Match Stats/Report - Muster vs Krajicek, Rome final, 1996

Waspsting

Hall of Fame
Thomas Muster beat Richard Krajicek 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the Rome final, 1996 on clay

Muster was the defending champion and this was his third and last title at the event. This was Krajicke’s first Masters final and only one on clay. He would go onto win Wimbledon later in the year

Muster won 111 points, Krajicek 102

Krajicek serve-volleyed off all first serves and half the time off seconds

(Note: I’m missing partial data for 1 point
Set 4, Game 9, Point 2 - a Muster first serve that drew return error - direction of serve and return type and error type unknown)

Serve Stats
Muster...
- 1st serve percentage (87/106) 82%
- 1st serve points won (60/87) 69%
- 2nd serve points won (11/19) 58%
- Aces 1, Service Winners 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (28/106) 26%

Krajicek...
- 1st serve percentage (64/107) 60%
- 1st serve points won (52/64) 81%
- 2nd serve points won (15/43) 35%
- Aces 9 (1 possibly not clean)
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (27/107) 25%

Serve Patterns
Muster served...
- to FH 14%
- to BH 81%
- to Body 5%

Krajicek served...
- to FH 27%
- to BH 67%
- to Body 6%

Return Stats
Muster made...
- 73 (29 FH, 44 BH), including 7 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 BH)
- 17 Forced (9 FH, 8 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- Return Rate (73/100) 73%

Krajicek made...
- 78 (17 FH, 61 BH), including 4 runaround FHs & 7 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (2 BH)
- 26 Errors, comprising...
- 22 Unforced (3 FH, 19 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 3 return-approach attempts
- 3 Forced (2 FH, 1 BH)
- 1 ?? (against a first serve)
- Return Rate (78/106) 74%

Break Points
Muster 5/13 (6 games)
Krajicek 2/9 (5 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Muster 19 (7 FH, 8 BH, 3 FHV, 1 OH)
Krajicek 49 (3 FH, 6 BH, 12 FHV, 10 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 17 OH)

Muster had 14 passes (7 FH, 7 BH)
- FHs - 3 cc, 1 cc/inside-in, 1 dtl at net, 1 dtl/inside-out, 1 inside-out (possibly not clean)
- BHs - 3 cc, 2 dtl, 1 inside-out return, 1 running-down-drop-shot lob at net

- regular BH - 1 cc
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot

Krajicek had 28 from serve-volley points
- 19 first 'volleys' (6 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 5 OH, 1 FH at net)... 1 FHV was swinging longline & 1 OH can reasonbly be called a FHV
- 8 second volleys (4 FHV, 1 BHV, 3 OH)
- 1 fourth 'volley' (1 OH)... on the bounce from no-man's land, a forced back point

- 2 from return-approach points (1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 2 other OHs were on teh bounce

- FHs - 1 dtl, 1 inside-out
- BHs - 3 cc (1 pass), 1 cc/drop shot slice, 1 inside-out return, 1 inside-in return

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Muster 26
- 8 Unforced (5 FH, 3 BH)
- 18 Forced (5 FH, 13 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 43.8

Krajicek 57
- 39 Unforced (13 FH, 17 BH, 5 FHV, 4 BHV)
- 18 Forced (4 FH, 4 BH, 5 FHV, 4 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
Muster was 9/10 (90%) at net

Krajicek was...
- 77/111 (69%) at net, including...
- 52/73 (71%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 43/55 (78%) off 1st serve and...
- 9/18 (50%) off 2nd serve
---
- 4/7 (57%) return-approaching
- 1/2 forced back

Match Report
Interesting match and a good one of thoroughly contrasting styles. Krajicek serve-volleys and otherwise seeks net. Muster, when he’s not forced to counter pass, sticks to his hard hitting, grinding baseline game. Both players are successful at what they do to lead play and its Krajicek’s poor returning that gives Muster the decisive advantage

Muster wins 9 more points overall, which is small, given he’s won a full 6 games more (points served are virtually equal - Kraj serving 1 more). Not as significant as it might sound. As is the way when facing someone like Kraj, there’s the odd, pseudo throwaway return game from Muster. Then again, same can be said for Kraj, but that’s not “… the way when facing someone like Muster”

