Pete Sampras beat Boris Becker 7-6(5), 7-6(3) in a Year End Championship (World Tour Finals) round robin match, 1992 on carpet in Frankfurt, Germany
Sampras was the defending champion and would win 3/3 in the round robins but lose in the semis to Jim Courier, his final opponent the previous year. Becker would go onto win the title for the second time beating Courier in the final
Both players serve-volleyed off all their first serves. Becker serve-volleyed off second serves occasionally, Sampras once
Sampras won 78 points, Becker 67
Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (42/70) 60%
- 1st serve points won (36/42) 86%
- 2nd serve points won (23/28) 82%
- Aces 13, Service Winners 5 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (35/70) 50%
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (39/75) 52%
- 1st serve points won (36/39) 92%
- 2nd serve points won (20/36) 56%
- Aces 14, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (40/75) 53%
Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 45%
- to BH 54%
- to Body 1%
Becker served....
- to FH 41%
- to BH 55%
- to Body 4%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 29 (7 FH, 22 BH)
- 2 Winners (2 BH)
- 25 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 23 Forced (12 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (29/69) 42%
Becker made...
- 34 (15 FH, 19 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 2 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 17 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (2 FH, 2 BH)
- 13 Forced (6 FH, 7 BH), including 1 return-approach attempt
- Return Rate (34/69) 49%
Break Points
Sampras 0/1
Becker 0/1
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 16 (6 FH, 4 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH)
Becker 9 (2 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Sampras had 6 from serve-volley points
- 5 first volleys (2 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH)
- 1 second volley (1 FHV)
- FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl pass and 3 inside-out (1 pass)
- BHs - 1 cc pass, 2 dtl return passes and 1 running-down-drop-volley net chord dribbler at net
Becker had 5 from serve-volley points
- 3 first volleys (1 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 2 second volleys (2 OH)
- FHs - 1 cc and 1 dtl
- BHs - 1 dtl pass and 1 inside-out return pass
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 17
- 6 Unforced (3 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 11 Forced (4 FH, 6 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50
Becker 21
- 10 Unforced (4 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 11 Forced (3 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 52
(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
Sampras was...
- 22/28 (79%) at net, including...
- 20/26 (77%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 19/25 (76%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/1 off 2nd serve
Becker was...
- 32/44 (72%) at net, including...
- 30/36 (83%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 21/24 (88%) off 1st serve and...
- 9/12 (75%) off 2nd serve
--
- 0/2 return-approaching
Match Report
It's servebotting galore on a fast carpet court. No breaks of serve, just one break point for each player, 100% serve-volleying off first serves by both players.... Tweedledee meet Tweedledum
In a nutshell, neither player can return the others serve. Sampras' unreturned rate is 50%, Becker 53%. Returns that do come back do so weakly for putaway winners at net or commanding 3rd ball positions from the baseline... both players are good at capitilizing on the latter with aggressive groundstrokes. Of the 16 UEs in the match, just 1 is less than an attacking shot
I suppose you could say the key stat is the double faults. Statistically, Sampras' serve breakdown (86% first serves won, 82% second) looks more reliable than Becker's (92% first serves won, 56% second) - especially in light of Sampras serving at 60% to Becker's 52%.
Practically, the difference between 86% and 92% on first serves won isn't important (in words, both are winning almost all their first serve points). But the difference between 82% and 56% is (in words, Sampras is winning almost all his second serve points, but has chances against Becker's second serve)
This is helped by Becker serving 6 double faults to Sampras' 1, but even without doubles, Sampras has a healthy edge in second serve points won (85% to 67%)
Note Becker serve-volleying off second serve 12/29 points or 41% of the time. He wins 75% of these, so when staying back off second serves, he wins 11/18 (sans double faults) at 61%. Even excluding the doubles, Sampras is coming up ahead comfortably on second serve numbers
Sampras only serve-volleys once of second serve so he's always on the baseline for these points. I think its fair to say Sampras was significantly the better player baseline to baseline.... there's so little of it going on that it wouldn't necessarily have mattered and it certainly didn't decide the outcome. Just noting it
Sampras gains his only break point 5th game, 2nd set, on the back of less than good play from Becker. First he double faults, then fails to putaway a FH at net (allowing Sampras to hit a FH dtl pass winner) and lastly, makes a FHV UE being cute and going for an inside-out winner. 30-40 down, Becker's next 3 serves are unreturned, including 2 aces
Becker's only break chance is also set point for the second set. He earns his more than Sampras had to. There's a double fault, but the other 2 points Becker wins are highlights reel stuff. The first is a stunning, running BH dtl passing winner. The second, he rushes forward to a good low drop volley by Sampras and scoops it wide of the still at net Pete to force a volleying error
Break point down, Sampras misses his first serve and the 2 get into a baseline rally. A good slightly running FH cc from Sampras forces an error from Becker, to a ball that was makeable. Becker doesn't quit though and manufactures a low percentage return-approach to pressure Sampras, who is up to making a strong BH cc pass. Becker can only dive to knock the ball of to the side
