Ivan Lendl beat Boris Becker 6-7(6), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wembley Indoors final, 1985 on carpet
Lendl had recently won the US Open and would go onto win the Masters, beating Becker again in the final. Becker had won his first Wimbledon earlier in the year
Lendl won 164 points, Becker 144
Becker serve-volleyed off all but 9 first serves
(Note: I'm missing the ending of one point won by Lendl. Based on audio, its been marked an unknown error - very likely it was unforced)
Serve Stats
Lendl...
- 1st serve percentage (87/146) 60%
- 1st serve points won (64/87) 74%
- 2nd serve points won (39/59) 66%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (37/146) 25%
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (93/162) 57%
- 1st serve points won (68/93) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (33/69) 48%
- Aces 6, Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (53/162) 33%
Serve Patterns
Lendl served...
- to FH 17%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 10%
Becker served...
- to FH 24%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 11%
Return Stats
Lendl made...
- 103 (26 FH, 77 BH), including 7 runaround FHs & 7 return-approaches
- 4 Winners (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 45 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (3 FH, 5 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 37 Forced (18 FH, 19 BH), including runaround FH & 1 return-approach attempt
- Return Rate (103/156) 66%
Becker made...
- 108 (18 FH, 90 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 22 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (2 BH)
- 31 Errors, comprising...
- 15 Unforced (3 FH, 12 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 5 return-approach attempts
- 16 Forced (3 FH, 13 BH)
- Return Rate (108/145) 74%
Break Points
Lendl 5/13 (9 games)
Becker 3/4 (4 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Lendl 46 (12 FH, 24 BH, 6 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
Becker 29 (7 FH, 3 BH, 4 FHV, 7 BHV, 8 OH)
Lendl's had 28 passes (8 FH, 20 BH, 1 FHV)
- FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 3 inside-in (1 return) and 3 lobs
- BHs - 5 cc, 10 dtl (1 return), 1 inside-out return, 2 longline and 2 lobs
- the FHV was a swinging shot from well behind the service line and not a net point for Lendl
- regular FHs - 2 inside-in, 1 longline and 1 at net
- regular BHs - 1 cc and 3 dtl (1 return)
- 1 BHV was a from a return-approach point
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot and not a net point
- the BH1/2V was a stop inside-out
Becker had from serve-volley points -
- 7 first 'volleys' (3 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH, 2 FH at net)
- 5 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 3 OH)
- 2 third volleys (2 BHV)… 1 a net chord dribbler
- 3 from return-approach points (2 BHV, 1 OH)… 1 of the BHVs was a net chord dribbler
- FHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 1 dtl and 2 inside-out (1 pass)
- BHs - 1 cc pass, 1 dtl return and 1 inside-in return pass
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Lendl 61
- 24 Unforced (8 FH, 12 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 37 Forced (13 FH, 20 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.8
Becker 75
- 39 Unforced (11 FH, 17 BH, 10 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 35 Forced (12 FH, 7 BH, 7 FHV, 7 BHV, 2 BH1/2V)
- 1 Unknown (1 ??)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.7
(Note 0: Based on audio of crowds reaction, its very likely that Becker's unknown error was unforced)
(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 for these two matches are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Lendl was...
- 22/35 (63%) at net, including...
- 4/6 (67%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 1/2 off 1st serve and...
- 3/4 (75%) off 2nd serve
--
- 2/7 (29%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back/retreated
Becker was...
- 79/136 (58%) at net, including...
- 54/84 (64%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 51/76 (67%) off 1st serve and...
- 3/8 (38%) off 2nd serve
--
- 8/22 (36%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back
Match Report
Very good match on a fast court, decided by some on the fly change of tactics from Lendl. For the last two sets, he takes a lot of the first serve, gets a much larger percentage in... and that's all she wrote for Becker
Actually there are two turning points. The first is when Lendl starts chip-charge approaching in the second set and the second, more decisive one is the change in serving tactics
Percentage plays and stats wise, this match isn't all that close. Lendl has the better of it pretty much throughout - but that's the limitations of stats and why I write the reports. Stats can't cover everything (well, they probably can, but the amount of time it'd take to jot down and derive the necessary numbers aren't worth the candle), especially when someone as erratic as Becker is involved
In a nutshell, the match is dominated by serve and Lendl is more a threat to break than the other way round almost all the time. But Becker's low percentage play on return games is... dangerous. he might win 2 points in 5 games, but break in the 6th... and if he can hold onto serve during that period (losing a couple of points per game on average, i.e. not looking perfectly secure)… well, he wins the set
Another way of looking at it is Becker playing match long percentage tennis. Lendl plays point level percentage tennis. Lendl will (and does) have the better of it point to point... but that's no guarantee he'll be able to win the match in the end
First set is dead even. Both players have won exactly 35 points going into the tiebreak, and Lendl has the first set point in it. I suppose Lendl had the better of the first set, given he had 4 break points over two games to Becker's 0. 2 are saved by unreturned serves and 1 by a forced passing error, but the third is a Lendl FH UE
First surprise in the tiebreak is Lendl chip-charging a return to win a point - I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen him do that. He gives back the mini-break with a poor BH error and Becker holds steady to make a reflex volley winner the point after (he struggles with these all match). Those are the key points. Lendl has a set point but Becker makes 2 unreturned serves to raise his own. Lendl comes to net and misses a FHV that was a bit wide but at a good height just over the net. First set Becker
In second set, Lendl starts chip-charge returning frequently (!). He usually loses the point because is sharp on the pass, but it is a possible turning point. In the first set, Becker had missed many second serve returns - relatively strong second serves from Lendl and not easy to return on a fast court, but still unforced errors. I imagine Boris would have turned to the play sooner or later anyway... but its likely Lendl's chip-charging that triggers him to reciprocate. After that, Becker is regularly chip-charging too
Chip-charging doesn't decide the set, but its put an edge into play that stays on for the next two sets (to Becker's relative advantage). Lendl gets the sole break of the set due mainly to Becker's poor play - a couple of FHV UEs, a double a fault and a loose BH error.
