Match Stats/Report - Korda vs Stich, Grand Slam Cup final, 1993

[Waspsting]

Petr Korda beat Michael Stich 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 2-6, 11-9 in the Grand Slam Cup final, 1993 on carpet in Munich, Germany

It was unseeded Korda’s only title at the event and he’d beaten top seed Pete Sampras, among others en route to the title. Stich was the defending champion and had recently won the Year End Championship and been a part of the Germany’s Davis Cup winning team

Korda won 187 points, Stich 202

Stich serve-volleyed off all serves, bar 1 second serve

(I’ve confidently guessed outcome of 1 point from immediate post-point footage and audio
Set 5, Game 6, Point 1 - marked a Stich first serve ace to FH
The serve type is deduced, the direction is confidently guessed)

Serve Stats
Korda...
- 1st serve percentage (128/191) 67%
- 1st serve points won (85/128) 66%
- 2nd serve points won (27/63) 43%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (49/191) 26%

Stich...
- 1st serve percentage (116/198) 59%
- 1st serve points won (88/116) 76%
- 2nd serve points won (35/82) 43%
- Aces 29 (4 second serves), Service Winners 5 (1 can reasonably be called a non-clean ace)
- Double Faults 14
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (82/198) 41%

Serve Patterns
Korda served...
- to FH 26%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 9%

Stich served...
- to FH 35%
- to BH 58%
- to Body 7%

Return Stats
Korda made...
- 102 (39 FH, 63 BH)
- 14 Winners (5 FH, 9 BH)
- 48 Errors, all forced...
- 48 Forced (13 FH, 35 BH)
- Return Rate (102/184) 55%

Stich made...
- 135 (41 FH, 94 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 8 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 45 Errors, comprising...
- 36 Unforced (13 FH, 23 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 1 drop-return attempt
- 9 Forced (2 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (135/184) 73%

Break Points
Korda 6/17 (10 games)
Stich 8/28 (14 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Korda 55 (22 FH, 21 BH, 4 FHV, 3 BHV, 5 OH)
Stich 41 (6 FH, 9 BH, 10 FHV, 11 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 4 OH)

Korda had 33 passes - 14 returns (5 FH, 9 BH) & 19 regular (10 FH, 9 BH)
- FH returns - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in
- BH returns - 1 cc, 5 dtl, 3 inside-out
- regular FHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out, 1 inside-out/dtl, 1 inside-in, 1 longline/inside-in, 1 lob
- regular BHs - 3 cc, 5 dtl (1 net chord flicker), 1 lob

- regular (non-pass) FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 at net) 1 dtl/inside-out, 2 inside-out, 1 drop shot at net
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl

- 3 from serve-volley points -
- 2 first 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 OH)... the OH was on the bounce
- 1 second volley (1 FHV)

- 1 other BHV was a drive from near the baseline

Stich had 26 from serve volley points -
- 17 first 'volleys' (9 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH, 1 FH at net)
- 5 second volleys (1 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 OH)

- 1 from a return-approach point, a BHV

- FHs - 1 cc pass, 2 dtl (1 pass - a net chord flicker), 1 dtl/inside-out pass, 1 lob, 1 net chord dribbler return
- BHs - 5 cc (1 return, 1 pass), 2 dtl passes, 1 drop shot

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Korda 72
- 31 Unforced (17 FH, 11 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 41 Forced (12 FH, 22 BH, 3 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 2 BHV, 1 BH1/2V).... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net & 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.4

Stich 69
- 34 Unforced (10 FH, 11 BH, 6 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BHOH)... with 2 FH at net & the BHOH can reasonably be called a BHV
- 35 Forced (8 FH, 14 BH, 6 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 5 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50

(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
Korda was...
- 30/53 (57%) at net, including...
- 8/18 (44%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 7/14 (50%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/4 (25%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 forced back

Stich was...
- 104/168 (62%) at net, including...
- 89/149 (60%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 58/86 (67%) off 1st serve and...
- 31/63 (49%) off 2nd serve
---
- 6/8 (75%) return-approaching
- 3/5 (60%) forced back/retreated

Match Report
Beautiful match and given the scoreline, surprisingly simple one. Stich serve-volleys - all ease and grace on both shots - and Korda’s regularly enough finds perfect returns and passes to challenge it. Korda’s service games start on the baseline and he commands action there, which is marked by easy power and attacking play. His serve though is close to harmless; Stich has better of the match and flaws in his returning is biggest factor in that not translating to a win. Court is fast

Stamina is also important factor and not just at the end. Both players had endured 5-set semis the day before and both are less than daisy fresh even at the start. Its not to problematic degree and the tennis is excellent but one can gauge with confidence that they haven’t come in with two days rest. By the end both are on fumes, though that’d probably be the case regardless of when the semis had taken place

With Stich winning 2 sets with 2 break margins, and Korda winning 2 with 1 break ones and a tiebreak, its not surprising that Stich has better of match long figures. But he has better figures by parts, with almost any reasonable way dividing those parts too.

