Match Stats/Report - Lendl vs Gomez, French Open quarter-final, 1987

[Waspsting]

Ivan Lendl beat Andres Gomez 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in the French Open quarter-final, 1987 on clay

Lendl was the defending champion and would go onto win the title, beating Mats Wilander in the final. Gomez would go onto win the title in 1990. It was the 4th time the pair had met at the event, with Lendl winning all the matches.

Lendl won 129 points, Gomez 103

Gomez serve-volleyed about half the time off first serves

Serve Stats
Lendl...
- 1st serve percentage (63/120) 53%
- 1st serve points won (43/63) 68%
- 2nd serve points won (34/57) 60%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/120) 19%

Gomez...
- 1st serve percentage (63/112) 56%
- 1st serve points won (39/63) 62%
- 2nd serve points won (21/49) 43%
- Aces 8
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (26/112) 23%

Serve Patterns
Lendl served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 3%

Gomez served...
- to FH 39%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 3%

Return Stats
Lendl made...
- 85 (38 FH, 47 BH), including 6 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- 12 Forced (6 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (85/111) 77%

Gomez made...
- 96 (34 FH, 62 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 9 Unforced (3 FH, 6 BH)
- 9 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (96/119) 81%

Break Points
Lendl 8/18 (12 games)
Gomez 3/9 (5 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Lendl 39 (18 FH, 14 BH, 3 FHV, 3 OH, 1 BHOH)
Gomez 30 (8 FH, 8 BH, 5 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 6 BHV, 2 OH)

Lendl had 19 passes (8 FH, 11 BH)
- FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out (1 net chord flicker), 1 lob and 2 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net
- BHs - 4 cc (1 slice), 4 dtl (1 at net), 2 inside-out (1 return, 1 net chord pop over) and 1 longline

- regular FHs - 4 cc (2 at net), 2 dtl, 3 inside-out and 1 longline/cc (not clean & bad bounce related)
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl and 1 dtl/inside-out

- 2 OHs on the bounce - 1 from just behind the service line (marked a retreated net point)

Gomez had 2 from serve-volley points (1 FHV, 1 BHV), both second volleys

- FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out, 1 inside-in, 1 drop shot and 1 lob
- BHs - 4 cc, 1 dtl pass, 1 inside-out/dtl and 2 drop shots

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Lendl 46
- 24 Unforced (10 FH, 14 BH)
- 22 Forced (7 FH, 13 BH, 2 FHV)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net & 3 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.7

Gomez 66
- 47 Unforced (13 FH, 28 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net & 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 19 Forced (8 FH, 8 BH, 2 BHV, 1 Over-Shoulder)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.4

(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
Lendl was...
- 23/36 (64%) at net, with...
- 1/1 retreated

Gomez was...
- 35/65 (54%) at net, including...
- 12/25 (48%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 0/2 forced back

Match Report
Gomez folds after two competitive sets, but Lendl has the better of the first half of the match too - while surging ahead in the second. There are points of interest, but its not a particularly good match, and there’s room for improvement in Lendl’s showing

That hasn’t come out in the numbers. 39 winners, 24 UEs and 46 total errors from Lendl is excellent and a little flattering to his showing. He’s apt to give away simple errors to routine balls. Doesn’t get him in too much trouble because Gomez is a lot worse on that front

After 2 sets, Lendl’s won 76 points, Gomez 78
Next 2, Lendl 53, Gomez 25

Despite losing, Lendl has better of first set. There are 5 breaks in the it. Gomez faces breaks points in all 6 of his service games and has to serve 54 points to Lendl’s 40 in it

Just the 1 break in the second, and both players with a tough service game. Lendl breaks to 30, and holds off Gomez in an 18 point game (just 2 break points). Rest are straightforward holds, so an even set, with Lendl taking his one chance, Gomez not being able to

And terrible from Gomez thereafter to get steam-rolled 1 & 1

Key to match is Gomez’s weak BH, that gives up 28 UEs. Putting that in perspective -
- Lendl has 24 UEs total
- Gom has 19 non-BH UEs
- FEs - Lendl 22, Gom 19
- Unreturned serves - Lendl 23, Gom 26
- Gom’s winners 30

Only Lendl’s 39 winners (all shots) significantly outweighs Gom’s BH UEs. And the funny thing is, it the most interesting shot in the match, cleverly used…

Play - Baseline
Its error-prone, right from get-go (goes into abysmal territory in last 2 sets, but so do many things for Gom), but he controls play with it. Early on, Lendl seems to be in clean hitting mode, and is smoothly driving BHs. Probably not something Gom would relish, given his shot tolerance problems. Gom responds by keeping his BHs low - and changes Lendl’s BH play (to lesser extent, FH too)