Chip-charging shapes play in the third set for Becker. He'd been getting outgunned on Lendl's second serve points from the baseline (or missing returns - bad play from him on that front), but this more aggressive play gives him a shot. After trading early breaks, play remains on serve and competive - Becker at the net often, even on return games. Lendl is broken to give up the set. Nice point from Becker to bring up set point... a Becker FH inside-out vs Lendl BH cc duel that ends with Becker slapping away the winner
And the final turning point. Lendl adjust to all the chip-charge returning by taking quite a bit off his first serve and making more of them. For first three sets, Lendl had served at 51%. For the last two, he serves at 76%. Becker has just the 1 break point (which he converts - a weird game with Lendl losing points to a mishit, a routine BH UE and a electing to volley a ball on the baseline - I haven't seen a ball volleyed from that far back, it would probably have landed on the baseline if he hadn't), but otherwise can barely get a sniff on serve. He can't find the net
Lendl for his part, seemingly free of worries about his service games, plays better on return too. His returning is stronger and more consistent, his passing a lot more so. Becker's UE rate goes up too - to some extent because he's smothered by Lendl installing a more passive dynamic than existed before, some due to his level just dropping and some to being denied the net. Play for the last two sets has the feel of Lendl being completely in command
Note that despite being "completely in command", Lendl can only take these sets with just +1 breaks. That's the danger of Becker, and players like him. It doesn't matter if they're outplayed... one good game from them (something he tends to pull out regularly) or a bad one from the opponent (which happens, even to the Ivan Lendl's of the world), and they can still take the set
Lendl had recently won the US Open and would go onto win the Masters, beating Becker again in the final. Becker had won his first Wimbledon earlier in the year
Lendl won 164 points, Becker 144
Becker serve-volleyed off all but 9 first serves
(Note: I'm missing the ending of one point won by Lendl. Based on audio, its been marked an unknown error - very likely it was unforced)
Serve Stats
Lendl...
- 1st serve percentage (87/146) 60%
- 1st serve points won (64/87) 74%
- 2nd serve points won (39/59) 66%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (37/146) 25%
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (93/162) 57%
- 1st serve points won (68/93) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (33/69) 48%
- Aces 6, Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (53/162) 33%
Serve Patterns
Lendl served...
- to FH 17%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 10%
Becker served...
- to FH 24%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 11%
Return Stats
Lendl made...
- 103 (26 FH, 77 BH), including 7 runaround FHs & 7 return-approaches
- 4 Winners (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 45 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (3 FH, 5 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 37 Forced (18 FH, 19 BH), including runaround FH & 1 return-approach attempt
- Return Rate (103/156) 66%
Becker made...
- 108 (18 FH, 90 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 22 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (2 BH)
- 31 Errors, comprising...
- 15 Unforced (3 FH, 12 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 5 return-approach attempts
- 16 Forced (3 FH, 13 BH)
- Return Rate (108/145) 74%
Break Points
Lendl 5/13 (9 games)
Becker 3/4 (4 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Lendl 46 (12 FH, 24 BH, 6 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
Becker 29 (7 FH, 3 BH, 4 FHV, 7 BHV, 8 OH)
Lendl's had 28 passes (8 FH, 20 BH, 1 FHV)
- FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 3 inside-in (1 return) and 3 lobs
- BHs - 5 cc, 10 dtl (1 return), 1 inside-out return, 2 longline and 2 lobs
- the FHV was a swinging shot from well behind the service line and not a net point for Lendl
- regular FHs - 2 inside-in, 1 longline and 1 at net
- regular BHs - 1 cc and 3 dtl (1 return)
- 1 BHV was a from a return-approach point
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot and not a net point
- the BH1/2V was a stop inside-out
Becker had from serve-volley points -
- 7 first 'volleys' (3 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH, 2 FH at net)
- 5 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 3 OH)
- 2 third volleys (2 BHV)… 1 a net chord dribbler
- 3 from return-approach points (2 BHV, 1 OH)… 1 of the BHVs was a net chord dribbler
- FHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 1 dtl and 2 inside-out (1 pass)
- BHs - 1 cc pass, 1 dtl return and 1 inside-in return pass
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Lendl 61
- 24 Unforced (8 FH, 12 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 37 Forced (13 FH, 20 BH, 1 FHV, 3 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.8
Becker 75
- 39 Unforced (11 FH, 17 BH, 10 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 35 Forced (12 FH, 7 BH, 7 FHV, 7 BHV, 2 BH1/2V)
- 1 Unknown (1 ??)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.7
(Note 0: Based on audio of crowds reaction, its very likely that Becker's unknown error was unforced)
(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 for these two matches are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Lendl was...