Stich wins 51.9% of points, serving 50.9% of them
Break points - Stich 8/28 (14 games), Korda 6/17 (10 games)

Number of break points is deceptive because Korda often breaks on his first chance per game. The games are not and best get to Stich’s superiority

Break points by set -
First - Stich 2/5 (3 games)
Second - Korda 3/3, Stich 2/6 (3 games) -so both 3 games
Third - Korda 1/1, Stich 1/5 (2 games)
Fourth - Korda 0/6 (2 games), Stich 2/2 - so both 2 games
Fifth set - Korda 2/7, Stich 1/10 - both 4 games

Sans set where Stich has biggest advantages, break points shift to Stich 6/23 (11 games), Korda same 6/17 (10 games)
Sans set where Korda has biggest advantage, it shifts to Stich 7/18 (10 games), Korda 4/10 (6 games)

First set, easily in Stich’s favour - and he wins
Second set, Stich with just as many chances, Korda nudging result
Third set, Stich with more chances, Korda snagging tiebreak
Not much in the fourth actually, but Stich with comfy 6-2 win

And Stich again with more chances in the extended decider, though all kinds of things happen in it. Players are both weary, but with end in sight, both keep shoulder to the wheel and fortunes shift this way and that

They trade long holds at the start - Stich saving 2 break points, Korda 4
They trade 12-point games in the late-middle - Korda holding his and then breaking to serve for the match
He’s broken to love trying. A great game by Stich and one that’s on the cards with Korda’s harmless serve
Korda’s got 2 match/break points game after. And good looks on both. The second is erased with Stich’s second, net chord roll over winner of the game
At 6-6, Korda’s down 0-40 for the second time in the set
At 7-7, he’s down break point again
Comes through both and ultimately prevails by breaking from 40-15 down with 4 striking points to break and end the match 11-9

Good tennis through it all, with appropriate tiredness

Those are the margins that determine outcome. How’s the meat and bones action of the match?

In a word, beautiful

Stich serve-volleys off both serves. High quality serves, high quality volleys. Korda with early taken, easy powerful returns. Amidst high lot of routine holds, Korda with spurts of brilliant returns to Stich’s feet, Stich remarkably good on half-volley but Korda unerring in dismissing follow-up pass

Korda with at most average serve, and usually less than that. Stich looking to clinically control with deep returns, with some success. Easy power ground rallies, especially Korda’s shots, while Stich takes his chances with choice dtl shots

Stich’s failures are of both choice and execution
- he’s 6/8 chip-charge returning. Turns to it late in the match. Its not difficult to do. Could probably do it against Korda’s first serve if he was particularly bold

- 36/45 return errors have been marked UEs, most against first serves
To give some idea of strength of Korda’s serve, he has 3 aces from 128 first serves. Stich has 5/82 second serve aces, to compare
He cuts the return UEs down by a quarter, Korda’s unreturned rate goes from 26% to 20% - and Stich probably wins

- he’s 9/11 rallying to net, compared to Korda’s 22/35
He is reactive partner in baseline rallies, so would take moxie to find net. ‘Reactive’, not defensive
In pure baseline rallies, he actually wins majority of points, due to Korda’s streaky waywardness. Its Korda taking net that pushes Korda ahead overall

The ‘streaky waywardness’ of Korda’s ground UEs feeds back into Stich’s return choices. Just getting returns in play at average force is liable to win him some amount of points. High lot he misses are just long. That kind of extreme depth is is do-able against Korda’s serve, but not really necessary, given Korda’s streakiness

So, a few things coming out of this, regarding flaws in both Stich’s choices and execution on the return
- he safely puts higher lot of returns in play, likely wins share of points via Korda ground UEs
- he chip-charges returns regularly, likely wins share of points
- he actively seeks net in rallies. Outcome of this one isn’t so clear, and claiming it as crucial factor would be being wise after the fact

 

[Waspsting]

As is, he looks to return with clinical, neutralizing depth and only at the death regularly looks for chip-charge. Misses a lot of routine returns this way and is very successful with the chip-charges when he indulges

Korda’s serve game
Pretty weak serving from Korda. He’s not a big server in general, but this showing is a step below that

He’s got 3 aces or just 2% of first serves. To compare, he had 9% in the semi with Sampras (slightly bolstered by ending where returner’s too tired to move). Stich’s ace rate is 22% for first serves and 5% for second serves (which rises to 6% sans high 14 double faults) for further context

In the semi, he was zipping in odd faster wide serves
Here, much less. In swing zone, average paced serves. Including on crucial points. Per commentary, as low as 85-90mph range first serves

Another indicator of weakness of his serve is poor serve-volleying success
He wins 7/14 first serve-volleying and 1/4 second
At serve-volleying frequency of 11% of first serves and 7% of second serves

At those low frequencies, surprise element of the move should be good to see him win majority of points. But apparently, Stich’s stock returning is good to stump it

Stich returns normally (as opposed to defensively which the serves don’t warrant or attackingly which is viable option) with an eye on depth. And misses a substantial number going little too long.

