally-cum-attackingly from the back. Fed being strong on the pass accounts for relatively low 57% net points won (and its just 10/18 sans the 3 serve-volleys)
Fed's a lot better doing this than trying to kill points from the back. He has 17 winner attempt UEs, to only 3 attacking ones... I haven't seen a ratio like this before. Again, its a stat associated with wild play, but that isn't the case. He makes most attacking shots as Gasquet's high 20 forced errors indicate (Fed has 13 by contrast)
Fed FH is the chief culprit. 21 UEs from it - about double the next worst (Gasquet FH and Fed BH both have 11). Gasquet's BH is the most secure shot with 9
BH rallies are an elegant sight between the two 1 handers. Fed's more apt to try to attack dtl. Both hit firm, Gasquet probably a shade more powerful and able to get extra angle on the shot
Match Progression
Gasquet breaks in game 3. After saving 2 break points from 0-40 down, Fed misses a BH dtl winner attempt. Next game, Gasquet goes on to hold after being down 0-40, erasing the first break point with a wonderful, corner to corner FH inside-in winner
Gasq makes it 2 breaks the game after. He hits two stunning BH cc pass winners from defensive positions in it, but the game ends with 3 successive Fed UEs - the last, an easy first FHV serve-volleying
Fed's down 0-40 in first game of second set on back of double fault and 2 third ball misses. He manages to hold and has 2 break points of his own next game. Gasq erases them with 2 strong FHs that force errors, but goes on to get broken after double faulting and bringing Fed to net with a drop shot
Fed struggles to consolidate. Gasq brings up 2 break points after lob volleying Federer away from net and dispatching a BHV winner. Fed commandingly pushes game to deuce. There's another great point later in the game when Fed hits a great running slice lob and Gasquet is able to retrieve it ankle high with his back to the net
No more break points for Gasquet, though he pushes Fed to deuce twice. In second set, the unseeded player starts breaking down and making more errors. 10 of his 22 UEs come in that set. There are some great shots in the set - a squash shot, FH cc passing winner from Gasquet and 2 FH cc's from Fed - 1 played on half-volley near service line and 1 an extreme angled shot - stand out. Fed gains his break in games where Gasquet makes a number of UEs
Summing up, a fun match with elegant and even exchanges from the baseline and Fed looking to collar action. He fails more often than not from the back, but gets the job done proactively at net. Solid and commendable showing from Gasquet too, who's strong off both sides from the back but can't find a solution to his opponent being at net
Stats for Federer's match with Andy Murray '06 Cincinnati - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-federer-cincinnati-second-round-2006.666958/
It was Federer's 17th consecutive final, one short of the Open Era record by Ivan Lendl. Federer would lose to Andy Murray at his next tournament (Cincinnati) in the third round. Gasquet was unseeded and ranked 51 at the time
Federer won 85 points, Gasquet 80
Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (50/88) 57%
- 1st serve points won (37/50) 74%
- 2nd serve points won (18/38) 47%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/88) 19%
Gasquet...
- 1st serve percentage (44/77) 57%
- 1st serve points won (32/44) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (15/33) 45%
- Aces 2, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (12/77) 16%
Serve Patterns
Federer served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 56%
- to Body 2%
Gasquet served...
- to FH 28%
- to BH 70%
- to Body 1%
Return Stats
Federer made...
- 62 (21 FH, 41 BH), including 5 runaround FHs & 1 return-approach
- 9 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (2 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 4 Forced (2 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (62/74) 84%
Gasquet made...
- 67 (27 FH, 40 BH)
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 7 Forced (4 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (67/84) 80%
Break Points
Federer 3/11 (4 games)
Gasquet 2/10 (4 games)
Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Federer 23 (8 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 8 BHV, 2 OH)
Gasquet 17 (8 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
Federer's FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 4 inside-out and 1 longline net-to-net
- BHs - 1 cc pass and 3 dtl (1 pass)
- 1 from a serve-volley point - a first volley, BHV that was a net chord dribbler
Gasquet's FHs - 3 cc (2 passes), 1 dtl net-to-net, 2 inside-out and 2 inside-in
- BHs - 3 cc passes and 1 inside-out
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Federer 47
- 34 Unforced (21 FH, 11 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
- 13 Forced (6 FH, 5 BH, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50.9
Gasquet 42
- 22 Unforced (11 FH, 9 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 20 Forced (8 FH, 10 BH, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.8
(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)
(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
Federer was...
- 25/37 (68%) at net, including...
- 2/5 (40%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 2/4 (50%) off 1st serve and...
- 0/1 off 2nd serve
---
- 1/1 return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back
Gasquet was...
- 12/21 (57%) at net, including...