Gom can both come over or slice, or even chip the BH. The drive BH isn’t top-spinny or powerful but it looks pretty. Unlike many tall players, he looks not at all awkward stooping down for the low BH (in fact, it looks downright elegant). His slices and chips stay very low, about shin height, and he goes longline with it more often than not, to keep it away from Lendl’s FH

While Lendl’s able to counter the low, paceless ball with top-spin FHs, on the BH, he’s forced to play back in kind, putting a stopper on whatever intentions he had of driving BHs hard. Lendl himself isn’t immune to BH errors against these balls (though less so than Gom). Good lot of low, BH longline rallies

Amidst this stream of paceless balls, Gom now and then throws out a perfect drive BH for the winner. Usually cc, which is the open side amidst longline rallies, but occasionally dtl. Again, shot looks pretty as a picture. Or drop shots, with which he has 3 winners and forces 4 Lendl errors. Or wrong footing shots

Its clever stuff, its good looking stuff, its varied stuff. Within the context of the shot being very error prone and hence, very much net negative. A better watch than a guy who can’t keep 4 BH cc drives in play

To complement the versatile BH, Gom’s FH is a powerhouse on par with Lendl’s own. Some very powerful shots coming off that side, with inside-out the most dangerous. Lendl’s FH is its usual commanding stroke - forcing action, hitting winners, staying steady (also passing very well)

Baseline-to-baseline -
FH winners - Lendl 8, Gom 7
FH UEs - Lendl 10, Gom 13
BH winners - Lendl 3, Gom 7
BH UEs - Lendl 14, Gom 28

Gom’s FH about as effective as Lendl’s - both for doing damage, and holding the fort. Given its up against much stronger opposition in Lendl’s BH than Lendl’s is against Gom’s BH, maybe even shading it

While stock FHs go cc, same isn’t true of the BHs, where much of the rallying is longline, with Gom in particular redirecting FH cc’s longline to Lendl’s BH. Lendl’s 3 winners, 14 UEs isn’t unusual. BH play here is all about not giving up errors, so low winners isn’t a drawback

Gom’s are unusual. While folding like a cheap suit to tune of humongous 28 UEs, he’s got pretty high 7 winners. That’s the stunning, out-of-the-blue shot-making

All this isn’t against backdrop of Gom neither moving too well, nor showing great resistance to Lendl’s considerable force of shot. Again, surprising for a player who particularly excels on clay

Gist of this is Lendl having upper hand from the baseline. His stock FH is stronger than Gom’s, his BH is much more secure (though tripped up a bit by Gom’s clever tactics), he’s always in right position without strain (Gom can be rushed and is on slow side), he handles power readily (Gom struggles some against stock, neutral + shots which are one of Lendl’s specialities). Gom’s better in shot-making area - out steadied neutrally off both sides and with his other drawbacks, it’d be utter mismatch if he weren’t - nowhere near enough to offset Lendl’s superiority in most every other area

But baseline isnt’ the whole story. Gom serve-volleys considerably too

 

[Waspsting]

Play - Net (& Serve-Return)
Gom serve-volleys 45% off the time off first serves (none of seconds)
Serve-volleying, he wins 48%
Not serve-volleying, 63% (excluding aces)
And has aces 13% of the time (Lendl has 8%)

Rallying to net
- Lendl 23/36 or 64%
- Gom 23/40 or 58%

For starters, Gom has a very big serve. One can readily imagine him serve-botting his way through holds on a fast court. Serve-volley or not - it’s a challenging serve to deal with

Lendl copes. As he does. Blocks the big ones in play. Leaves net high volleys though. Not the best volleying behind the serve by Gom. Like many players on clay, he likes to volley short regularly, and he’s better at it than more normal kind. Misses a few routine volleys. Misses fewer going short, but no guarantee of ending the point with them either

Lendl with some amazing running passes too. More credit to Lendl’s passing for keeping Gom’s serve-volleying success down than discredit Gom for the volleying

On the other side, Gom struggles with the power of Lendl’s serve, even when not widely placed. Part of his shot tolerance trouble, though that’s holding him to highest standards. You won’t see Lendl troubled by hefty serves in his swing zone or that he can reach with a step as Gom is. Some playing around with taking second returns from inside the court by Gom, which usually doesn’t lead to much.