Becker was the more creative player. A few times, he tries edging forward from the baseline as Sampras is at net (1 of FHV FEs is not a net point and a product of such a play), return-approaches a couple of times (and tries to one other time), runs around a BH to hit a FH return. Occasionally comes in from rallying (8 non-S/V approaches to Sampras' 2). Small potatoes in the context of the match.... but Sampras does none of these things. His play is more mechanical
A quick word if obvious word on serving. Its powerful stuff from both guys. I'd say more than 1/2 both players second serves were strong enough as to have return errors they drew be marked forced, even when the server was staying back. There are no easy returns at all. Again, Becker is the more daring player on return... he makes a couple of errors going for big returns off second serves
In first set tiebreak, Sampras gets an early mini-break when Becker misses an attacking FH inside-out, consolidates it under pressure by BH cc passing Becker on a second serve points and gains another mini when Becker double faults. Becker pulls 1 back with a lucky, weak return that lands as to give Sampras an awkward FH at net... but the 1 mini-break is enough as Sampras wraps up with an ace
In second tiebreak, Becker opens with a double. The second point turns out to be the key one. Its a second serve from Sampras and Becker outplays him from the back, takes the net from a strong approach and with Sampras well out of court, hits an excellent low drop volley (against a very good Sampras pass attempt from an awkward position). Its the kind of ball many players wouldn't bother trying to chase down, and Sampras is a king for that type of thing.... but its 1992 and he hadn't yet gone full-on always-saving-energy mode. Fast as can, Sampras barely reaches the ball and gets a BH on it. The ball lands on the top of the net... rolls over and dies on the other side, leaving a still at net Becker at a loss. Lucky, but fortune shining on a worthy effort. Later, Becker doubles again
Noting a general pattern in Pete Sampras serving, relative to other big servers, like Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek and Becker. He's frequently out-aced, but invariably has more service winners. An indication that its not all power serves from Sampras.... disguise and placement probably have a bigger hand in his serving success than it does other big servers. You can see that in this match. Occasionally, Sampras sends down less than full power serves that land on the line. Becker by contrast, is virtually all power all the time
Summing up, a double dose of power serving and a ton of unreturned serves leaving the returner looking for scraps and lucky plays. Sampras a little less dependent on the serve and a little more mechanical (or less creative) in play coming out ahead in a flip-of-the-coin encounter
the final between Becker and Courier - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...ier-year-end-championship-finals-1992.653342/
the round robin from the previous year between Becker and Sampras (first class showing from Becker) - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...ear-end-championship-round-robin-1991.646669/
Sampras was the defending champion and would win 3/3 in the round robins but lose in the semis to Jim Courier, his final opponent the previous year. Becker would go onto win the title for the second time beating Courier in the final
Both players serve-volleyed off all their first serves. Becker serve-volleyed off second serves occasionally, Sampras once
Sampras won 78 points, Becker 67
Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (42/70) 60%
- 1st serve points won (36/42) 86%
- 2nd serve points won (23/28) 82%
- Aces 13, Service Winners 5 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (35/70) 50%
Becker...
- 1st serve percentage (39/75) 52%
- 1st serve points won (36/39) 92%
- 2nd serve points won (20/36) 56%
- Aces 14, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (40/75) 53%
Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 45%
- to BH 54%
- to Body 1%
Becker served....
- to FH 41%
- to BH 55%
- to Body 4%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 29 (7 FH, 22 BH)
- 2 Winners (2 BH)
- 25 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 23 Forced (12 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (29/69) 42%
Becker made...
- 34 (15 FH, 19 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 2 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 17 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (2 FH, 2 BH)
- 13 Forced (6 FH, 7 BH), including 1 return-approach attempt
- Return Rate (34/69) 49%
Break Points
Sampras 0/1
Becker 0/1
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 16 (6 FH, 4 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH)
Becker 9 (2 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Sampras had 6 from serve-volley points
- 5 first volleys (2 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH)
- 1 second volley (1 FHV)
- FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl pass and 3 inside-out (1 pass)
- BHs - 1 cc pass, 2 dtl return passes and 1 running-down-drop-volley net chord dribbler at net
Becker had 5 from serve-volley points
- 3 first volleys (1 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 2 second volleys (2 OH)
- FHs - 1 cc and 1 dtl
- BHs - 1 dtl pass and 1 inside-out return pass
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 17
- 6 Unforced (3 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 11 Forced (4 FH, 6 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50
Becker 21
- 10 Unforced (4 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 11 Forced (3 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 52
(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
Sampras was...
- 22/28 (79%) at net, including...
- 20/26 (77%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 19/25 (76%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/1 off 2nd serve
Becker was...
- 32/44 (72%) at net, including...
- 30/36 (83%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 21/24 (88%) off 1st serve and...