Unreturned serves - Muster 26%, Kraj 25% (with Kraj serve-volleying of all first serves and half the seconds)

This is criminally unacceptable from Kraj’s point of view. He has his massive serve, and the pressure of serve-volleying to enhance it. Muster’s serve is a point starter by contrast, with scarcely a damaging serve to be seen

22/25 Kraj return errors have been marked UEs (with 1 other unknown) and Muster has an ace and a service winner apiece. Just routine, in-swing zone serves at average pace. Only troubling ones are the surprise ones to FH (Muster serves 81% to BH) and 2/3 FEs are FHs

Otherwise, clockwork predictable deliveries to BH - average power, average width. Even the slightly wider ones are readily coverable… and Kraj returns 74% of them. Put Muster up against his own serve, and that figure would likely be close to 90%

Nor does Kraj return with heat. Chip-charges are the height of it, and those aren’t risky or hard to do, particularly with his height letting him get above the ball. 3 return errors on the chip-charge, but rest are just missing routine strength return shots. Less than that if anything as he’s block-chipping most back

Muster doesn’t have much scope to make return UEs since Kraj serve-volleys so much, and misses 1/18 returns where Kraj stays back (the last return he faces in the match, down 40-15 and set to serve for the match)

That’s the big difference between the players, or at least, the area where Kraj has large scope to do better. Giving up 25% freebies to Kraj is a good job by Muster, giving up 26% to Muster is a poor one from Kraj

Kraj also double faults 7 times or 16% of second serves, Muster 0

More broadly, this kind of casual returning misses is a drawback to many fast court players, used to as they are of a kind mentality on grass and indoors along the lines of “… other guy will hold most of the time anyway, what does a few return errors matter?” Might be true against a strong server on a fast court, it isn’t true on clay against an average server - and these are just unnecessary throwaway points

Muster completed the Monte Carlo-Rome double in both ‘95 and ‘96. His unreturned rates in the finals -

‘95 Monte 27% vs Boris Becker
‘95 Rome 15% vs Sergi Bruguera
‘96 Monte 12% vs Albert Costa
‘96 Rome 26% here

Allowing Muster to stay even (in fact, shading ahead) on freebies leaves Kraj the charming prospect of having to outplay him in rallies to come out ahead.

Winners - Muster 19, Kraj 49
Errors forced - both 18
UEs - Muster 8, Kraj 39

Total points - Muster 76, Kraj 75
… cut down those freebies for Muster by half, and with play going as it does, Kraj probably wins
 

Waspsting

Hall of Fame
Krajicek’s Serve-Volleying & Net play
Kraj serve-volleys 100% off first serves, 50% off seconds - with the latter figure going up as match goes on

First serve-volleying, wins 78%, with a further 9 aces
Second serve-volleying, wins 50%
Not second serve-volleying, wins 33%
And he has 7 double faults

The lack of success staying back isn’t a surprise and in line with Muster’s service points that go to baseline rallies, which we’ll get to in a bit. Bulk of double faults come from would-be second serve-volleys, so the 50% to 33% difference isn’t as big as it looks. Hefty second serve from Kraj, as it has to be to serve-volley behind, but even then, he’s just breaking even - without the minus of double faults coming into it

The volley vs return-pass battle is solidly good stuff from Muster, and up and down from Kraj

For starers, good solid returning from Muster against the serve-volleying, especially relative to Kraj’s not good showing on the second shot. 73% return rate against the big serve of Kraj is impressive on its own (it’s a little lower against pure serve-volleying - he misses just 1 non-serve volley return), and its wisely balanced of force

Fair lot of returns to Kraj’s feet or troublingly wide. But when he can’t get such a strong return off, he gets it in firmly around net high (as opposed to missing by going for too much) and only gives up weak, above net returns when the serve is strong enough to force him. Does damage and gives Kraj room to mess up - excellent. He errs a bit on the follow up by lobbing more than passing too much (more on that in a bit)

Kraj has a strong second serve. Probably stronger than Muster’s first. His winning just 50% serve-volleying behind it is indicator of quality of Muster’s return, he needs a stronger shot to win regularly (and his first serve clearly qualifies)