- 22/35 (63%) at net, including...
- 4/6 (67%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 1/2 off 1st serve and...
- 3/4 (75%) off 2nd serve
--
- 2/7 (29%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back/retreated
Becker was...
- 79/136 (58%) at net, including...
- 54/84 (64%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 51/76 (67%) off 1st serve and...
- 3/8 (38%) off 2nd serve
--
- 8/22 (36%) return-approaching
- 0/1 forced back
Match Report
Very good match on a fast court, decided by some on the fly change of tactics from Lendl. For the last two sets, he takes a lot of the first serve, gets a much larger percentage in... and that's all she wrote for Becker
Actually there are two turning points. The first is when Lendl starts chip-charge approaching in the second set and the second, more decisive one is the change in serving tactics
Percentage plays and stats wise, this match isn't all that close. Lendl has the better of it pretty much throughout - but that's the limitations of stats and why I write the reports. Stats can't cover everything (well, they probably can, but the amount of time it'd take to jot down and derive the necessary numbers aren't worth the candle), especially when someone as erratic as Becker is involved
In a nutshell, the match is dominated by serve and Lendl is more a threat to break than the other way round almost all the time. But Becker's low percentage play on return games is... dangerous. he might win 2 points in 5 games, but break in the 6th... and if he can hold onto serve during that period (losing a couple of points per game on average, i.e. not looking perfectly secure)… well, he wins the set
Another way of looking at it is Becker playing match long percentage tennis. Lendl plays point level percentage tennis. Lendl will (and does) have the better of it point to point... but that's no guarantee he'll be able to win the match in the end
First set is dead even. Both players have won exactly 35 points going into the tiebreak, and Lendl has the first set point in it. I suppose Lendl had the better of the first set, given he had 4 break points over two games to Becker's 0. 2 are saved by unreturned serves and 1 by a forced passing error, but the third is a Lendl FH UE
First surprise in the tiebreak is Lendl chip-charging a return to win a point - I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen him do that. He gives back the mini-break with a poor BH error and Becker holds steady to make a reflex volley winner the point after (he struggles with these all match). Those are the key points. Lendl has a set point but Becker makes 2 unreturned serves to raise his own. Lendl comes to net and misses a FHV that was a bit wide but at a good height just over the net. First set Becker
In second set, Lendl starts chip-charge returning frequently (!). He usually loses the point because is sharp on the pass, but it is a possible turning point. In the first set, Becker had missed many second serve returns - relatively strong second serves from Lendl and not easy to return on a fast court, but still unforced errors. I imagine Boris would have turned to the play sooner or later anyway... but its likely Lendl's chip-charging that triggers him to reciprocate. After that, Becker is regularly chip-charging too
Chip-charging doesn't decide the set, but its put an edge into play that stays on for the next two sets (to Becker's relative advantage). Lendl gets the sole break of the set due mainly to Becker's poor play - a couple of FHV UEs, a double a fault and a loose BH error.
Chip-charging shapes play in the third set for Becker. He'd been getting outgunned on Lendl's second serve points from the baseline (or missing returns - bad play from him on that front), but this more aggressive play gives him a shot. After trading early breaks, play remains on serve and competive - Becker at the net often, even on return games. Lendl is broken to give up the set. Nice point from Becker to bring up set point... a Becker FH inside-out vs Lendl BH cc duel that ends with Becker slapping away the winner
And the final turning point. Lendl adjust to all the chip-charge returning by taking quite a bit off his first serve and making more of them. For first three sets, Lendl had served at 51%. For the last two, he serves at 76%. Becker has just the 1 break point (which he converts - a weird game with Lendl losing points to a mishit, a routine BH UE and a electing to volley a ball on the baseline - I haven't seen a ball volleyed from that far back, it would probably have landed on the baseline if he hadn't), but otherwise can barely get a sniff on serve. He can't find the net
Lendl for his part, seemingly free of worries about his service games, plays better on return too. His returning is stronger and more consistent, his passing a lot more so. Becker's UE rate goes up too - to some extent because he's smothered by Lendl installing a more passive dynamic than existed before, some due to his level just dropping and some to being denied the net. Play for the last two sets has the feel of Lendl being completely in command
Note that despite being "completely in command", Lendl can only take these sets with just +1 breaks. That's the danger of Becker, and players like him. It doesn't matter if they're outplayed... one good game from them (something he tends to pull out regularly) or a bad one from the opponent (which happens, even to the Ivan Lendl's of the world), and they can still take the set
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