John McEnroe beat Ivan Lendl 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon semi-final, 1983 on grass
McEnroe would go onto win the title, beating Chris Lewis in the final. It Lendl's first semi at event. He would finish runner-up on grass at the Australian later in the year
McEnroe won 106 points, Lendl 96
Both players serve-volleyed off all serves
Serve Stats
McEnroe...
- 1st serve percentage (67/99) 68%
- 1st serve points won (55/67) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (18/32) 56%
- Aces 16, Service Winners 1 (bad bounce related, can reasonably be called a non-clean ace)
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (49/99) 49%
Lendl...
- 1st serve percentage (73/103) 71%
- 1st serve points won (54/73) 74%
- 2nd serve points won (16/30) 53%
- Aces 4 (2 second serves), Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (38/103) 37%
Serve Patterns
McEnroe served...
- to FH 33%
- to BH 49%
- to Body 18%
Lendl served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 51%
- to Body 17%
Return Stats
McEnroe made...
- 63 (22 FH, 41 BH), including 4 return-approaches
- 9 Winners (4 FH, 5 BH)
- 33 Errors, all forced...
- 33 Forced (15 FH, 18 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- Return Rate (63/101) 62%
Lendl made...
- 47 (18 FH, 29 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 7 Winners (2 FH, 5 BH)
- 32 Errors, all forced...
- 32 Forced (17 FH, 15 BH)
- Return Rate (47/96) 49%
Break Points
McEnroe 2/7 (4 games)
Lendl 0/2 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
McEnroe 36 (7 FH, 10 BH, 8 FHV, 7 BHV, 4 OH)
Lendl 30 (7 FH, 7 BH, 5 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 3 OH, 1 BHOH)
McEnroe had 19 from serve-volley points
- 12 first 'volleys' (6 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 FH at net)
- 5 second 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 3 OH)... 1 OH on bounce from baseline (forced back point)
- 2 third 'volleys' (1 BHV, 1 OH)... the OH was on bounce from baseline (forced back point)
- 17 passes - 9 returns (4 FH, 5 BH) & 8 regular (2 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV)
- FH returns - 1 cc, 1 dtl and 2 inside-in
- BH returns - 3 cc, 1 dtl and 1 inside-in
- regular FHs - 1 dtl and 1 longline
- regular BHs - 2 cc, 2 dtl and 1 inside-out/dtl
- the FHV was a swinging, non-net shot
Lendl had 18 from serve-volley points
- 10 first 'volleys' (2 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH, 1 FH at net, 1 BH at net)
- 7 second volleys (3 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH, 1 BHOH)
- 1 re-approach volley (1 OH)... that can reasonably be called a FHV
- 12 passes - 7 returns (2 FH, 5 BH) & 5 regular (4 FH, 1 BH)
- FH returns - 1 cc and 1 dtl
- BH returns - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out (which McEnroe got racquet on without his hand on the racquet) and 1 inside-in
- regular FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 longline
- regular BH - 1 dtl
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
McEnroe 25
- 5 Unforced (4 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 20 Forced (7 FH, 5 BH, 4 FHV, 2 FH1/2V, 2 BHV)... with 1 FH at net (a pass attempt)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 54
Lendl 19
- 9 Unforced (1 FH, 1 BH, 2 FHV, 5 BHV)... with 1 FH at net & 1 BH at net
- 10 Forced (2 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BH1/2V, 1 BHOH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 56.7
(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
McEnroe was...
- 58/86 (67%) at net, including...
- 56/79 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 38/50 (76%) off 1st serve and...
- 18/29 (62%) off 2nd serve
---
- 1/4 (25%) return-approaching
- 2/3 (67%) forced back/retreated
Lendl was...
- 65/96 (68%) at net, all serve-volleying, comprising...
- 51/70 (73%) off 1st serve and...