36/45 Stich return errors have been marked UEs. Is that price worth deep-ish returning? Probably not. Korda’s quite capable of giving up UEs to normal length returns (that is, he’s a bit sloppy off the ground sometimes) and depth at average pace doesn’t bother him unduly (he’s comfy taking ball on up). And to be clear, Stich isn’t looking for the baseline with every return. Roughly, quarter of his UEs would be product of that, and the rest, just his natural consistency

Comes to Korda with 26% unreturned rate. He’s got considerable 7 double faults or 11% of second serves to go with it. That’s not due to Stich pressuring him with the return shot

In baseline rallies -
- Winners - Korda 9 (5 FH, 3 BH, 1 BHV), Stich 7 (2 FH, 5 BH)… 2 of them returns - 1 a net chord dribbler
- Errors forced - Korda 7, Stich 8
(aggressively won points - Korda 16, Stich 15)
- UEs - Korda 28 (17 FH, 11 BH), Stich 19 (8 FH, 11 BH)

Stich actually getting significantly better of baseline rallies due to the UEs

Ground UEs by type -
- neutral - both 12
- attacking - Korda 10, Stich 4
- winner attempts - Korda 6, Stich 3

… and that UE advantage due to Korda’s attacking inefficiencies. If it was just baseline action, Stich would be thriving, but…
Rallying to net - Korda 22/35, Stich 9/11

That’s what’s keeping Korda a face in front

Korda’s large lot of attacking ground UEs aren’t approach attempts. In other words, he does look to end points aggressively from the baseline
10 attacking UEs for 7 errors forced, 6 winner attempt UEs for 9 winners is him not executing too well. Stich less aggressive but more efficient - and better

Most of the UEs are FHs. Korda has match high 17 FH UEs, with other 3 shots having 10, 11 and 11. It also turns out to be devastating on the pass (more on that later). Korda’s one of the few players whose capable of aggressively leading off either wing, but also like most players, FH is the more potent shot

Its approaching net that Korda’s aggressively successful
The 22/35 or 63% rallying to net point is an underestimation of his success as he loses hopeless, forced approaches, such as when running-down-drop-volleys or when as passer, he’s dragged to net as passer.
He's never systematic about it and doesn't have a phase of regularly approaching. Just throws it in intermittently as he goes about baseline business

The good thing about Korda having so many aggressive ground UEs is that he’s dictating action, and thus denying Stich chances to come in. Stich doesn’t seeem to have much desire to, but way Korda leads rallies, it would have to be a pointed interest for Stich to get there. Winning 9/11 rallying to net though is good incentive to find that pointed interest - which he doesn’t

Korda on ‘volley’ has 11 winners, 3 UEs, 7 FEs
Stich on pass has 7 (4 FH, 3 BH) winners, 15 FEs (4 FH, 11 BH)

That’s for all Korda net points, not just rallying to net. As he wins just 8/18 serve-volleying, high lot of the points he loses would be from there. Coming in from rallies after overpowering or outmanuvering Korda, he’s able to find BH and force errors from it consistently

Putting it altogether, that’s a competitive contest between server and returner

- 26% freebies isn’t high, but given his serve, good for Korda. Realistic alternatives even include Stich destroying him with strong returns or thoroughly neutralizing him
Either of those, at cost of 26% freebies, would be winning platform for Stich
At more or less normal returning (leaving server with initiative for third ball), 26% freebies is just enough to set up an intriguing show, with good chances for Stich

- 11% second serve double faults is pretty high for this kind of serving (that is, with second serve not a weapon). Better chances for Stich now

- Korda’s surprise serve-volleying failing and he wins just 44% such points, including just 50% behind first serves. Still better for Stich

- Korda dictating baseline rallies. Not winning them, but keeping them on his racquet with power and width. He’s a hair more damaging, but considerably more loose in successfully keeping action on his racquet. Stich not making much effort to seize initiative. FH Korda’s dictator and also loose side

- Korda dominating when taking net. His aggression is a mix of ground and net play and he’s much better at the latter

Finally, through it all, action is pleasing to the eye. Easy power, especially from Korda and gracefulness from Stich
And a competitive contest, reflected well in the 8/28 (14 games) break points that Stich has

Stich’s serve game
Stich serve-volleys off all but 1 serve
Serves big, first and seconds
Has a lot of aces, has good lot of double faults
He volleys well, particularly in making shoelace volleys and also authority of routines ones
Korda return-passes taking return early, with the same easy power he shows in his groundies. Gives up lot of freebies, but regularly comes up with winning returns too

For starters, 29 aces, 5 service winners from Stich
That’s an unreturnable 26% of the time off first serves. And 5% off seconds for that matter - which is almost double what Korda has off first serves

