Roger Federer beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6(3) in the Paris final, 2011 on indoor hard court
It was Federer's first and to date only title at the event, while Tsonga had had won the title in 2008. Federer would go onto win the Year End Championship title for a record breaking sixth time and finish outside the top two for the year for the first time since 2002
Federer won 73 points, Tsonga 58
Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (43/70) 61%
- 1st serve points won (38/43) 88%
- 2nd serve points won (14/27) 52%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (22/70) 31%
Tsonga...
- 1st serve percentage (37/61) 61%
- 1st serve points won (28/37) 76%
- 2nd serve points won (12/24) 50%
- Aces 7 (1 second serve), Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (27/61) 44%
Serve Pattern
Federer served...
- to FH 28%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 13%
Tsonga served...
- to FH 25%
- to BH 75%
Return Stats
Federer made...
- 32 (16 FH, 16 BH), including 5 runaround FH & 2 return-approaches
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (1 FH, 5 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 12 Forced (1 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (32/59) 54%
Tsonga made...
- 48 (14 FH, 34 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 2 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (2 BH)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 15 Forced (5 FH, 10 BH)
- Return Rate (48/70) 69%
Break Points
Federer 2/5 (3 games)
Tsonga 0/4 (3 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Federer 15 (9 FH, 2 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Tsonga 15 (5 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV, 3 OH)
Federer's FHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl pass, 4 inside-out and 1 inside-in
- BHs - 2 cc (1 turnaround pass)
- 1 FHV was the first volley of a serve-volley point and the other was a swinging shot hit from behind the service line and not a net point
- the OH was hit on the bounce
Tsonga's FHs - 1 cc pass, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net, 2 inside-out and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 1 cc and 2 inside-out returns
- 2 first volleys from serve-volley points (1 FHV, 1 BHV), the FHV being a stop
- 1 OH came from a return-approach point
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Federer 15
- 8 Unforced (6 FH, 2 BH)
- 7 Forced (4 FH, 3 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.5
Tsonga 34
- 22 Unforced (11 FH, 11 BH)
- 12 Forced (5 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.2
(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...
- 9/11 (82%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a first serve
---
- 2/2 return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back
Tsonga was...
- 13/16 (81%) at net, including...
- 5/5 (100%) serve-volleying, all first serves
---
- 2/2 return-approaching
Match Report
A straight forward, who-plays-the-big-points better type match on a fast-ish hard court
How fast exactly is "fast-ish"? Fast enough for serve to dominate, but not 44% unreturned serve rate fast (as Tsonga impressively has)
Match starts fast with Federer falling to 15-40 in his opening service game on the back of 2 BH UEs. He saves both break points with unreturned serves (1 an unforced error by Tsonga) and wins the game when a Tsonga BH dtl is called long (it wasn't, it was on the line and should have been a winner)
Second game is almost a mirror image. Tsonga starts with 2 aces, but goes on to get broken with ill-judged attacking shot errors (a winner attempt, a drop shot and a would-be approach). He's broken again in game 4 off a double fault in a game highlighted by a beautiful stop FHV winner by Tsonga... but it can't make up for 3 more UEs in play
Despite the scoreline, Federer doesn't have it all his own way in the first set. He's pushed to deuce in 3/4 service games
Second set is mostly comfortable service holds and Tsonga has slightly better of it on return. He brings up his 3rd break point of the match in game 4 with a good FH cc pass, after a couple of loose FH errors from Fed to start the game. Jo goes for broke on the second serve return and misses it and goes onto lose the game after another ill judged drop shot attempt
There are 2 thrilling back-to-back games near the end. With Federer serving, Jo launches an all out attack, winning two points with return-approaches and striking a stunning BH inside-out return winner off a body serve. Its the same attacking spirit that lets him down though as he misses 3 winner attempts to fail to break
Next game, its Fed's turn. Back to back winners bring up his first break point of the set. The second of these is the point and shot of the match. An at net Tsonga hits a lovely stop 1/2volley, which Fed races down and pokes up, only for Tsonga to lob volley. Fed races back and unleashes a turnaround BH cc passing winner. He's thwarted on break point though by a serve-volleying Tsonga.
