Match Stats/Report - Ferrero vs Coria, Monte Carlo final, 2003

[Waspsting]

Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Guillermo Coria 6-2, 6-2 in the Monte Carlo final, 2003 on clay

Ferrero was the defending champion and would shortly after go on to win the French Open. This was Coria’s first Masters final and he would shortly after win Hamburg. Coria would win the title the following year

Ferrero won 61 points, Coria 42

Serve Stats
Ferrero...
- 1st serve percentage (32/52) 67%
- 1st serve points won (21/35) 60%
- 2nd serve points won (9/17) 53%
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (5/52) 10%

Coria...
- 1st serve percentage (38/51) 75%
- 1st serve points won (17/38) 45%
- 2nd serve points won (3/13) 23%
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (4/51) 8%

Serve Patterns
Ferrero served...
- to FH 29%
- to BH 71%

Coria served...
- to FH 29%
- to BH 69%
- to Body 2%

Return Stats
Ferrero made...
- 45 (15 FH, 30 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 4 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 1 Forced (1 BH)
- Return Rate (45/49) 92%

Coria made...
- 46 (14 FH, 32 BH)
- 5 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 2 Forced (2 BH)
- Return Rate (46/51) 90%

Break Points
Ferrero 6/11 (7 games)
Coria 2/5 (4 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Ferrero 16 (11 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 2 OH)
Coria 6 (4 FH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)

Ferrero's FHs - 3 cc, 2 cc/inside-in, 2 inside-out (1 at net), 3 inside-in (1 return), 1 drop shot
- BHs - 2 cc (1 pass, 1 at net)

Coria's FHs - 1 dtl at net, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in, 1 net chord dribbler

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Ferrero 31
- 27 Unforced (13 FH, 13 BH, 1 FHV)
- 4 Forced (2 FH, 2 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.7

Coria 38
- 25 Unforced (12 FH, 13 BH)
- 13 Forced (7 FH, 5 BH, 1 Over-the-Shoulder)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.4

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

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Ferrero was 12/13 (92%) at net

Coria was...
- 4/7 (57%) at net, with...
- 0/2 forced back

Match Report
Hard hitting baseline match and Ferrero is that much better at almost everything, to the tune of what the scoreline suggests. Court is damp and particularly slow. Match was reduced to best of 3 sets due to persistent rain on the day and overnight too

Hard hitting defines the nature of action (as opposed to loopy, top spinny stuff). On such a slow court, rushing opponent with power is very difficult, but neither player has excess time to wind up or set themselves for their shots. Deep balls, in conjunction with the hitting standard on show is tasking. Both players though show sturdy shot tolerance and excellent movement. Ferrero is the one to sooner or later get balls deep. Coria’s usually up to getting the ball back, but short, and then Ferrero steps in to strengthen his position still more. Good, solid, point building baseline tennis from Ferrero

He also has the bigger serve. Not too important as its not particularly big (Coria’s is particularly small, essentially, a point starter) and both players are top notch in returning consistency

No aces in the match and return rates read Fer 92%, Coria 90%. Freebies not a factor, but Fer drawing the occasional half tracker with the serve that he can blast from well up the court, either for a winner or very powerfully and come in behind

Return rates speak to how good both are on the second shot. In one game near the end, Fer takes it easy and doesn’t move too well and is caught out by a serve (his only return FE), which brings home importance of movement, which is so good from both players that it tends to blend into background. And Cor has a little lapse in concentration when he misses 2 routine returns in a row. That’s it for returning sins - otherwise, perfection virtually in regularity. Cor facing the odd testing serve makes all but 2 of them, Fer barely faces any but what more can you do than return at 92%? And he does get aggressive with the shot - he’s got 1 winner and forces errors with big FH returns a couple other times

Exemplary movement, again, brought home by the 1 game where Fer takes it a bit easy (he’s up 5-1 and a set at the time) and is harried by Cor’s force of shot. Game still goes to deuce and it’s the only Cor service game where he doesn’t face break point (and 1 of 2 that he manages to hold). The hitting is good enough from even Cor (who’s the lesser hitter, especially off FH) as to be potentially troubling to a not-good mover. Both players are anything but and always seem to be in perfect position. Cor has more running to do, and moves like a jet of water. Saying he resembles Lleyton Hewitt would be like saying Agassi resembles Kafelnikov - he’s quicker and even more fluid of motion

Action is simple and neatly captured by stats

Winners - Fer16, Cor 6
Errors Forced - Fer 13, Cor 4
(Aggressively ended points - Fer 29, Cor 10)
UEs - Fer 27, Cor 25

…with UE breakdown -
Neutral - Fer 12, Cor 16
Attacking - Fer 12, Cor 7
Winner attempts - Fer 3, Cor 2

