Match Stats/Report - Muster vs Bruguera, Miami final, 1997

Waspsting

Hall of Fame
Thomas Muster beat Sergi Bruguera 7-6(8), 6-3, 6-1 in the Miami final, 1997 on hard court

This was the 8th and last of Muster’s Masters titles and only one on hard court. It was Bruguera’s only only hard court Masters final

Muster won 99 points, Bruguera 76

Serve Stats
Muster...
- 1st serve percentage (46/83) 55%
- 1st serve points won (39/46) 85%
- 2nd serve points won (24/37) 65%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (30/83) 36%

Bruguera...
- 1st serve percentage (49/92) 53%
- 1st serve points won (36/49) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (20/43) 47%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/92) 20%

Serve Patterns
Muster served...
- to FH 23%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 4%

Bruguera served...
- to FH 48%
- to BH 51%
- to Body 1%

Return Stats
Muster made...
- 69 (46 FH, 23 BH), including 15 runaround FHs
- 2 Winners (2 FH), including 1 runaround FH
- 12 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (5 FH, 1 BH)
- 6 Forced (3 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (69/87) 79%

Bruguera made...
- 49 (13 FH, 36 BH), including 1 return-approach
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 24 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (8 BH)
- 16 Forced (6 FH, 10 BH)
- Return Rate (49/79) 62%

Break Points
Muster 4/6 (4 games)
Bruguera 0/2 (1 game)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Muster 13 (11 FH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
Bruguera 23 (10 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 3 BHV, 5 OH)

Muster's - 1 cc pass, 3 dtl passes, 3 inside-out (1 runaround return), 1 inside-in, 1 inside-in/cc, 2 net chord dribblers (1 return)

Bruguera's FHs -5 cc (2 passes), 2 dtl (1 return), 2 inside-out, 1 inside-in
- BHs - 2 cc (1 slice), 1 dtl pass (a net chord pop over)

- 2 from serve-volley points (1 BHV, 1 OH), both first volleys

- 1 other OH was on the bounce

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Muster 31
- 23 Unforced (13 FH, 10 BH)
- 8 Forced (4 FH, 2 BH, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.7

Bruguera 51
- 40 Unforced (17 FH, 21 BH, 2 FHV)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 11 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH, 2 BHV)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46

(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
Muster was...
- 6/11 (55%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 1/1 retreated

Bruguera was...
- 14/26 (54%) at net, including...
- 3/4 (75%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 0/1 return-approaching
- 0/2 forced back

Match Report
Disappointing progression to what was shaping to be a very good match. After an enthralling, tough and ultimately coin-flip first set, Bruguera gives up the ghost and Muster’s allowed to coast readily to finish line. Court is normal of pace and bounce

No breaks or even break points in first set, but no serve-botting either. Both players serve hard and play hard from the back. Baseline rallies dual winged with both looking to lead with FHs, and are a combo of hard-hitting to extent of at least pressuring (if not beat-down), with some heavily top-spun shots (especially from Brug with the FH)

It’s a coin flip deal. In tie-break, Brug leads 6-4, with a return point to come. He just misses the line in what would have been a bold, early taken second return winner

Next set point is on his own serve though. Rally develops. Brug’s shot pops over the net chord, allowing Muster to come to net to win - and now its 6-6

Brug serve-volleys. Good volley doesn’t end the point. Good (and not easy) back-pedalling OH doesn’t end the point, with Muster jabbing the ball up again. Third times’ not the charm for Brug, as his next OH (to an easy ball) is tepid and Muster poke OH lobs it back. Brug doesn’t judge the ball well, is a bit slow to get back and timid in netting his turnaround shot on the baseline, with Muster having remained on his own baseline. 7-6 Muster with serve point to come

No monkeying around by Muster - big serve draws short return that he dispatches FH inside-in/cc from the up the court. Lots of big serves from Muster in match but rarely is he so decisive in following it up

That’s not quite it, but its close. Muster breaks in a not bad game from Brug to open up 3-0 lead in second sit. Brug takes a medical time out at the change-over where his foot gets treatment for what looks like blisters. Though not broken again in the set, Brug’s efforts and quality both do a nose dive