Gist - healthy to hefty serving by Lendl, not too wide - a cut or two below Gome’s offering, but he’s correspondingly better on the return

Gom manufactures approaches early on his first serve points that he doesn’t come in behind, which accounts for his higher number of approaches. After a rally develops, he neither looks for approaches - and not just because he’s being outhit. In fact, he’s not being outhit much, if at all, but outlasted. He just seems comfortable trading groundies and looking for a big FH, or a surprise wide BH to end points, not approaching net

Except when he does. Like his BH, Gom’s not predictable. Throws in the odd sneak approach - and does it very well, usually catching Lendl out. Most of his volley winners come from such plays

Lendl is excellent on the volley. Punches them through as well as possible, up to the standards of the most natural volleyers and looks as good of form doing so too. Like Gom on the low BH, no awkwardness in Lendl on the volley (which in general, he’s apt towards)

Still, clay is clay and volley doesn’t always go through and Gom has shot on the pass. Considerable number of net points Lendl loses are also to Gom’s drop shot plays, which have nothing to do with volleying

Volley winners - Lendl 5 (2 OHs - 1 of each wing), Gom 14 (just 2 serve-volleying)
Pass winners - Lendl 17, Gom 1

As with everything else, Gom’s success at net goes down the gutter in last 2 sets, where he’s 8/19 or 42% in forecourt, so 27/46 or 59% before that

He doesn’t volley noticeably worse in second part though (unlike groundgame), 2 UEs - both easy OHs - leaving his remaining 4 to have come in the much bigger first 2 sets

Match Progression
Rich set of tennis to open proceedings. Gom serve-volleys a bit, Lendl hits crisp, clean BHs, Gom comes to net, Lendl with some top class running passes, Gom changing his BH play as described earlier to re-shape playing dyanmics… there’s a lot going on

Lendl has better of it. He has break points in all of Gom’s service games, while holding to 30 3 times himself. Creative, unexpected plays from Gom gets him broken

Break points for the set - Gom 3/6 (3 games), Lendl 2/10 (6 games)

Gom’s streakiness comes out right out the gate. First point - misses regulation FHV. Second point, strikes third ball BH cc winner. Third point, makes third ball FH approach error. Fourth point, big serve that doesn’t come back

Lendl takes things into his own hands next 2 points - an approach and a big point ending BH cc - to break

Net and drop shot plays get Gom the break back for 2-2, but he’s broken right after, largely on back of missing 2 easy serve-volleying volleys

Its another creative game from Gom that again puts things back on serve for 4-4. He breaks to end the set, with of all things, good passing, including forcing an error with a wide, chipped shot (Lendl helps with a double fault and missing a third ball FH)

Fine set of tennis - the machine vs the very flawed man, the machine with better of things, the flawed man pulling of the unexpected just so to win. And above description leaves out all the tough holds Gom has in between the break games, which only add to proceedings

Second set is more even. The cat-&-mouse game centered around Gom chipping or slicing BHs longline is more prominent, as are the wrong footing shots. It disrupts the Lendl machine some. And effective big serving and serve-volleying by Gom

Server loses 2 points in the first 6 holds (1 by each player) and none at all in the first 4
Server loses 2 points in last 2 holds (1 by each player)

In between, Lendl breaks to 30, in a fine game of lobs and passes and ending with a Lendl pulling off a difficult BHOH winner. And then Lendl holds an 18 point game, whre he faces just 2 break points. A game, like the match (so far), where spurts of winners sandwich spurts of errors and vice versa

After 2 sets, Lendl’s won 76 points, Gom 78

Lendl 23 winners, 12 errors forced, 16 UEs
Gom 23 winners, 17 errors forced, 25 UEs
Aggressively ended points/UE differential - Lendl +19, Gom +15

Next 2 sets, Lendl wins 53 points, Gom 25

Lendl 16 winners, 7 errors forced, 8 UEs
Gom 7 winners, 5 errors forced, 22 UEs (15 BHs)
Aggressively ended points/UE differential - Lendl +15, Gom -10

No need to go into it much; Gom plays terribly to point of over shadowning whatever Lendl’s doing. Numbers indicating Lendl playing well, but it’s very much secondary to what his opponent does (and doesn’t do)

Summing up, half a great match. Lendl plays a steady strong game in all areas throughout - healthy serving, solid returning against a challenging serve, some tremendous passing, excellent volleying. He has to adjust his machine-like dual winged firm-to-hard hitting ground game thanks to Gomez’ clever BH play - and occasionally is tripped up by it

In the great part, Gomez holds even with Lendl of score, while getting slightly worse of action. His serve is a big weapon, but his return, ground consistency, shot tolerance and movement all trail behind his opponents. He compensates with creative use of BH types and direction, unexpected if not random shot-making off both sides, drop shots and quick-dash surprise net approaches

The other half is Gomez playing very poorly and Lendl shooting through to finish line

Stats for the final between Lendl and Mats Wilander - Match Stats/Report - Lendl vs Wilander, French Open final, 1987 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)