Korda leaves out-wide to FH serve open in ad court by with his position. He’d done the same to Sampras in the semi. Sampras went for it, Stich doesn’t and usually serves down middle to BH. Great serve from Stich, but he apparently has confidence in his volley and isn’t looking for easiest serve-bot route

He also has 14 double faults or 17% of second serves. Problematically high. But also necessary because Korda’s returning is destructive. Stich can only win 49% second serve-volley points (he also loses the sole stay back point of the match

41% unreturned serves for Sitch. Good to have sizable advantage, but again, with a lot of winning returns from Korda, its not break-proof either. He draws both hard forced return errors (serves are just too good) and due to serve-volley pressure (Korda striking clean, but missing due to effort of keeping return low and/or wide). Korda’s a bit slow at times to return, just like Stich. That’s probably the tiredness aspect of the match mentioned earlier

Stich on the ‘volley’ has 27 winners, 15 UEs, 13 FEs
Korda with 14 return-pass winners or 14% of returns made, returning at 55% and on follow up pass, 19( 10 FH, 9 BH) winners, 26 (10 FH, 16 BH) FEs

This needs some explanation. With Stich winning 15/19 non serve-volley net points (rallying to net and return-approaching), his serve-volleying figures are worse than the above numbers

15 UEs is middling. They don’t get him broken. Virtually every time he’s broken, its due to Korda’s quality return-passes, not volley UEs
13 FEs is good from Stich’s point of view as he’s faced with a lot of shoelace returns which he’s very adept at making

Points starting with shoelace return is high point of serve-volley action
- easy powered shoelace return
- Stich deftly making half-volley. Not uncontrolled, get-it-in-anyway-how way
- Korda nails passing winner from decent look

Great job all around - the return from Korda, the difficult volley by Stich, the almost perfect hit-rate on the pass by Korda. He never seems to miss the pass winner after drawing pretty good half-volley. Its decent look pass, but the percentage on his hit rate is phenomenal

Korda with equal 10 FH pass winners and errors - again, outstanding
On BH, he has 9 winners, 16 FEs, which isn’t bad. And Stich going to the right side, which against Korda, isn’t an easy choice. Against Sampras, BH pass had been more effective for Korda

Stich with one more ‘volley’ error than winner + Korda with very good passing winner to error ratio + Stich winning lot higher lot of non serve-volley net points than serve-volley ones (79% to 60%) = freebies being core of Stich’s serve-volley success

That’s with him moving beautifully and volleying well - both picking up the low stuff and placing the routine stuff wide. Brilliant passing from Korda than - better than the beautiful volleying of Stich

Match Progression
First set isn’t a sign of things to come; Stich dominates it thoroughly, despite low 10/22 first serves in. Serve-volleys off all serves, dishes out good lot of aces, Korda doesn’t seem to be making full effort to return. Korda meanwhile with an ordinary serve that Stich can get into

 

[Waspsting]

He takes net early in rallies occasionally to good effect but is loose off the ground otherwise

2 aces by Stich to start as he holds to love
Korda with a lovely BH cc winner to start his first service game. HE gets in trouble though with a BH UE and double fault and is down to 2 break points, but manages to hold. Wins last 2 points with error forcing serves

He’s broken next go around - couple of aggressive FH misses, and Stich scoring with a winning BH dtl return and forcing a FH1/2V error

Korda nails FH inside-out pass winner after drawing a first 1/2volley with the return in game 7; a pattern that repeats all through match. Takes Stich 8 points to hold fo r5-2

Stich breaks again to end the set from 30-0 down. Delayed return-approach against a first serve gets him on the board, Korda misses routine third ball FH and double faults to raise break/set point
Korda with a surprise second serve-volley on it and he gets the volley deep, but Stich comes away with a perfect FH cc pass winner

Quick games and a lot of breaks in the second. Quite a few double faults from Stich and some sloppy misses from both players. Korda gets into groove on dismissing pass winner after drawing first low ‘volley’
He breaks to start. Couple of double faults from Stich, couple of FH pass winners from Korda (lob after drawing first 1/2volley and dtl after Stich makes first FH at net not too well)

Stich has 3 break points returning at 1-2. Korda does well to save the first 2 (strong wide serve and making a difficult reflex volley winner), and Stich misses routine first return on the third. Misses a simple second return after that too before Korda holds

3 breaks in a row after that

Stich starts game 5 with third ball BH UE (his only non serve-volley of the match), ends by missing easy FH at net, and throwing in another double in between. The other point he loses is another Korda 1/2volleying forcing return - FH pass winner

Stich hits back with a brilliant break to love, despite 3/4 first serves. Last 3 points end with BH dtl pass winner, BH drop shot winner after lobbing Korda back to baseline and a net point
More brilliant passes see Korda break again for 5-2. He looks to serve-volley on the would-be serve out, but falters on the volley and is broken. No matter, as he serves out next go around

Still quick games in the third set. Stich misses crucial returns, but has better of the set
Stich serves 32 points, Korda 41 in reaching the ‘breaker, with both players breaking once