Federer is always in command of the tiebreak with strong serves and Tsonga UEs. He finishes the match on an unbroken run of making 13 first serves (all won)
Serve & Return
Raw numbers are slightly misleading in that in the second set, both players (particularly Federer) seem to play a wait-for-a-chance type game on return. Not quite tanking return games, but not going all out either - selectively sharpening and dimming focus you could say
Both serve at 61%. Tsonga gets the better of the serve-return complex overall
Strong serving both players, especially Tsonga... but not 44% unreturned serves strong. Credit to both for serving well but some discredit to Federer's returning. Note the high 6 return UEs from Fed (Tsonga has 3)… these were mostly attacking shots. Tsonga's serve isn't so strong that such plays can be termed ambitious... Fed just fails to execute
Both players return-approach twice and both win both points
Note the weakness of Federer's BH return with 5 UEs (and 11 FEs). Tsonga's 25/75 serve distribution is a good one. On odd occasions when I see someone serving near 50-50 to Federer, I wonder what they're thinking... there are very few player who so clearly have a stronger returning side
Some excellent returns from Tsonga. The 2 BH inside-out winners are both superb. He misses a few attacking returns (even against first serve) but its probably the right play for him given he wasn't doing well rallying
13% body serves from Federer. I haven't seen him utilize this serve much and think its a good fit for him in particular with his precision. Works very well here, against a somewhat heavy footed Tsonga
Play
Federer gets the better of play comfortably, in all areas save perhaps net play - which is a minority area in this match
First and foremost, he's far more solid of ground where the bulk of the action takes place. 8 UEs, most of them attacking shots. UEFI of 47.5 is high for an all groundstroke count, especially as Federer doesn't miss any winner attempts. 2 neutral and 6 attacking UEs from Fed
Tsonga though deserves more discredit than Fed does credit on consistency grounds. He's pretty sloppy, especially of the BH, which misses many a routine ball
Comparison of UEFI and its breakdown is not only interesting but paints a near perfect picture of play. Tsonga's score of 48.2 is even higher than Federer's and also made up exclusively of groundstrokes. But whereas Fed was solid of consistency, Tsonga isn't (9 neutral errors). Whereas Federer was measured (and successful) in full fledged attacks, Tsonga is erratic (5 winner attempt errors)
Still, good strategy from Jo. If your the less consistent player, its up to you to step up and be aggressive. That's what he tried to do... good thinking, but the execution is off
Late in the match, Federer unloads with a host of FH winners, hitting 4 3rd ball winners on successive service points (3 in his last service game, 1 in the tiebreak). A couple are set up by strong serves and a couple are by no means gimmes (though he typically makes them look otherwise)
While neither players ventures forward much, both are highly successful in the forecourt (Fed winning 82%, Jo 81%). Was looking to take net a viable option for turning the tide for Jo? Probably not... most of his approaches are on his service points, which he's in command of. From neutral rallying scenarios, Fed's ground game is strong enough to make approaching difficult
Good blend of consistency and shot making from Federer. While both players have 15 winners, he forces 12 errors out of Jo - 5 more than Jo can force out of him. This is optimal play... winning points aggressively without taking undue risks. One gathers, especially in the flood of winners towards the end, that Federer has an extra shot making gear he's not using for most of the match... good idea to not go there when you can win points from your opponent being loose
For all the analysis, though, its basically a -who-plays-the-big-points-well match, the kind that is decided by a point here and a point there
Note the break points - both having them in 3 separate games, Fed having just 1 more.... and most importantly, Fed winning 2, Tsonga 0. Note Federer serving 9 more points in the match (partially because he served the extra game)
Summing up, competitive contest with some strong serving from Tsonga and less than stellar returning from Federer. But Federer is far better in play, hitting a good balance in attacking and being solid - and he plays the big points better
It was Federer's first and to date only title at the event, while Tsonga had had won the title in 2008. Federer would go onto win the Year End Championship title for a record breaking sixth time and finish outside the top two for the year for the first time since 2002
Federer won 73 points, Tsonga 58
Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (43/70) 61%
- 1st serve points won (38/43) 88%
- 2nd serve points won (14/27) 52%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (22/70) 31%
Tsonga...