- 14/26 (54%) off second serve
Match Report
Not just a high quality, 100% serve-volleying encounter but a beautiful one with both players playing very well. Key difference is McEnroe having the better serve - its better placed, has more variety and is apparently better disguised (or at very least, Lendl can't read it as well as Mac can read his serve)
That difference trickles down into other areas -
- because of better serve, Mac is able to return better than Lendl
- because Mac is able to return better, he's faced with easier volleys and is able to volley better
- because Mac is able to volley better, he's faced with easier passing chances and is able to pass better
In absolute sense - i.e. facing equal calibre stuff - there's negligble difference between 2 players sans the serve. Lendl volleys about as well as Mac, Mac passes about as well as Lendl
Its come out pretty well in numbers. With both players serve-volleying 100% of the time and match being server-dominated on whole, direct comparison is easy
Overall break points - Mac 2/7 (4 games), Lendl 0/2 (2 games)
- 1st set break points - Mac 0/1, Lendl 0/2 (2 games)
- next 2 sets break points - Mac 2/6 (3 games), Lendl 0
Lendl has slightly better of first set going in the 'breaker and its a couple of against-set's-trend points that sees Mac come out on top. Thereafter, Mac has better of play and Lendl is no real threat to break. So 1 who-plays-big-points-better set - with the lesser player coming out on top - and 2 sets where the better player reigns.
In first set, all 3 break points end with FH return errors against 1st serves (1 of Lendl's against a body serve), all drawn by particularly good serves. Mac deals in aces after saving his break points too to hold the games
Heading into 'breaker, Lendl has 0 UEs, Mac 3 (all volleys). In fact on service games, Lendl's missed just 1 volley, Mac 6 (Mac also misses a couple from nothing-to-lose, very low percentage approaches in return games - and the only volley Lendl misses is also forced by such an approach). Meanwhile, Lendl's got 3 return winners to Mac's 0. In short, Lendl's had better of play. He's faced normal amount of difficult 'volleys' too, including half-volleys and shoelace volleys and put everything back in play - he's basically been flawless in forecourt
Lendl carries on good work in 'breaker, striking a stunning running FH cc pass winner to go up mini-break and 3-1. After Mac holds for 2-3, next 2 points end up settling the set
First Lendl misses an easy, comfortable BHV - his first UE of the match. Then Mac strikes a BH return winner - his first return winner of the match. Things carry on on serve and Mac takes it with the 1 mini advantage
By contrast, Mac has better of rest of match though it remains server dominated. Lendl has no more break points, Mac ekes out a break per set - and has run of play to tune where he's far more likely to
Progression of match - Lendl having better of first set, Mac the next 2 - comes through in points served too -
1st Set - Mac 46, Lendl 37
2nd Set - Mac 23, Lendl 30
3rd Set - Mac 30, Lendl 36
McEnroe would go onto win the title, beating Chris Lewis in the final. It Lendl's first semi at event. He would finish runner-up on grass at the Australian later in the year
McEnroe won 106 points, Lendl 96
Both players serve-volleyed off all serves
Serve Stats
McEnroe...
- 1st serve percentage (67/99) 68%
- 1st serve points won (55/67) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (18/32) 56%
- Aces 16, Service Winners 1 (bad bounce related, can reasonably be called a non-clean ace)
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (49/99) 49%
Lendl...
- 1st serve percentage (73/103) 71%
- 1st serve points won (54/73) 74%
- 2nd serve points won (16/30) 53%
- Aces 4 (2 second serves), Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (38/103) 37%
Serve Patterns
McEnroe served...
- to FH 33%
- to BH 49%
- to Body 18%
Lendl served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 51%
- to Body 17%
Return Stats
McEnroe made...
- 63 (22 FH, 41 BH), including 4 return-approaches
- 9 Winners (4 FH, 5 BH)
- 33 Errors, all forced...
- 33 Forced (15 FH, 18 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- Return Rate (63/101) 62%
Lendl made...
- 47 (18 FH, 29 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 7 Winners (2 FH, 5 BH)
- 32 Errors, all forced...
