Match Stats/Report - Forget vs Becker, Queen's Club semi-final, 1995

[Waspsting]

Guy Forget beat Boris Becker 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Queen’s Club semi-final, 1995 on grass

Forget would go onto lose the final to Pete Sampras. He was seeded 11th and beat Goran Ivanisevic and defending champion Todd Martin among others in previous rounds. Becker would be runner-up to Sampras at the upcoming Wimbledon

Forget won 88 points, Becker 89

Both players serve-volleyed off all serves

(Note: I’m missing serve direction and corresponding return type data for 1 point
Set 2, Game 5, Point 4)

Serve Stats
Forget...
- 1st serve percentage (62/96) 65%
- 1st serve points won (43/62) 69%
- 2nd serve points won (21/34) 62%
- Aces 11 (1 second serve, 1 not clean), Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (39/96) 41%

Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (42/81) 52%
- 1st serve points won (32/42) 76%
- 2nd serve points won (25/39) 64%
- Aces 10
- Double Faults 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (39/81) 48%

Serve Patterns
Forget served...
- to FH 36%
- to BH 60%
- to Body 4%

Becker served...
- to FH 41%
- to BH 47%
- to Body 12%

Return Stats
Forget made...
- 37 (17 FH, 20 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 5 Winners (2 FH, 3 BH)
- 29 Errors, all forced...
- 29 Forced (17 FH, 12 BH)
- Return Rate (37/76) 49%

Becker made...
- 51 (20 FH, 30 BH, 1 ??), including 1 runaround FH
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 27 Errors, all forced...
- 27 Forced (9 FH, 18 BH)
- Return Rate (51/90) 57%

Break Points
Forget 2/8 (5 games)
Becker 1/7 (4 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Forget 27 (5 FH, 6 BH, 6 FHV, 6 BHV, 4 OH)
Becker 22 (7 FH, 5 BH, 2 FHV, 5 BHV, 3 OH)

Forget had 16 from serve-volley points -
- 12 first volleys (5 FHV, 5 BHV, 2 OH)
- 3 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 OH)

- 11 passes - 5 returns (2 FH, 3 BH) & 6 regular (3 FH, 3 BH)
- FH returns - 2 inside-in
- BH returns - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out
- regular FHs - 2 dtl, 1 longline/inside-out
- regular BHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl

Becker had 10 from serve-volley points -
- 6 first volleys (2 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
- 4 second volleys (2 BHV, 2 OH)

- 12 passes - 1 return (1 BH) & 11 regular (7 FH, 4 BH)
- BH return - 1 inside-out
- regular FHs - 2 cc, 1 cc/inside-in, 3 dtl, 1 running-down-drop-shot lob at net
- regular BHs - 2 dtl, 2 lobs

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Forget 22
- 12 Unforced (2 FH, 4 FHV, 6 BHV)... with 2 FH at net
- 10 Forced (1 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 53.3

Becker 17
- 5 Unforced (2 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
- 12 Forced (9 BH, 3 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 56

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

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Forget was...
- 55/80 (69%) at net, including...
- 53/78 (68%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 33/51 (65%) off 1st serve and...
- 20/27 (74%) off 2nd serve

Becker was...
- 48/67 (72%) at net, including...
- 47/66 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 22/32 (69%) off 1st serve and...
- 25/34 (74%) off 2nd serve

Match Report
Two part match. And a very weird one. 100% serve-volleying, both players with strong serves, Forget’s loose on the volley, Becker’s ineffective with the return, Forget has a good run on the pass (amidst missing lots of returns)… and somehow, it all comes out the way it does

Due to 2 part nature of match, match long stats are of limited value

Boris wins 1 more point, while serving 15 fewer, despite losing 3 more games and having break points in 1 fewer
In percentages, he wins 50.3% of the points, while serving 45.8% of them
Break points - Boris 1/7 (4 games), Forget 2/8 (5 games)

The 1 point differential is too small to be of consequence, but Forget serving significantly more would indicate his having a harder time holding. In such matches, this usually shows up in in the loser having more chances to break and getting into return games more often, but being unable to convert those chances

With Forget having more break point games, that’s clearly not happening here, so what is?