- 1st serve percentage (37/61) 61%
- 1st serve points won (28/37) 76%
- 2nd serve points won (12/24) 50%
- Aces 7 (1 second serve), Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (27/61) 44%
Serve Pattern
Federer served...
- to FH 28%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 13%
Tsonga served...
- to FH 25%
- to BH 75%
Return Stats
Federer made...
- 32 (16 FH, 16 BH), including 5 runaround FH & 2 return-approaches
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (1 FH, 5 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 12 Forced (1 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (32/59) 54%
Tsonga made...
- 48 (14 FH, 34 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 2 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (2 BH)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 15 Forced (5 FH, 10 BH)
- Return Rate (48/70) 69%
Break Points
Federer 2/5 (3 games)
Tsonga 0/4 (3 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Federer 15 (9 FH, 2 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Tsonga 15 (5 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV, 3 OH)
Federer's FHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl pass, 4 inside-out and 1 inside-in
- BHs - 2 cc (1 turnaround pass)
- 1 FHV was the first volley of a serve-volley point and the other was a swinging shot hit from behind the service line and not a net point
- the OH was hit on the bounce
Tsonga's FHs - 1 cc pass, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net, 2 inside-out and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 1 cc and 2 inside-out returns
- 2 first volleys from serve-volley points (1 FHV, 1 BHV), the FHV being a stop
- 1 OH came from a return-approach point
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Federer 15
- 8 Unforced (6 FH, 2 BH)
- 7 Forced (4 FH, 3 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.5
Tsonga 34
- 22 Unforced (11 FH, 11 BH)
- 12 Forced (5 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.2
(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...
- 9/11 (82%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a first serve
---
- 2/2 return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back
Tsonga was...
- 13/16 (81%) at net, including...
- 5/5 (100%) serve-volleying, all first serves
---
- 2/2 return-approaching
Match Report
A straight forward, who-plays-the-big-points better type match on a fast-ish hard court
How fast exactly is "fast-ish"? Fast enough for serve to dominate, but not 44% unreturned serve rate fast (as Tsonga impressively has)
Match starts fast with Federer falling to 15-40 in his opening service game on the back of 2 BH UEs. He saves both break points with unreturned serves (1 an unforced error by Tsonga) and wins the game when a Tsonga BH dtl is called long (it wasn't, it was on the line and should have been a winner)
Second game is almost a mirror image. Tsonga starts with 2 aces, but goes on to get broken with ill-judged attacking shot errors (a winner attempt, a drop shot and a would-be approach). He's broken again in game 4 off a double fault in a game highlighted by a beautiful stop FHV winner by Tsonga... but it can't make up for 3 more UEs in play
Despite the scoreline, Federer doesn't have it all his own way in the first set. He's pushed to deuce in 3/4 service games
Second set is mostly comfortable service holds and Tsonga has slightly better of it on return. He brings up his 3rd break point of the match in game 4 with a good FH cc pass, after a couple of loose FH errors from Fed to start the game. Jo goes for broke on the second serve return and misses it and goes onto lose the game after another ill judged drop shot attempt
There are 2 thrilling back-to-back games near the end. With Federer serving, Jo launches an all out attack, winning two points with return-approaches and striking a stunning BH inside-out return winner off a body serve. Its the same attacking spirit that lets him down though as he misses 3 winner attempts to fail to break
Next game, its Fed's turn. Back to back winners bring up his first break point of the set. The second of these is the point and shot of the match. An at net Tsonga hits a lovely stop 1/2volley, which Fed races down and pokes up, only for Tsonga to lob volley. Fed races back and unleashes a turnaround BH cc passing winner. He's thwarted on break point though by a serve-volleying Tsonga.