Starts with a trade of breaks. Korda with 2 BH dtl pass winners (1 return), Stich double faulting early and missing easy BHV in the first game
Pretty poor game by Korda to hand back the break, with a double fault and attacking ground UEs

Quick games after that til near the end. Korda’s last 2 games last 8 and 10 points and he’s down break/set point in the latter. Needs to take net to win the first game, and needs Stich to make the UEs to hold the next. On break/set point, Stich misses routine first return

In between those games, Stich with a very difficult BH1/2V winner to reach 40-30 before holding

Tiebreak. Its an excellent one from both players
Korda starts with FH cc pass winner
Stich levels at once with an amazing get of a pass and forcing a wide FHV error

They trade mini-breaks again right after - Korda moving ahead 3-1 with a BH cc pass winner, Stich getting back on serve 4-3 by manufacturing an approach and coming away with BHV winner
And another trade after that. Korda with BH dtl pass winner after forcing first 1/2volley to lead 5-4 with 2 serves to come, but he misses dtl BH slice point after to level

Stich manufactures another approach and misses a slightly under net FHV to give Korda the first set point. On which Korda strikes a FH cc return-pass winner against a first serve

Fourth set is 6-2 Stich, same as first, but this one is competitive. Break points for the set read Stich 2/2, Korda 0/6 (2 games). Tennis is still good, but signs of tiring increase for both players, especially Korda
Stich breaks to open - couple winning returns (1 deep, 1 chip-charge), could of BH UEs from Korda
Needs 12 points and to save 2 break points to consolidate. Korda’s BH inside-out return-pass lands just out on the second break point. Stich not moving too well around forecourt, but manages to hold

Stich’s down 0-40 next go around but manages to come through in 14 points
And breaks to love for 4-1 right after, with Korda losing 2 second serve-volley points to end the game. More signs of him tiring

Korda tanks rest of set - and its onto decider, with Stich looking fresher. ‘Less tired’ is more apt way of putting it

It’s a set befitting such a finely played match. See-saw momentum, weary players but still great shot-making. Lots of tension too. Stich return-approaches more than at any time of match, but also misses routine returns fairly often (and with Korda’s serve down to its weakest). Eventually, he starts playing a lot of drop shots. If he looks better at the start, by the end, that situation has changed

Stich holds 12 point game for 1-1, saving 2 break points. Korda misses BH passes on both of them, the first one being a good look. Some great shots fromboth players in the game

Korda comes out of 0-40 to hold for 2-1 right after. Korda saves 2 break points by taking net, Stich loses 2 others missing routine first return and missing attempt to manufacture approach
Game ends with Stich missing consecutive routine second serve returns (1 of which he tries to hit wide for a winner)

Things heat up shortly after. Korda holds 12 point game for 4-3 and then breaks with some great returns and passes in another 12-pointer. Leaving him to serve for the match at 5-3
He’s broken to love. 3/4 first serves don’t help. Stich strikes 3 winners (BHV after working way forward, net flicking FH dtl pass, well set up BH cc) and finishes by forcing a makeable BHV error

Another great game after that and the 2 break points Korda has are match points too
He misses a routine enough second return on the first
Stich’s FHV rolls over the net chord for a winner on the second. He had a similar winner earlier in the game too

Momentum shifts to Stich next and at 6-6, he’s got 0-40

Can’t make next 3 returns. He’s aced to start, then misses second returns - the first trying to runaround FH, the second, a drop-return of all things
It’s the only-drop-return he’s tried all match. He’s been playing drop shots (including volleys) more and more. Because he’s tired or because he thinks Korda is? Probably both
Hell of a shot to go for at time like this. Sort of thing that’d be called touch-of-magic or genius if it came off and looks plain daft when it doesn’t. He has another break point later in the game, but Korda holds

Stich with another break point at 7-7, despite missing 2 routine returns early in the game. It takes a good, lunging volley winner by Korda to erase break point, and he ends up holding by punishing a poor ‘drop shot’ by Stich

Korda holds to love for 10-9 awhile later, with Stich missing 3 returns (2 UEs), and Stich’s nicely placed at 30-0 game after that

Very easy FH at net miss puts Korda on the board, before Stich moves to 40-15
He doesn’t win another point. Korda chooses now to string together a series of good returns and passes

BH dtl return pass winner makes it 40-30
Tricky BHV miss by Stich to firm, slightly wide, lowish return that Stich nonetheless covers well. Its been marked a UE. 40-40
Korda’s return reaches ambling Stich when he’s nearer the baseline than service line after that, and he again plays drop shot. It leads to net-to-net tussles, with Korda smashing away attempt at lob volley. Drop shots and lob volleys are dangerous way to live. 40-A, match point

BH inside-out return pass winner seals it for Korda

Summing up, a long, tiring and beautiful, all-court match. Stich’s a little better, but Korda wins
Stich serve-volleys - big serves, picturesque grace around net, lovely volleys. Korda compactly return-passes and regularly delivers winning returns. Stich making so many half-volleys first up stands out, but Korda seems to dispatch passing winners against every one. His passing is better than Stich’s volleying