Kraj’s volleying is a mixed bag. He’s got 9 UEs and 10 FEs and the UEs are easy or at most, routine. 9 is high enough to be not-good territory and that’s the bad part of the bag. The good part?
He hits some amazingly good volleys from his feet, the kind anybody would be more likely to miss than make. Kraj misses good lot of them too (which is almost a given), but volleys the ones he makes with authority, with winning force

His sole BH1/2V winner is one example and elicits an emotional, ‘what-the-hell?..’ response from Muster

Gist - Some easy volley misses and some excellent difficult volleys made with authority, along with missing a few too many easy volleys (discredit worthy) and naturally, missing fair lot of difficult ones

Kraj has 19 first ‘volley’ winners to 9 post-firsts. Unusually first volley heavy figure on clay. Good lot of easys in their, set up by the serve, but there’s also top class finishing to not obviously there to be putaways, and a few deadly ones to genuinely difficult volleys

Kraj has 17 OH winners to 23 ‘volleys’ (including a 1/2volley, excluding a groundstroke at net), and this illustrates a dubious side of Muster’s passing (both in general and in this match)

He likes to throw up defensive lobs. They’re excellent ones, but often not necessary. Essentially, he prefers lobbing to passing to a greater extent than most players when they have choice. Testament to how god his lobs are is how often even someone as good on the OH as Kraj (or Boris Becker in ‘95 Monte Carlo final) need to hit multiple smashes to finish points and Muster’s very good at scampering into position to throw up another lob (this time, forced) if against smashes

Most players - and Kraj is certainly among them - are more likely to mess the routine volley than even a tricky OH. Kraj has no OH errors, Muster has no lob winners. Throwing up lobs when there’s no other viable choice is one thing, throwing them up against someone like Kraj - who isn’t overly secure on regulation volley but is on the smash - when normal pass is viable option is just bad shot choice. Kraj allowing ball to bounce couple of times before dispatching the OH is sign that Muster’s retrieving is an annoyance, but not one that’s likely to win him many point

In all (serve-volley and otherwise) -
Kraj has 41 ‘volley’ winners, Muster 14 passing ones
Kraj with 9 UEs and 10 FEs on the volley, almost all of Muster’s 18 ground FEs are passes
Good lot of approach UEs from Kraj amidst his 11 attacking UEs (roughly 6-7) and he’s missed 3 return-approach attempts. And the moderate 25% unreturned rate

All that makes up winning 69% of his 111 approaches in the 213 point match. Excluding double faults and aces, Kraj is at net 111/195 points. Further excluding return errors not involving missed chip-charges, 111/171 or 65%

Coming to net so much is a good idea because…

Muster’s Serve Game & Baseline Play
Ground UEs - Muster 8, Kraj 30

The biggest chunk of what happens in baseline rallies. Kraj’s BH is most insecure shot with 17 UEs. He slices regularly and well, with ball keeping low, but Muster’s punishing FH cc’s usually win the day. Muster’s BH has just 3 UEs

Standout shot is a particularly kniefed Kraj BH slice that’s effectively a drop shot that goes for a winner as it dies on the ground

Ground to ground winners (including returns) - Muster 1, Kraj 7
Ground to ground FEs - roughly Muster 5, Kraj neglibible

Not too much aggression in baseline rallies. With Kraj having 10 net UEs, that leaves him with 15 attacking or winner attempt UEs from the baseline, most of which are approach errors. He’s got 14
neutrals to compare, Muster 5 (and he doesn’t have any winner attempt UEs). Simply, Muster outslugging and outlasting Kraj - not a surprise
 

Waspsting

Hall of Fame
Rallying to net
Kraj 21/31
Muster 9/10

In all, Muster predictably winning bulk of points by drawing errors in baseline rallies. He’s hard hitting of style, so some pressure beyond pure outlasting dynamic. Kraj though does back cut that some with small, but not inconsiderably number of winners

And Kraj taking net with success, Muster not much scope or need to but almost perfect when he does

These numbers aren’t at all overwhelmingly in Muster’s favour, and Kraj would have ample break chances

He doesn’t because he gives up 26% freebies - with 22/28 of them being UEs (with 1 unknown, probably also a UE)

Match Progression
Bright start to match, with Kraj FHV winner’ing a ball off his feet on the second point before going on to hold. Muster hits 3 winners on the trot for his first hold - BH cc pass, FH cc pass and FHV