- 2/3 (67%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 0/1 forced back
Match Report
A lively match in which Federer's frequent trips to the net puts him over though the unseeded Gasquet makes it a tough match by being solid and holding even from the baseline
After taking the first set convincingly 6-2, Gasquet has Federer down 0-40 in the opening game of the second set and 15-40 in the return game after that. Fed not only holds both games - erasing all but 1 break point with aggressive plays, and carrying on to hold in the same vein - but breaks himself in between. Gasquet sees no further break points, though he remains 'in' Federer's service games, if not a huge threat to break, for rest of match
The court is perfect - neither too fast, nor too slow. Neutral rallies are edgy, with extra hard or well placed shots being challenging but not overwhelming. Attacking play is likely to be rewarded. One can readily imagine a grinder style of play being effective on it - though neither player goes this route
Serve & Return
The returning is better than the serving from both players and largely cancel out
Unreturned rates of 19% and 16% are distinctly low. There is potential to do more damage with the serve and I would credit sure returning from both for keeping it so low, especially Gasquet, who faces the stronger serve
Federer has a better serve, as evidenced by his 6 aces (Gasquet has 2 and 1 service winner). He's able to swing Gasquet out wide to open court to set up third ball groundies to open court when so inclined. Gasquet tends to fall back to second serves and is firm as well as sure in returning it
By contrast, much of Gasquet's serving presents regulation returns for Fed, who can swing through the ball without having to move. Its not too powerful a serve either, and Fed returns comfortably. Late in the match, he takes to attacking the odd second serve with runaround FHs and once, chip-charges his way to net
In a nutshell, Federer with the stronger serve and slightly more attacking returning. With return rates so high, that might not seem too important, but give how close action is, it turns out to be
When return is made, Fed wins 65 points, Gasq 64... with matters so close, Fed's edge in serve-return complex. The points Fed wins in play are also set up by the serve in play to a greater extent than Gasquet's too
Play - Baseline & Net
Play is lively and mostly on Federer's racquet
Fed's 50.9 UEFI with 32/34 errors being baseline one's is extremely high. A bit deceptively so. I'd describe Fed's baseline play as 'ambitious' rather than 'wild' (which is what a 50.9 score would be more in line with). He rallies neutrally most of the time, with an eye to shifting to attacking. Gasquet holds even in the neutral rallies off both sides (neutral unforced errors - Fed 14, Gasquet 12). He too shifts to attacking - usually with an extra hard hit ball, usually a FH inside-out or inside-in - moderately, relative to Fed, who goes for winners from half-chances arising from neutral rallies
Gasquet's way is better, even with Fed defending quite well. The edge moves to Fed due to net play. Fed looks to come in throughout the match. Whenever he's pushed Gasquet out of position a bit - wide or deep - he dashes to net. Fed's at net 37 times (almost double Gasquet's 21 trips forward), winning 25 or 68%. When coming in off rallies, its an even higher 71%
Gasquet starts coming in more to an extent likely due to keeping Fed from doing so. Otherwise, he's happy to rally neutrally-cum-attackingly from the back. Fed being strong on the pass accounts for relatively low 57% net points won (and its just 10/18 sans the 3 serve-volleys)
Fed's a lot better doing this than trying to kill points from the back. He has 17 winner attempt UEs, to only 3 attacking ones... I haven't seen a ratio like this before. Again, its a stat associated with wild play, but that isn't the case. He makes most attacking shots as Gasquet's high 20 forced errors indicate (Fed has 13 by contrast)
Fed FH is the chief culprit. 21 UEs from it - about double the next worst (Gasquet FH and Fed BH both have 11). Gasquet's BH is the most secure shot with 9
BH rallies are an elegant sight between the two 1 handers. Fed's more apt to try to attack dtl. Both hit firm, Gasquet probably a shade more powerful and able to get extra angle on the shot
Match Progression
Gasquet breaks in game 3. After saving 2 break points from 0-40 down, Fed misses a BH dtl winner attempt. Next game, Gasquet goes on to hold after being down 0-40, erasing the first break point with a wonderful, corner to corner FH inside-in winner
Gasq makes it 2 breaks the game after. He hits two stunning BH cc pass winners from defensive positions in it, but the game ends with 3 successive Fed UEs - the last, an easy first FHV serve-volleying
Fed's down 0-40 in first game of second set on back of double fault and 2 third ball misses. He manages to hold and has 2 break points of his own next game. Gasq erases them with 2 strong FHs that force errors, but goes on to get broken after double faulting and bringing Fed to net with a drop shot
Fed struggles to consolidate. Gasq brings up 2 break points after lob volleying Federer away from net and dispatching a BHV winner. Fed commandingly pushes game to deuce. There's another great point later in the game when Fed hits a great running slice lob and Gasquet is able to retrieve it ankle high with his back to the net
No more break points for Gasquet, though he pushes Fed to deuce twice. In second set, the unseeded player starts breaking down and making more errors. 10 of his 22 UEs come in that set. There are some great shots in the set - a squash shot, FH cc passing winner from Gasquet and 2 FH cc's from Fed - 1 played on half-volley near service line and 1 an extreme angled shot - stand out. Fed gains his break in games where Gasquet makes a number of UEs
Summing up, a fun match with elegant and even exchanges from the baseline and Fed looking to collar action. He fails more often than not from the back, but gets the job done proactively at net. Solid and commendable showing from Gasquet too, who's strong off both sides from the back but can't find a solution to his opponent being at net
Stats for Federer's match with Andy Murray '06 Cincinnati - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-federer-cincinnati-second-round-2006.666958/