Whereas entire first set had been hard fought, Brug regularly half-asses his efforts - not moving properly, some careless throwaway shots, faulty returning. Even Muster eases up a bit, apparently content with his one break

The one break proves to be enough - and Brug goes from half-assed to close to all out phoning it in to drop the third set in quick time

As such, match long stats are of limited value. Better to look at them in 2 parts - the first set (tough fight) & next 2 sets (one-sided)

First Set - Tough fight
1st serve in - Muster 43%, Brug 59%
1st serve won - Muster 100%, Brug 78%
2nd serve won - Muster 62%, Brug 63%

Unreturned serves - Muster 38%, Brug 21%
(Double faults - Muster 3, Brug 0)

After that -
Winners - Muster 3, Brug 11
Errors Forced - Muster 6, Brug 5
(Aggressively ended points - Muster 9, Burg 16)
UEs - Muster 9, Brug 17

Big lead in freebies for Muster and not only doesn’t that change much in rest of match, the gap actually gets smaller (Match long, Muster has 36%, Brug 20%)

Put that down to Muster being just that much more bloody-minded in returning. Serve quality is about the same (match long, both have 6 aces, with Brug serving 3 more first serves). And Brug willing to go for the point ending return dtl or very wide

Looks like Muster’s superior consistency on the return is key, with difference in freebies not due to disparity in serves

Muster winning all 16 first serve points (he extends that run to 21 in the second set @Moose Malloy ), with 10/16 of them being unreturned (4aces). Otherwise, he beats Brug down from the back on those points. His only third ball winner is on set point (the other 2 are passes)

In rallies, Brug is aggressor, both due to more of them developing on his service points and even controlling for that. Muster’s happy to play intense hitting baseline game, preferring to go FH inside-in or cc rather than inside-out for the point finisher. Brug targets Muster’s BH with FH cc’s too, but is more apt to take on the point ending shot

All 8 ground-shot winners are FHs. Muster has just 1 non-pass - the swooping forward FH on set point. All 5 of Brug’s winners are non-passes (1 cc, 2 dtl - 1 return, 2 inside-out). Evidence of Brug being the one to be more on look out for winner

2/6 Brug’s net winners are from serve-volleys. He’s at net 14 times to Muster’s 4 (1 of which is a throwaway point, another where he retreats to baseline). More evidence of Brug being the aggressor with Muster having no interest in taking net (as is his reputation, though I haven’t found it to be a particularly accurate one)
 
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Waspsting

Hall of Fame
The rock and perhaps most important factor is how steady the Muster BH remains

Ground UEs -
- Muster BH 2
- Brug FH 6, Muster FH 7
- Brug BH 11

Its not all cc rallies, with play being dual winged, but both players do look to play FHs to others BH. Muster’s muscling shots making a lot more headway against the very neat, secure looking Brug 2-handed BH than Brug’s combo of less muscling but muscling shots and heavily top-spun FHs to Muster’s brute of a 1-handed BH

Muster with 6-10 advantage in neutral UEs is important, as he’s more passive
Brug’s attacking progression with a bit a break in it, with 4 attacking UEs for forcing just 5 errors (1 of them a throwaway approach from Muster). Muster has just 1 attacking UE
Leaving winner attempts UEs at Muster 2, Brug 3 - nothing wrong with that for either player

Gist - Muster winning a lot more free points with serve (due to his being tougher returner and a bit of Brug missing aggressive returns) and Muster’s BH staying rock solid in tough rallies are key points in the set

And the set is virtually dead even - Muster serves 37 points, wins 40, Brug serves 39 and wins 36. No break points in it, and Brug having had the first 2 set points (1 on his serve), with some luck involved in the set points

Next Two Sets - 1-Sided
Doesn’t need much amplification. Brug’s stomach for the fight wavers and action is significantly lighter

1st serve in - Muster 65%, Brug 49%
1st won - Muster 78%, Brug 69%
2nd won - Muster 69%, Brug 37%