Korda’s service games start on baseline. Same easy power on his groundies as on his passes, Stich hanging in the rallies elegantly. Korda dictates the rallies, but is also loose off the ground; taking net with authority is his successful attacking play, with back-court shot-making being hit & miss

Stich’s able to get into return games more frequently
A pretty weak serve from Korda, that Stich isn’t able to capitilize on to potential; making normal returns is simple enough and attacking returning is on the cards too. Stich has room for improvement on the former and doesn’t try much of the latter - though very successful when he does

Finally, stamina is a big factor, with both players less than fully fresh even at the start (both had played by 5-set semi-finals the day before) and both tiring progressively. Occasional lax movement and defence from both

Stats for Korda’s semi-final with Pete Sampras - Match Stats/Report - Korda vs Sampras, Grand Slam Cup semi-final, 1993 | Talk Tennis
Stats for Stich’s semi-final with Stefan Edberg - Match Stats/Report - Stich vs Edberg, Grand Slam Cup semi-final, 1993 | Talk Tennis

 

[Judge Holden]

What a tournament! Surely one of the best final two rounds of any major tournament, no? I really need to get around to the two SF matches.

Crazy about this jawn though. Two beautiful players with great variety near or at their best on a good court. Korda's timing, balance, and speed against Stich's fast twitch power and fine motor skill.

Korda's speed looks notably diminished in later years compared to his wheels here despite the fatigue. Stich is also fast but Korda is just blazing. Korda also has really good hips/agility on his backhand stroke. Left-handers for whatever reason seem to struggle more to make the quick, sharp turns necessary to get into closed stance on their backhands and so hit a sound one [also helps you hit a sounder two-hander -- Nadal's 1.0 backhand didn't feature enough of a turn so it put too much load on his front knee to hit it well injuring it by 2009] but Korda does this beautifully -- key to why his inside-out backhand return/pass is cooking in this match.

Stich meanwhile, when I picture how peak Richard González played, I think of a Stich with a more solid return game and overall a better mental stack. [Sampras being like a Jack Kramer.] Basically same height, graceful and fluid movers, late but fast swings on the groundstrokes, sublime touch in the forecourt, devastating combination of spin, power, and placement on the serve.

Stich is untouchable on serve at the beginning, Korda's shot making goes to another level at the end, while the middle is carpet bliss [save the stretch of Korda tanking at the end of the fourth], especially as you note on Stich's service games which are well conceived from both players as well as being well executed like the rest of the match.

The fifth reminds me of the Australian Open SF 2005, where the shot making raises enough to counteract a fall in stamina/energy.

All in all I'd put this in my top 10 matches ever, possibly the #1 carpet match.

 

[Waspsting]

What a tournament! Surely one of the best final two rounds of any major tournament, no? I really need to get around to the two SF matches.

Hard to think of one equal to it. Not just for scorelines - they're all great matches (as in, have great tennis action) too

'88 Australian Open is only other event I can think of that had 5 setters in last 3 matches

All in all I'd put this in my top 10 matches ever, possibly the #1 carpet match.

No arguements from me
I thinkt the following years final was even better, though 4 sets
Epic scoreline semi between Sampras and Goran is a tier or 2 below though

 

[buscemi]

Hard to think of one equal to it. Not just for scorelines - they're all great matches (as in, have great tennis action) too

'88 Australian Open is only other event I can think of that had 5 setters in last 3 matches

2017 Australian Open as well.

 

[Judge Holden]

2017 Australian Open as well.

Good shout. It was best-of-3 but I also thought of the tour finals 2020. SF/F super high quality.

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

2017 Australian Open as well.

Wimbledon 2001?

 

[buscemi]

Wimbledon 2001?

This might take the cake!

 

[Drob]

Petr Korda beat Michael Stich 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 2-6, 11-9 in the Grand Slam Cup final, 1993 on carpet in Munich, Germany

It was unseeded Korda’s only title at the event and he’d beaten top seed Pete Sampras, among others en route to the title. Stich was the defending champion and had recently won the Year End Championship and been a part of the Germany’s Davis Cup winning team

Korda won 187 points, Stich 202

Stich serve-volleyed off all serves, bar 1 second serve

(I’ve confidently guessed outcome of 1 point from immediate post-point footage and audio
Set 5, Game 6, Point 1 - marked a Stich first serve ace to FH
The serve type is deduced, the direction is confidently guessed)

Serve Stats
Korda...
- 1st serve percentage (128/191) 67%
- 1st serve points won (85/128) 66%
- 2nd serve points won (27/63) 43%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (49/191) 26%

Stich...
- 1st serve percentage (116/198) 59%
- 1st serve points won (88/116) 76%
- 2nd serve points won (35/82) 43%
- Aces 29 (4 second serves), Service Winners 5 (1 can reasonably be called a non-clean ace)
- Double Faults 14
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (82/198) 41%