- 9/12 (75%) off 2nd serve
--
- 0/2 return-approaching
Match Report
It's servebotting galore on a fast carpet court. No breaks of serve, just one break point for each player, 100% serve-volleying off first serves by both players.... Tweedledee meet Tweedledum
In a nutshell, neither player can return the others serve. Sampras' unreturned rate is 50%, Becker 53%. Returns that do come back do so weakly for putaway winners at net or commanding 3rd ball positions from the baseline... both players are good at capitilizing on the latter with aggressive groundstrokes. Of the 16 UEs in the match, just 1 is less than an attacking shot
I suppose you could say the key stat is the double faults. Statistically, Sampras' serve breakdown (86% first serves won, 82% second) looks more reliable than Becker's (92% first serves won, 56% second) - especially in light of Sampras serving at 60% to Becker's 52%.
Practically, the difference between 86% and 92% on first serves won isn't important (in words, both are winning almost all their first serve points). But the difference between 82% and 56% is (in words, Sampras is winning almost all his second serve points, but has chances against Becker's second serve)
This is helped by Becker serving 6 double faults to Sampras' 1, but even without doubles, Sampras has a healthy edge in second serve points won (85% to 67%)
Note Becker serve-volleying off second serve 12/29 points or 41% of the time. He wins 75% of these, so when staying back off second serves, he wins 11/18 (sans double faults) at 61%. Even excluding the doubles, Sampras is coming up ahead comfortably on second serve numbers
Sampras only serve-volleys once of second serve so he's always on the baseline for these points. I think its fair to say Sampras was significantly the better player baseline to baseline.... there's so little of it going on that it wouldn't necessarily have mattered and it certainly didn't decide the outcome. Just noting it
Sampras gains his only break point 5th game, 2nd set, on the back of less than good play from Becker. First he double faults, then fails to putaway a FH at net (allowing Sampras to hit a FH dtl pass winner) and lastly, makes a FHV UE being cute and going for an inside-out winner. 30-40 down, Becker's next 3 serves are unreturned, including 2 aces
Becker's only break chance is also set point for the second set. He earns his more than Sampras had to. There's a double fault, but the other 2 points Becker wins are highlights reel stuff. The first is a stunning, running BH dtl passing winner. The second, he rushes forward to a good low drop volley by Sampras and scoops it wide of the still at net Pete to force a volleying error
Break point down, Sampras misses his first serve and the 2 get into a baseline rally. A good slightly running FH cc from Sampras forces an error from Becker, to a ball that was makeable. Becker doesn't quit though and manufactures a low percentage return-approach to pressure Sampras, who is up to making a strong BH cc pass. Becker can only dive to knock the ball of to the side
Becker was the more creative player. A few times, he tries edging forward from the baseline as Sampras is at net (1 of FHV FEs is not a net point and a product of such a play), return-approaches a couple of times (and tries to one other time), runs around a BH to hit a FH return. Occasionally comes in from rallying (8 non-S/V approaches to Sampras' 2). Small potatoes in the context of the match.... but Sampras does none of these things. His play is more mechanical
A quick word if obvious word on serving. Its powerful stuff from both guys. I'd say more than 1/2 both players second serves were strong enough as to have return errors they drew be marked forced, even when the server was staying back. There are no easy returns at all. Again, Becker is the more daring player on return... he makes a couple of errors going for big returns off second serves
In first set tiebreak, Sampras gets an early mini-break when Becker misses an attacking FH inside-out, consolidates it under pressure by BH cc passing Becker on a second serve points and gains another mini when Becker double faults. Becker pulls 1 back with a lucky, weak return that lands as to give Sampras an awkward FH at net... but the 1 mini-break is enough as Sampras wraps up with an ace
In second tiebreak, Becker opens with a double. The second point turns out to be the key one. Its a second serve from Sampras and Becker outplays him from the back, takes the net from a strong approach and with Sampras well out of court, hits an excellent low drop volley (against a very good Sampras pass attempt from an awkward position). Its the kind of ball many players wouldn't bother trying to chase down, and Sampras is a king for that type of thing.... but its 1992 and he hadn't yet gone full-on always-saving-energy mode. Fast as can, Sampras barely reaches the ball and gets a BH on it. The ball lands on the top of the net... rolls over and dies on the other side, leaving a still at net Becker at a loss. Lucky, but fortune shining on a worthy effort. Later, Becker doubles again
Noting a general pattern in Pete Sampras serving, relative to other big servers, like Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek and Becker. He's frequently out-aced, but invariably has more service winners. An indication that its not all power serves from Sampras.... disguise and placement probably have a bigger hand in his serving success than it does other big servers. You can see that in this match. Occasionally, Sampras sends down less than full power serves that land on the line. Becker by contrast, is virtually all power all the time
Summing up, a double dose of power serving and a ton of unreturned serves leaving the returner looking for scraps and lucky plays. Sampras a little less dependent on the serve and a little more mechanical (or less creative) in play coming out ahead in a flip-of-the-coin encounter
the final between Becker and Courier - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...ier-year-end-championship-finals-1992.653342/
the round robin from the previous year between Becker and Sampras (first class showing from Becker) - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...ear-end-championship-round-robin-1991.646669/
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