And throw in net points - Fer 12/13, Cor 4/7

Putting it all together -

- foundational neutral consistency is about equal, given nervy start from Cor when he misses routine shots in short rallies for a couple of games. That’s the only low quality part of the match and putting it down to nerves, sets him back 0-2. Not why he loses the match and for rest of match, he’s held even with Fer on that front. Fer is harder hitter, though

- Fer making most of that hitting advantage to tune 3:1 advantage on aggressively ended points

His FH is most impressive shot on show. Statistically by long way - it has 11 winners, which is many as all other shots from both players combined - but beyond that, the one that pushes Cor back, allows Fer to step in, is the most powerful, the one that gets best depth, essentially in all ways

Also has match high 13 UEs (1 more than Cor’s FH), which is related to high 12 attacking UEs. Fer’s FH is the powerhouse of the match. Of the winners, good lot are from well up the court, where its still not easy to finish against the quickness of Cor, but a few top class shots from on the baseline

Perfect net instincts from Fer is behind the 12/13 at net. Knows when to come in, and knows when to bang down another groundie when on front foot.

Drop shots are a bust for both players. Besides Fer’s 1 winner, both players either miss the shot or its easy run down by the other so they can hit orthodox groundstroke at net (often to putaway the ball) rather than the guided up running-down-drop-shot shot at net

 

[Waspsting]

- Cor’s very low aggressively ended points haul. He’s outhit off FH and BH contest is one of consistency, which finishes equal (both have 13 UEs). Good firmly, struck BHs by both. Fer’s maybe a touch better, given it holding steady against Cor’s biggest weapon, beat-down strong FH inside-outs

Cor is less than 100% bloody minded about business. Occasionally gets flustered, frustrated and bails on tough rally with drop shot or a low percentage or even wild aggressive shot (invariably missing). He’d show the same traits in his 2005 matches against Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo and Rome. Its far from being regular thing, but not good, as measured against the top standard of clay tennis. You wouldn’t see Thomas Muster or probably Ferrero get this way

Cor’s directions are not conventional. He rarely persists going cc, and plays line almost as often, or back-away FH inside-out neutrally. Off both wings. A few unnecessary, silly neutral dtl errors. Shots that are unlikely to draw an error or even set up a chance to attack the shot after. Why risk missing by going so close to line with little potential reward for it? Fer changes up too, but his has method to it. Occasional line shots and the FH longlines tend to troublingly deep shots

So significant signs of experience difference on show. Clearly, both players are clay courters bred and probably born, but Cor with a few flaws in both temperament and approach to action. Fer not so

Little things like this can make difference in close encounters. Here, it lies on top of things heavily in favour of the stronger player. On FH, Fer is stronger hitter and able to take charge, Cor is pushed back and unable to do damage. On BH, things are equal of consistency, Fer perhaps with negligible hitting advantage (as much due to impact of FH play on court positions as purely BH matter). What does that leave Cor with?

He is the better mover. Both players demonstrate good retrieving, defending and playing on the run. Cor gets more chance to showcase it. Could do better on the running get (though its still good), but not much room for improvement in the running itself

Drawing 12 attacking UEs from the knows-exactly-how-to-build-attacks Fer is something. Particularly as good lot of the 13 errors Fer forces is from net (he has just 5 net winners, so most of the 12 net points he wins are Cor FEs)

In context of rarely being able to attack himself, and Fer not too far behind in his own defence, shot tolerance and movement, that still leaves Cor trailing by some distance

Match Progression
Bad start from Coria has he blinks up errors from the baseline in short rallies to go down 0-3. He gets himself at that stage, he’s got. He gets it together after that and rest of match is tough, not sloppy, though UEs regularly end points

Coria wins two games in a row to move to 2-3. The second game is a hold and he’s showing signs of having turned the corner

Loses next 6 games. Rallies are tough, but Ferrero is the one dictating them more often than not, is upto counter-punching/defending as needed and some of Coria’s shot choices are questionable. Ferrero serves out with some style, forcing 3 errors in a hold to 15. One of the best points of the match in the game, where an approaching Ferrero drop half-volleys a ball that Coria of course, is upto reaching and hitting firmly. Ferrero’s fallen back to no-man’s land and from there, half-volley lobs the ball over Coria to win the point

Big third ball FH inside-out winner by Coria in opening game of the second set to a ball not obviously there to be so treated, but Ferrero gets his licks in with a wide BH inside-out return that forces an error and on a break point, a FH inside-in winner

Coria reaches 15-40 in the next game. First break point is saved with a big serve, followed by an approach. Frustration’s getting to Coria and he misses back to back second returns before Ferrero holds

And then breaks to love, a good way to follow up against a flustered opponent. Another lob forces Coria back and Ferrero comes in to finish with a perfect, angled drop FHV winner. Seals the break with a whistle clean FH inside-in return winner