Part 1 of match, where Boris is untouchable on serve. He loses 1 service point for his first 6 holds. His sole break being to love helps too
Part 2 though is competitive, and surprisingly not server dominated. At least, not to extent one would think. Both players continue to rack up the freebies and its in fact, Forget who falters on the volley. On positive side, he’s very able on the pass and finds the occasional return-pass winner, which Boris uncharacteristically cannot

Match long, there are a number of strange and/or surprising stats
- Better second serve volleying success than first for both players
Both players win 74% second serve-volley points. Off first serve, Boris wins 69%, Forget 65%

- Just 1 return winner for Boris. Forget has 5

- the success of regular FH passing (i.e. sans the return). 2 players combine for 10 FH passing winners, 1 error trying. Forget’s 3 winners, 1 error is good, Boris’ 7 winners and 0 errors is remarkable. He literally does not miss a FH in the match

- given the numbers - Forget 27 winners, 22 errors with 41% unreturneds, Boris 22 winners, 17 errors with 48% unreturned - its surprising to see 9/19 games have break points in them. Figures are in line with hold like clockwork type match

Proportion of pass to volley winners doesn’t dispel that. Forget with 16 volley winners, 11 passes. Boris has 10 volley winners, 12 passes
Error breakdowns don’t dispel it either. In light of all this, the way match plays out is unexpected

Part 1 - Becker dominant
Becker leading 6-4, 1-1

Becker breaks to love to open the match. And loses 1 point in his first 6 service games. Forget holds readily too after the first game and there are no other games with break points in them

1st serve in - Forget 60%, Boris 52%
1st serve won - Forget 78%, Boris 92%
2nd serve won - Forget 50%, Boris 100%
Unreturned serves- Forget 40%, Boris 60%

Winners - Forget 6 (6 volleys), Boris 8 (4 passes, 4 volleys)
UEs - Forget 2
FEs - Forget 7 (5 passes, 2 volleys), Boris 3 (2 passes, 1 volley)

Break points - Boris 1/1

Serve-botting effect from Boris with 60% unreturned. He doesn’t serve abnormally powerfully, but well enough that its not odd for so high a figure over so short a phase. Only service point he loses is a tough volley miss

Forget with very good 40% freebies also and secure enough on volley. 1 game separates the two players and span is short enough that trend isn’t likely to continue (particularly Boris’ freebie rate)

 

[Waspsting]

Part 2 - Normal contest
Starting end of Part 1, Forget 5-2 (referring just to number of games), 6-4

1st serve in - Forget 67%, Boris 52%
1st serve won - Forget 66%, Boris 69%
2nd serve won - Forget 68%, Boris 48%
Unreturned serves- Forget 41%, Boris 43%

Winners - Forget 21 (11 passes, 10 volleys), Boris 14 (8 passes, 6 volleys)
UEs - Forget 10, Boris 5
FEs - Forget 3 (3 passes), Boris 9 (7 passes, 2 volleys)

Break points - Forget 2/8 (5 games), Boris 0/6 (3 games)

Boris’ basic stats are shakey and not abnormal. Low in count, not good on second serve-points
Forget’s are a little odd. Very good in count, but unexpectedly doing equally well off 2 serves (in fact, better off second serves)

Still high freebie rates. Forget’s, a continuation from Part 1, Becker’s down from the unsustainable levels of earlier but still very good

In light of 43% unreturned serves, Boris’ winning rate is very surprising and downright low. Would think 43% unreturned is good to be crusing on serve, not facing break point in 5/8 games and get broken twice. Even Boris conjuring break points in 3/9 return games, while Forget has high 41% freebies is surprising

High unreturned rate, but returners gaining plenty of counter-play

Can happen for 2 distinct reasons or a combo of the 2 -
A) Server messing up easy volleys
B)Whatever returns made are made damagingly, and server unable to handle the tough volleys or/and returner passing very well afterwards

For Boris the returner, its more A) than B). Forget with 10 volley UEs, as many as the winners he has is poor. Routine, net high volleys. Forget either sweeps them away commandingly or misses them. Not much happening in between. Elements of Boris passing well to with his 7 regular passing winners for the same number of errors. His better returns draw normal, edging to good wide volleys but short of decisive. He’s left with not-good (as opposed to bad) look passing shots. And makes them superbly

7 FH passing winners, no errors is remarkable
Where he’s lacking is on the return itself. Just 1 return winner from Boris (Forget has 5 to contrast)

For Forget the returner, its an unpure B).
On the pass -
- he’s got 5 return winners at 49% return rate. Ok (its great compared to the shut-out Boris), even accounting for Boris’ very good serve
- 6 regular winners for 3 errors. Fantastic

Low return rate aside, he does not return particularly well (in terms of quality of returns). Similar in fact to Boris. He does not draw shoelace volleys that set up good look passes. More routine height volleys and he proves to be very successful on the pass after. For that matter, Boris doesn’t plonk volleys safely. Volleys normally away from Forget if not to corners. Punched normally, if not whistled through. At least he doesn’t miss them - just 5 UEs to Forget’s 10