Federer is always in command of the tiebreak with strong serves and Tsonga UEs. He finishes the match on an unbroken run of making 13 first serves (all won)
Serve & Return
Raw numbers are slightly misleading in that in the second set, both players (particularly Federer) seem to play a wait-for-a-chance type game on return. Not quite tanking return games, but not going all out either - selectively sharpening and dimming focus you could say
Both serve at 61%. Tsonga gets the better of the serve-return complex overall
Strong serving both players, especially Tsonga... but not 44% unreturned serves strong. Credit to both for serving well but some discredit to Federer's returning. Note the high 6 return UEs from Fed (Tsonga has 3)… these were mostly attacking shots. Tsonga's serve isn't so strong that such plays can be termed ambitious... Fed just fails to execute
Both players return-approach twice and both win both points
Note the weakness of Federer's BH return with 5 UEs (and 11 FEs). Tsonga's 25/75 serve distribution is a good one. On odd occasions when I see someone serving near 50-50 to Federer, I wonder what they're thinking... there are very few player who so clearly have a stronger returning side
Some excellent returns from Tsonga. The 2 BH inside-out winners are both superb. He misses a few attacking returns (even against first serve) but its probably the right play for him given he wasn't doing well rallying
13% body serves from Federer. I haven't seen him utilize this serve much and think its a good fit for him in particular with his precision. Works very well here, against a somewhat heavy footed Tsonga
Play
Federer gets the better of play comfortably, in all areas save perhaps net play - which is a minority area in this match
First and foremost, he's far more solid of ground where the bulk of the action takes place. 8 UEs, most of them attacking shots. UEFI of 47.5 is high for an all groundstroke count, especially as Federer doesn't miss any winner attempts. 2 neutral and 6 attacking UEs from Fed
Tsonga though deserves more discredit than Fed does credit on consistency grounds. He's pretty sloppy, especially of the BH, which misses many a routine ball
Comparison of UEFI and its breakdown is not only interesting but paints a near perfect picture of play. Tsonga's score of 48.2 is even higher than Federer's and also made up exclusively of groundstrokes. But whereas Fed was solid of consistency, Tsonga isn't (9 neutral errors). Whereas Federer was measured (and successful) in full fledged attacks, Tsonga is erratic (5 winner attempt errors)
Still, good strategy from Jo. If your the less consistent player, its up to you to step up and be aggressive. That's what he tried to do... good thinking, but the execution is off
Late in the match, Federer unloads with a host of FH winners, hitting 4 3rd ball winners on successive service points (3 in his last service game, 1 in the tiebreak). A couple are set up by strong serves and a couple are by no means gimmes (though he typically makes them look otherwise)
While neither players ventures forward much, both are highly successful in the forecourt (Fed winning 82%, Jo 81%). Was looking to take net a viable option for turning the tide for Jo? Probably not... most of his approaches are on his service points, which he's in command of. From neutral rallying scenarios, Fed's ground game is strong enough to make approaching difficult
Good blend of consistency and shot making from Federer. While both players have 15 winners, he forces 12 errors out of Jo - 5 more than Jo can force out of him. This is optimal play... winning points aggressively without taking undue risks. One gathers, especially in the flood of winners towards the end, that Federer has an extra shot making gear he's not using for most of the match... good idea to not go there when you can win points from your opponent being loose
For all the analysis, though, its basically a -who-plays-the-big-points-well match, the kind that is decided by a point here and a point there
Note the break points - both having them in 3 separate games, Fed having just 1 more.... and most importantly, Fed winning 2, Tsonga 0. Note Federer serving 9 more points in the match (partially because he served the extra game)
Summing up, competitive contest with some strong serving from Tsonga and less than stellar returning from Federer. But Federer is far better in play, hitting a good balance in attacking and being solid - and he plays the big points better
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