Unreturneds - Muster 34%, Brug 19%

Winners - Muster 10, Brug 12
Errors Forced - Muster 5, Brug 3
(Aggressively ended points - both 15)
UEs - Muster 14, Brug 23

Muster’s in-count going up, but freebies staying almost same. With Brug making careless returns, Muster’s able to take something off power of serves and get the same lot of freebies. Brug’s serve strength doesn’t go down much, but he does occasionally send down dolly first serves in a way he hadn’t earlier. Not much change in his freebie rate either - Muster also takes his foot of full intensity a bit (he goes up breaks at start of both sets)

Still Muster with a big lead in freebies

In rallies, now things shifted to equal success aggressively, with Muster retaining his advantage in keeping ball in play, with things switching to equal success across both wings

Ground UEs -
- Muster FH 6
- Muster BH 8
- Brug BH 10
- Brug FH 11

No getting carried away by Muster. He continues pulling FH back inside-in/cc to look to breakdown Brug’s BH rather than into open court to the end. If its working, why change it?

Match Progression
Bruising first set, with no breaks, no break points, not even a deuce game. Server dominated clearly, but not serve-shot dominated. Lots of tough backcourt rallies with honours about even - Brug more aggressive, Muster steadier, especially on the BH

Only 4 times does server fall behind in a game - and every time, it lasts for all of 1 point. Brug’s down 15-30 in Games 1 & 5 and goes on to hold without losing another point

In game 6, Muster’s called for a foot fault on second serve to go down 15-30. He has a little chat to the Chair about it, and tells him its “impossible” that his foot touched the line. Replay isn’t at best angle to judge, but it looks like he’s 100% right. Earlier in game, Chair had overruled a Muster ace on far side. Would not blame Muster for getting a lot angrier than he does. He goes on to win next 3 points to hold

And Muster’s up 0-15 in game 11

Going into ‘breaker, Muster’s served 30 points, Brug 32

Its Brug who draws first blood by pinching a return point with a FH inside-out winner. Muster hits back in a lively rally, where he retreats to baseline after hitting a difficult OH, but ends up with FH dtl passing winner

Brug keeps his nose ahead 5-4 by scampering around and defending before managing to get on the attack and striking a winning BH cc. And then Muster double faults to fall behind 4-6. The set ends as recounted earlier

A great set of tennis, with intense play

Muster holds to open the second, starting with BHV winner set-up by a strong FH inside-out and finishing with a FH inside-in winner. In between, he falls behind 15-30

Then the first break of the match and action is still good. Brug misses routine third ball FH to bring up break point, but erases it with a BH cc winner from routine position. Misses the same shot next point to raise another break point on which he tries to approach. Muster’s pass is just about good enough to draw a low-ish BHV error - makeable, but its been marked an FE

Slightly lazy game by Brug as Muster consolidates and he calls for trainer to treat his foot at the change-over

That’s it for full-intensity. Action becomes less heated, with Brug in particular playing carelessly regularly. Muster also eases up some

Effort game from Brug, as Muster serves out the set in a 10 point game, saving 2 break points along the way. It’s the only game Brug has break points in. Lots of errors in the game, but nice to see the hard-fought element back in it

Questionable choice by Brug on first break point to play back-away FH inside-in without too much power and leave court open. Muster muscles it BH cc to force a running FH error. He raises second break point with a fluke, net chord pop over passing winner that Muster had well-covered, but makes a soft FH UE next point, before Muster closes things out

Brug phones in the third set and is down 0-4 in quick time, winning 3 points in them. He’s broken again to end the match awhile later in a 12 point game

Summing up, excellent, tough set of tennis from both players, with strong serving, hammered and/or heavily spun groundies and Bruguera the more aggressive ends with nothing between the two players is great start. Someone has to win it and it turn out to be Muster

Thereafter, Bruguera, not too gradually, shrinks and soon after, folds, with even Muster easing up some. A disappointing way for things to play out the promising struggle of the start

Stats for Bruguera’s semi-final with Pete Sampras - Match Stats/Report - Bruguera vs Sampras, Miami semi-final, 1997 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)

@I get cramps
 
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