From 2-2, Muster reels off 4 games to take the set. Double fault and 2 routine volley misses get Kraj into 0-40 hole, which he climbs out of with unreturned serves and its strong passes that complete the first break, with Kraj missing a shoelace BHV and a wide FHV to close the game

Just 1/5 first serves for Kraj as he’s broken the second time. He loses both net points - a wonderful, forward and diagonal running BH dtl pass winner from Muster and a forced BH1/2V error. 4 unreturned serves from Muster to serve things out to 30

Second set is near even. Just the one break and Muster serves 32 points to Kraj’s 27 in it

Back to back Muster games go to deuce in middle of set. Kraj’s at net 4/8 points in the first one and Muster himself takes net to eventually edge out the game (along with Kraj missing routine return on game point - his second of the game). Kraj has a break point in the second deuce game, helped to get there by the kniefed BH cc slice that dies on the ground. Misses 2 routine returns at deuce this time (he’d missed an attempted chip-charge earlier in the game also)

The break comes in game 9, and it’s an up and down game. Kraj starts by missing an easy volley, which he follows up with extraordinary BH1/2V winner. A double fault and a very easy FHV miss puts him down break point. While he saves that one, Muster seals the game with 2 great points - a net point where 2 good volleys get him a winner and a wide return + perfect follow-up pass FH cc winner gets the break

He serves out to love with 4 unreturneds - 3 first serves, 1 second and all marked UEs

Third set is the best of the match and a great one by any standard. 30/52 points end with winners (including an ace), many of them great shots (difficult volleys or passes, and even a few shots out or routine positions from the baseline) and the lead-up rallies are lively and high quality too

Kraj has to save 3 break points in opener, which he manages and holds with s series of excellent volleys

And follows up with his first break. At 15-30, Kraj is in reactive situation on baseline rally with his BH, but unleashes a huge BH cc for winner to end it. And follows up with a very precise, and powerful pass winner of the same shot to break - the only net point Muster loses all match

Some excellent shots form both players rest of the set. Kraj makes some volley winners against low, wide passes/returns. Muster with an impeccable running-down-drop-shot lob at net winner. Muster oddly bails out on chasing a return that was within his ability to reach

2 trade breaks at 3-3 - with 8 winners in the 12 points of the 2 games. Its not just the ending - the rallies are excellent, or exchange of volley and pass before the endings. Kraj serves out to love, finishing with a nice line/inside-out volley winner

Muster opens up 2-0 lead to start the fourth set. He gains the break with excellent passes - forcing wide, low FHV error to start, forcing error with BH cc after forcing Kraj back from net and to finish, finding perfect, wide pass on the full run to force another volleying error

Kraj has 2 break points in game 5, brought up by a lovely, angled BHV winner chip-charging. He’s a little slow to move to return on first break point and misses and Muster hammers a point ending BH cc to erase the second before BH UEs from Kraj end the game

Routine holds from there ‘til Muster steps up to serve for the match at 5-3. Net rushing Kraj wins 3 points (2 with BHV winners) to reach 15-40. Ending is fitting enough. Kraj misses 3 returns - 1 a rare FE to a serve to FH that catches him out a bit - and makes a BH UE. FH return UE wraps up the match

Summing up, good, bright match of contrasting styles. Krajicek smartly serve-volleys, while Muster plays his grinding baseline game

Krajicek at net (mostly, but not wholly through serve-volleying) vs Muster on the pass is a fine battle. Muster very sound on the pass (including return) - firmly around net as stock, good lot of strong (wide and/or low) stuff and when he can’t manage those, at least makes hi opponent make the extra shot. Krajicek’s volleying is good on the whole - he makes some stunning low volleys with authority and doesn’t waver against a stream of tricky to not-easy OHs - but does miss a few easy ones

From the baseline, Muster pressure-grinds Krajicek down, but the latter finds some relief with net play, including return-approaches

Key to result is Krajiceks’ faulty returning. Muster’s serve is harmless, but he wins more points with the shot than the huge serving, regularly serve-volleying Krajicek does. And Krajicek has his share of double faults, while Muster has 0. Very good job by Muster to return as regularly as he does against fierce opposition and poor one by Krajicek to miss so many routine returns
 
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