Match’s high return rate is more about so-so returning than great serving. To be clear, serving is good, but un-clean struck returns is so much the norm that a sweetly timed one stands out

Neither player is quick in moving for returners. Both have bandages on 1 leg. Boris in particular lets a few aces go
Not good movement for returns
Not clean struck returns
Of course, tons of errors on the return

The two combine for 22 aces/service winners (just 1 service winner) and 56 return errors. That doesn’t necessarily say much - some of the very best service showings feature high errors drawn relative to aces - but it does at least eliminate the serve being unaswerably good as both players (something both players are capable of dishing out)

Both player stubbornly take returns early, while missing boatloads of returns and striking ball not cleanly. Not too surprisingly, one of the most crucial points in the match is pinched by Forget by moving back to return and getting the ball back in play thus doing

Gist of second phase of match - good passing - better than the volleying which isn’t bad of quality - from both, not good returning, Forget loose on the volley. Of course, strong serving
Its surprising returners are able to garner so much counter-play amidst such high unreturned rates

Match Progression
Double fault and second volley UE (after making a tough first volley) from Forget to start the match, and Boris completes the break to love with a hard low return and FH dtl pass winner

Both players hold comfily from then on. Boris, more than comfily. Barely a serve comes back, and he 24/25 service points, including 23 in a row. Good to put a set on the board and move to 1-1 in the second. Both players are a bit lax in chasing after volleys

Forget holds a tough 12 point game for 2-1, saving a break point along the way. Very good, muscled FH cc/inside-in pass winner by Boris in the game from behind baseline

Boris faces his first challenge game after, with Forget knocking away couple of BH cc pass winners (1 set up by drawing half-volley, the other a high BHV Boris handles awkwardly). He comes away to hold, making a reflex second BHV winner that’s no gimme on penultimate point

Boris faces break points in next 2 service games too. Serves his way through the first, but is finally broken third time around. Little too cute with a low, slow FHV drop winner attempt that he has excess time for, with Forget out of the picture puts Forget on the board in the game. He follows up consecutive BH return-pass winners against second serves (blocked dtl and biffed inside-out) to reach 15-40. Boris double faults on second break point

2 easy UEs at net see Forget down 15-40 on the serve out. He responds with 4 good serves, including 2 aces and match’s sole service winner. The full effort Boris makes to reach the service winner stands out; its kind of serve he’s been letting go through for aces

Minor trouble for both players as they hold to 3-2 in the decider. Stuff like trailing 0-15 or 15-30. Lovely, angled BHV winner from Boris in the period from under the net

Its major trouble for both players in pair of games that follow. Forget’s down 15-40 on back of double fault and 2 UEs (1 comfy/easy, the other routine). Strong serves get him through to hold in 14 points. He saves another break point along the way, brought up by a very good BH lob winner

Its Boris’ turn through the hoop next game. 2 passing winners (BH dtl set up by drawing first 1/2volley and a very good FH dtl on the move) raise break point. Unreturned serves - including an ace on break point - get Boris through the 8 point game

Forget grabs decisive break next go around, with Boris stumbling with 2 easy volley UEs to keep score at 30-30. Forget reaches deuce by finally stepping back 2 steps for return, which allows him to move over and get a dropping FH return in play. Bad quasi-drop volley by Boris against it, and Forget comfily dispatches the FH dtl pass from mid-court. Double fault raises break point. On which Forget stylishly dispatches FH pass round middle of court after drawing up volley with dipping return

Forget serves out to 15, finishing with a nice drop FHV winner

Summing up, odd match of divided parts

- Strong serving from both, with particularly potent second serves
- Not good returning. Movement for the shot is sub-par or lazy, lots and lots of un-clean hits. Both players insist on retaining their standard, step and half behind baseline or on baseline to return. Forget getting a few more strong returns off than Becker. Between the errors and the jaggedy hits, its ugly stuff
- Volleying is strange bag. Forget misses plenty of routine volleys, Becker does not. Neither are tasked with many difficult volleys (low and/or wide). Quality of volleys to net high ball are decent
- Very good passing from both players, with both boasting high hit rate on passing winners and not from normal, not easy or good looks passes

An odd game sets Becker on the road to first set but Forget’s combo of occasional winning return and very good passing does more damage to Becker than his tendency to miss routine volleys + Becker’s very good passing (sans much help from the return) does to Forget, and makes the winner better player for bulk of match and fitting winner

Strong second serving and passing are highlights. Returning is messy and choppy, and both players’ movements are average

Stats for the final between Pete Sampras and Forget - Duel Match Stats/Reports - Martin vs Sampras & Sampras vs Forget, Queen's Club finals, 1994 & 1995 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)