Serve Patterns
Korda served...
- to FH 26%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 9%

Stich served...
- to FH 35%
- to BH 58%
- to Body 7%

Return Stats
Korda made...
- 102 (39 FH, 63 BH)
- 14 Winners (5 FH, 9 BH)
- 48 Errors, all forced...
- 48 Forced (13 FH, 35 BH)
- Return Rate (102/184) 55%

Stich made...
- 135 (41 FH, 94 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 8 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 45 Errors, comprising...
- 36 Unforced (13 FH, 23 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 1 drop-return attempt
- 9 Forced (2 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (135/184) 73%

Break Points
Korda 6/17 (10 games)
Stich 8/28 (14 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Korda 55 (22 FH, 21 BH, 4 FHV, 3 BHV, 5 OH)
Stich 41 (6 FH, 9 BH, 10 FHV, 11 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 4 OH)

Korda had 33 passes - 14 returns (5 FH, 9 BH) & 19 regular (10 FH, 9 BH)
- FH returns - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in
- BH returns - 1 cc, 5 dtl, 3 inside-out
- regular FHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out, 1 inside-out/dtl, 1 inside-in, 1 longline/inside-in, 1 lob
- regular BHs - 3 cc, 5 dtl (1 net chord flicker), 1 lob

- regular (non-pass) FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 at net) 1 dtl/inside-out, 2 inside-out, 1 drop shot at net
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl

- 3 from serve-volley points -
- 2 first 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 OH)... the OH was on the bounce
- 1 second volley (1 FHV)

- 1 other BHV was a drive from near the baseline

Stich had 26 from serve volley points -
- 17 first 'volleys' (9 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH, 1 FH at net)
- 5 second volleys (1 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 third volley (1 OH)

- 1 from a return-approach point, a BHV

- FHs - 1 cc pass, 2 dtl (1 pass - a net chord flicker), 1 dtl/inside-out pass, 1 lob, 1 net chord dribbler return
- BHs - 5 cc (1 return, 1 pass), 2 dtl passes, 1 drop shot

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Korda 72
- 31 Unforced (17 FH, 11 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 41 Forced (12 FH, 22 BH, 3 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 2 BHV, 1 BH1/2V).... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net & 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.4

Stich 69
- 34 Unforced (10 FH, 11 BH, 6 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BHOH)... with 2 FH at net & the BHOH can reasonably be called a BHV
- 35 Forced (8 FH, 14 BH, 6 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 5 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50

(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
Korda was...
- 30/53 (57%) at net, including...
- 8/18 (44%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 7/14 (50%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/4 (25%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 forced back

Stich was...
- 104/168 (62%) at net, including...
- 89/149 (60%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 58/86 (67%) off 1st serve and...
- 31/63 (49%) off 2nd serve
---
- 6/8 (75%) return-approaching
- 3/5 (60%) forced back/retreated

Match Report
Beautiful match and given the scoreline, surprisingly simple one. Stich serve-volleys - all ease and grace on both shots - and Korda’s regularly enough finds perfect returns and passes to challenge it. Korda’s service games start on the baseline and he commands action there, which is marked by easy power and attacking play. His serve though is close to harmless; Stich has better of the match and flaws in his returning is biggest factor in that not translating to a win. Court is fast

Stamina is also important factor and not just at the end. Both players had endured 5-set semis the day before and both are less than daisy fresh even at the start. Its not to problematic degree and the tennis is excellent but one can gauge with confidence that they haven’t come in with two days rest. By the end both are on fumes, though that’d probably be the case regardless of when the semis had taken place

With Stich winning 2 sets with 2 break margins, and Korda winning 2 with 1 break ones and a tiebreak, its not surprising that Stich has better of match long figures. But he has better figures by parts, with almost any reasonable way dividing those parts too.

Stich wins 51.9% of points, serving 50.9% of them
Break points - Stich 8/28 (14 games), Korda 6/17 (10 games)

Number of break points is deceptive because Korda often breaks on his first chance per game. The games are not and best get to Stich’s superiority

Break points by set -
First - Stich 2/5 (3 games)
Second - Korda 3/3, Stich 2/6 (3 games) -so both 3 games
Third - Korda 1/1, Stich 1/5 (2 games)
Fourth - Korda 0/6 (2 games), Stich 2/2 - so both 2 games
Fifth set - Korda 2/7, Stich 1/10 - both 4 games

Sans set where Stich has biggest advantages, break points shift to Stich 6/23 (11 games), Korda same 6/17 (10 games)
Sans set where Korda has biggest advantage, it shifts to Stich 7/18 (10 games), Korda 4/10 (6 games)

First set, easily in Stich’s favour - and he wins
Second set, Stich with just as many chances, Korda nudging result
Third set, Stich with more chances, Korda snagging tiebreak
Not much in the fourth actually, but Stich with comfy 6-2 win