- 32 Forced (17 FH, 15 BH)
- Return Rate (47/96) 49%
Break Points
McEnroe 2/7 (4 games)
Lendl 0/2 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
McEnroe 36 (7 FH, 10 BH, 8 FHV, 7 BHV, 4 OH)
Lendl 30 (7 FH, 7 BH, 5 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 3 OH, 1 BHOH)
McEnroe had 19 from serve-volley points
- 12 first 'volleys' (6 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 FH at net)
- 5 second 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 BHV, 3 OH)... 1 OH on bounce from baseline (forced back point)
- 2 third 'volleys' (1 BHV, 1 OH)... the OH was on bounce from baseline (forced back point)
- 17 passes - 9 returns (4 FH, 5 BH) & 8 regular (2 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV)
- FH returns - 1 cc, 1 dtl and 2 inside-in
- BH returns - 3 cc, 1 dtl and 1 inside-in
- regular FHs - 1 dtl and 1 longline
- regular BHs - 2 cc, 2 dtl and 1 inside-out/dtl
- the FHV was a swinging, non-net shot
Lendl had 18 from serve-volley points
- 10 first 'volleys' (2 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH, 1 FH at net, 1 BH at net)
- 7 second volleys (3 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH, 1 BHOH)
- 1 re-approach volley (1 OH)... that can reasonably be called a FHV
- 12 passes - 7 returns (2 FH, 5 BH) & 5 regular (4 FH, 1 BH)
- FH returns - 1 cc and 1 dtl
- BH returns - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out (which McEnroe got racquet on without his hand on the racquet) and 1 inside-in
- regular FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 longline
- regular BH - 1 dtl
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
McEnroe 25
- 5 Unforced (4 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 20 Forced (7 FH, 5 BH, 4 FHV, 2 FH1/2V, 2 BHV)... with 1 FH at net (a pass attempt)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 54
Lendl 19
- 9 Unforced (1 FH, 1 BH, 2 FHV, 5 BHV)... with 1 FH at net & 1 BH at net
- 10 Forced (2 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BH1/2V, 1 BHOH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 56.7
(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
McEnroe was...
- 58/86 (67%) at net, including...
- 56/79 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 38/50 (76%) off 1st serve and...
- 18/29 (62%) off 2nd serve
---
- 1/4 (25%) return-approaching
- 2/3 (67%) forced back/retreated
Lendl was...
- 65/96 (68%) at net, all serve-volleying, comprising...
- 51/70 (73%) off 1st serve and...
- 14/26 (54%) off second serve
Match Report
Not just a high quality, 100% serve-volleying encounter but a beautiful one with both players playing very well. Key difference is McEnroe having the better serve - its better placed, has more variety and is apparently better disguised (or at very least, Lendl can't read it as well as Mac can read his serve)
That difference trickles down into other areas -
- because of better serve, Mac is able to return better than Lendl
- because Mac is able to return better, he's faced with easier volleys and is able to volley better
- because Mac is able to volley better, he's faced with easier passing chances and is able to pass better
In absolute sense - i.e. facing equal calibre stuff - there's negligble difference between 2 players sans the serve. Lendl volleys about as well as Mac, Mac passes about as well as Lendl
Its come out pretty well in numbers. With both players serve-volleying 100% of the time and match being server-dominated on whole, direct comparison is easy
Overall break points - Mac 2/7 (4 games), Lendl 0/2 (2 games)
- 1st set break points - Mac 0/1, Lendl 0/2 (2 games)
- next 2 sets break points - Mac 2/6 (3 games), Lendl 0
Lendl has slightly better of first set going in the 'breaker and its a couple of against-set's-trend points that sees Mac come out on top. Thereafter, Mac has better of play and Lendl is no real threat to break. So 1 who-plays-big-points-better set - with the lesser player coming out on top - and 2 sets where the better player reigns.
In first set, all 3 break points end with FH return errors against 1st serves (1 of Lendl's against a body serve), all drawn by particularly good serves. Mac deals in aces after saving his break points too to hold the games
Heading into 'breaker, Lendl has 0 UEs, Mac 3 (all volleys). In fact on service games, Lendl's missed just 1 volley, Mac 6 (Mac also misses a couple from nothing-to-lose, very low percentage approaches in return games - and the only volley Lendl misses is also forced by such an approach). Meanwhile, Lendl's got 3 return winners to Mac's 0. In short, Lendl's had better of play. He's faced normal amount of difficult 'volleys' too, including half-volleys and shoelace volleys and put everything back in play - he's basically been flawless in forecourt
Lendl carries on good work in 'breaker, striking a stunning running FH cc pass winner to go up mini-break and 3-1. After Mac holds for 2-3, next 2 points end up settling the set
First Lendl misses an easy, comfortable BHV - his first UE of the match. Then Mac strikes a BH return winner - his first return winner of the match. Things carry on on serve and Mac takes it with the 1 mini advantage
By contrast, Mac has better of rest of match though it remains server dominated. Lendl has no more break points, Mac ekes out a break per set - and has run of play to tune where he's far more likely to
Progression of match - Lendl having better of first set, Mac the next 2 - comes through in points served too -
1st Set - Mac 46, Lendl 37
2nd Set - Mac 23, Lendl 30
3rd Set - Mac 30, Lendl 36