Though Cor breaks back, he seems to be on route to being mentally out of it. He wins 1 more game after that - a deuce hold, the only service game where he doesn’t face break point - where Ferrero for the only time, takes it a little easy, not moving too well. It brings home how well he moves otherwise, and how important movement is in all this baseline play. That makes the score 5-2

Little stumble by Ferrero serving it out, missing a chancey third ball FH drop shot, an easy volley (his only losing net point) and a regulation BH to go down 30-40. Strong serves set up FH winners from well up the court and he finishes with probably the best serve of the match, a powerful, very wide one to strongly force the error

Summing up, good showing from Ferrero, who is the more powerful baseliner, especially off the FH, in a hard hitting baseline encounter. He’s steady of the BH and able to take lead (if not charge) of rallies over time with his stronger, deeper hitting FH. Also has good enough serve to set up advantageous position to start a few rallies, but that’s minor

Coria’s serve by contrast is just a point starter. He returns very steadily (as does Ferrero against weaker opposition) but rarely starts a rally on the front foot, while Ferrero does a few both due to big serve and choice big returns

Ferrero’s able to build on good positions with power and depth and uses the same tools to edge ahead from neutral starting positions. And he’s steadier of mind (Coria occasionally gets flustered), of grit (Coria occasionally loses stomach for tough rallies) and of shot choices (Coria’s directions changers and how close he goes to lines for no likely reward aren’t always sound)

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Ferrero at his peak and Coria too green. It would have been nice to see them peak vs peak on clay but they peaked at different times. In 2005 it was Coria who won easily but Ferrero was past it at the time.


Also, this could have been the Roland Garros final that year if Coria had not been upset by Verkerk in the final. Ferrero would have won the final, but Coria was better than in Monte Carlo and was improving fast and would have offered better resistance than Verkerk.

I remember Coria saying that he regretted the whole incident with the racket thrown and almost DQ in the SF vs Verkerk that threw him off the match because if he had won that match he would have lost the final to Ferrero because he felt he wasn't good enough to beat Ferrero at the time but it would have helped him to play the 2004 final if he had played a RG prior to that.

 

[Waspsting]

Ferrero at his peak and Coria too green. It would have been nice to see them peak vs peak on clay but they peaked at different times. In 2005 it was Coria who won easily but Ferrero was past it at the time.

Probably. Its funny to think how brief the norm for clay peaks were back before Nadal. The pattern coming out of '90s was 2-3 years max for being the best player in the world on the dirt before a younger, grittier guy took over

This one seems pretty close though

Coria won Hamburg soon after, which started his 'King of clay' run. Both commentators for this match seem to favour Coria to win, on strenght of his having been more impressive in reaching the final

I haven't seen too much of either of them, but am gauging a certain lack of grit in Coria that's counter-thesis to the 'King of clay' type player. Seems like if the rallies start getting long and gruelling, he'll lose stomach for the grind

I don't get that sense from Ferrero. What happened to him between here and '04?

 

[buscemi]

I don't get that sense from Ferrero. What happened to him between here and '04?

Something weird with chickenpox or whatever. Ferrero entered 2004 ranked #3 behind Roddick and Federer. Then, he made the Australian Open SF, losing to Federer, made the Rotterdam final, losing to Hewitt, and surpassed Roddick to become #2 behind Federer.

Then, he gets chickenpox that knocks him out of play in March, and he just never looks the same again, finishing the year ranked #31 and never coming close to the heights he hit in 2003.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Something weird with chickenpox or whatever. Ferrero entered 2004 ranked #3 behind Roddick and Federer. Then, he made the Australian Open SF, losing to Federer, made the Rotterdam final, losing to Hewitt, and surpassed Roddick to become #2 behind Federer.

Then, he gets chickenpox that knocks him out of play in March, and he just never looks the same again, finishing the year ranked #31 and never coming close to the heights he hit in 2003.

Yup. But surprisingly almost beats Federer in Dubai 2005 back when Federer was close to unbeatable. He even had one or two match points.

Federer's only losses that year outside clay were Safin at the AO where he had MPs and Nalbandian at the Masters where he served for the match 30-0.

 

[aus89]

Something weird with chickenpox or whatever. Ferrero entered 2004 ranked #3 behind Roddick and Federer. Then, he made the Australian Open SF, losing to Federer, made the Rotterdam final, losing to Hewitt, and surpassed Roddick to become #2 behind Federer.

Then, he gets chickenpox that knocks him out of play in March, and he just never looks the same again, finishing the year ranked #31 and never coming close to the heights he hit in 2003.

Chickenpox, which he probably came back too quickly from because he very quickly had to take another rest break after losing first rd in Monte Carlo 2004, then had a fall in practice and injured his ribs and wrist - then end of 04 he switched racquets on top of a bad year and I think the Head frames never really worked out for him on tour, leading to more lost confidence and bad results and then... apart from a few flashes the game just overtook him as there were people younger and better at doing the things he did, probably a bit like Thiem - who I don't think will return to where he was in the game pre injury