And Stich again with more chances in the extended decider, though all kinds of things happen in it. Players are both weary, but with end in sight, both keep shoulder to the wheel and fortunes shift this way and that

They trade long holds at the start - Stich saving 2 break points, Korda 4
They trade 12-point games in the late-middle - Korda holding his and then breaking to serve for the match
He’s broken to love trying. A great game by Stich and one that’s on the cards with Korda’s harmless serve
Korda’s got 2 match/break points game after. And good looks on both. The second is erased with Stich’s second, net chord roll over winner of the game
At 6-6, Korda’s down 0-40 for the second time in the set
At 7-7, he’s down break point again
Comes through both and ultimately prevails by breaking from 40-15 down with 4 striking points to break and end the match 11-9

Good tennis through it all, with appropriate tiredness

Those are the margins that determine outcome. How’s the meat and bones action of the match?

In a word, beautiful

Stich serve-volleys off both serves. High quality serves, high quality volleys. Korda with early taken, easy powerful returns. Amidst high lot of routine holds, Korda with spurts of brilliant returns to Stich’s feet, Stich remarkably good on half-volley but Korda unerring in dismissing follow-up pass

Korda with at most average serve, and usually less than that. Stich looking to clinically control with deep returns, with some success. Easy power ground rallies, especially Korda’s shots, while Stich takes his chances with choice dtl shots

Stich’s failures are of both choice and execution
- he’s 6/8 chip-charge returning. Turns to it late in the match. Its not difficult to do. Could probably do it against Korda’s first serve if he was particularly bold

- 36/45 return errors have been marked UEs, most against first serves
To give some idea of strength of Korda’s serve, he has 3 aces from 128 first serves. Stich has 5/82 second serve aces, to compare
He cuts the return UEs down by a quarter, Korda’s unreturned rate goes from 26% to 20% - and Stich probably wins

- he’s 9/11 rallying to net, compared to Korda’s 22/35
He is reactive partner in baseline rallies, so would take moxie to find net. ‘Reactive’, not defensive
In pure baseline rallies, he actually wins majority of points, due to Korda’s streaky waywardness. Its Korda taking net that pushes Korda ahead overall

The ‘streaky waywardness’ of Korda’s ground UEs feeds back into Stich’s return choices. Just getting returns in play at average force is liable to win him some amount of points. High lot he misses are just long. That kind of extreme depth is is do-able against Korda’s serve, but not really necessary, given Korda’s streakiness

So, a few things coming out of this, regarding flaws in both Stich’s choices and execution on the return
- he safely puts higher lot of returns in play, likely wins share of points via Korda ground UEs
- he chip-charges returns regularly, likely wins share of points
- he actively seeks net in rallies. Outcome of this one isn’t so clear, and claiming it as crucial factor would be being wise after the fact

DID YOU JUST BREAK A PROMISE?

 

[urban]

Stich came in a bit overplayed. He had just won the Year end final in a magnificent 4 set win over Sampras, and then had won singlehandedly the Davis Cup over Australia on indoor clay at Düsseldorf.

 

[Mustard]

Hard to think of one equal to it. Not just for scorelines - they're all great matches (as in, have great tennis action) too

'88 Australian Open is only other event I can think of that had 5 setters in last 3 matches

2001 Wimbledon is the obvious one.

 

[Gizo]

The 1980 US Open was another grand slam during which both semi-finals and the final were 5 setters. Two of the quarter-finals also went to a 5th set, while the remaining ones were 4 setters.

Korda's epic SF win vs. Sampras, 13-11 in the 5th set after 4 hours and 31 minutes, and then this final win vs. Stich after 3 hours and 48 minutes, took place in consecutive days on the Saturday and Sunday without much time to rest in-between. He was cramping and looked jaded during his SF win - a monumental effort from him that weekend. His backhand was certainly firing at that tournament. I loved that shot - he hit it so smoothly and with so much pinpoint accuracy.

Stich also did well to compete in back to back 5 setters, with that tournament hot on heels of the Davis Cup final during which he played in 2 live singles rubbers plus a doubles match in-between. He was generally formidable at home in Germany, regardless of the tournament, surface or city.

 

[urban]

Kordas lefty backhand was a bit like Lavers, with his back often pointing to the net. When overlopped, he couul hit hit running back with force for a winner. Korda made an interview with the Guardian, where he stated, that Laver was the best player he faced, when he had trained with the old guy just before his stroke.

 

[Gizo]

Ahead of the 1998 Australian Open final, I remember some commentators saying that they felt the match was much more on Korda's racket than Rios's.

Both players were very talented shot-makers, but Korda had a much better serve and more powerful groundstrokes. His one handed backhand when firing was absolutely lethal (with Sampras on the receiving end during the previous grand slam), and he was such an aggressive, clean hitter from all over the court.

 

[Judge Holden]

A few more sterling final fours I thought of were the Australian Open 2008 and 2012, Roland-Garros 1991 and 2005, Wimbledon 1977 and 1989, and US Open 1995.