Match Stats/Report - Sampras vs Gilbert, Grand Slam Cup final, 1990

[Waspsting]

Pete Sampras beat Brad Gilbert 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the Grand Slam Cup final, 1990 on carpet in Munich, Germany

It was the inaugural edition of the event, for which the 16 players who had the best results in the 4 Grand Slam events of the year qualified to participate. Sampras, the 19 year old US Open champion, claimed prize money of $2 million for the title. Gilbert, who had entered the draw as the 4th alternative following withdrawals of a number of players, won $1 million

Sampras won 91 points, Gilbert 69

Sampras serve-volleyed off vast majority of first serves. Gilbert serve-volleyed off about half of first serves

(Note: 2 points have been confidently tracked mostly via audio. 1 is a first serve return error by Sampras and it's been assumed the error was forced)

Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (50/80) 63%
- 1st serve points won (38/50) 76%
- 2nd serve points won (20/30) 67%
- Aces 16
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (33/80) 41%

Gilbert...
- 1st serve percentage (49/80) 61%
- 1st serve points won (32/49) 65%
- 2nd serve points won (15/31) 48%
- Aces 10 (1 second serve), Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (22/80) 28%

Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 44%
- to BH 44%
- to Body 11%

Gilbert served...
- to FH 59%
- to BH 32%
- to Body 9%

Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 55 (38 FH, 16 BH, 1 ??)
- 2 Winners (2 FH)
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 FH)
- 9 Forced (1 FH, 7 BH, 1 ??)*
- Return Rate (55/77) 71%

(*Note: 1 return error was against a first serve, tracked wholly via audio. Its been assumed it was a forced error. Gilbert was not serve-volleying on the point)

Gilbert made...
- 44 (28 FH, 16 BH), including 3 runaround FHs & 3 return-approaches
- 4 Winners (2 FH, 2 BH)
- 17 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (2 FH, 3 BH), including 2 return-approach attempts
- 12 Forced (12 BH)
- Return Rate (44/77) 57%

Break Points
Sampras 4/10 (7 games)
Gilbert 0/1

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 29 (13 FH, 8 BH, 4 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Gilbert 17 (6 FH, 4 BH, 4 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)

Sampras' FHs - 5 cc (3 passes - 1 a return), 3 dtl (1 pass), 2 inside-out (1 return pass), 2 inside-in and 1 net chord dribbler
- BHs - 4 cc (3 passes) and 4 dtl (1 pass)

- 5 from serve-volley points -
- 4 first 'volleys' (1 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 2 BHV)
- 1 second volley (1 FHV)

Gilbert's FHs - 3 cc passes (2 returns), 2 inside-out and 1 inside-in
- BHs (all passes) - 2 cc and 2 dtl returns

- 7 from serve-volley points -
- 5 first volleys (4 FHV, 1 BHV)… 1 FHV can reasonably be called an OH
- 2 second volleys (1 BHV, 1 OH)… the OH was on the bounce

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 27
- 18 Unforced (7 FH, 6 BH, 4 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 9 Forced (7 BH, 1 FHV, 1 FH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.9

Gilbert 26
- 14 Unforced (8 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 12 Forced (5 FH, 6 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.9

(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...
- 28/42 (67%) at net, including...
- 18/27 (67%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 17/26 (65%) off 1st serve and...
- 1/1 off 2nd serve
--
- 1/1 forced back/retreated

Gilbert was...
- 18/31 (58%) at net, including...
- 13/21 (62%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 10/18 (56%) off 1st serve and...
- 3/3 (100%) off 2nd serve
--
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back

Match Report
Wonderful and beautiful performance from Pete Sampras. While all aspects of his game are at least good, its the artistry of his baseline play that takes the eye. Some good returning from Gilbert and smart alterations in tactics at times though he makes a major boo-boo in his serving strategy

Competitive first set. Opening game lasts 10 points, couple of great BH passes and strong returns by Gilbert, drop volleys by Sampras. Sampras has to save a break point, which he does with a strong FH inside-in that forces an error. And that's the only break point he faces all match. In fact, he's not even taken to deuce again

Gilbert continues to return strongly for the set, so much so that Sampras starts staying back on odd first serves. Still, Sampras holds comfortably. As does Gilbert - but for 1 game where he's broken to love. In it, he approaches twice and is passed by BHs (1 cc, 1 dtl) and Sampras approaches twice, both times forcing passing/lob errors. Great game from Pete

Match begins to bend Sampras' way in second set (though he won first set, difference was basically 1 good game) and he starts regularly threatening on return, while holding serve comfortably. Another stunning game gives him the break - FH cc, BH cc and BH dtl winners stud it - and he has break points in two others (thwarted mostly by good serving from Gilbert). Sampras loses just 5 points in 5 service games to go up 2 sets to love

Final set is a blowout. Upto this point, Sampras hadn't particularly fired with the serve shot and had 7 aces to Gilbert's 8. In third set though, he bang down 9 aces of 14 first serves. 1, which had been called out, Gilbert sportingly grants him. After another, Gilbert tells him to stop serving aces (Sampras doesn't listen). Gilbert's broken in game 3 through poor play but the second break in game 7 is down to Sampras powerful returning and passing

Serve & Return
For first couple sets, Sampras doesn't serve particularly strongly (by his standards) in terms of placement. Conservatively placed, body-ish first serves make up the bulk. In third set, he's in all out banging-down-aces/licking lines mode. It seems to be a pattern with him in his early days - playing more and more freely/aggressively as he grows in confidence with winning scoreline

Gilbert returns reasonably well. After 2 sets, he'd kept Sampras down to 21/57 or 37% unreturned rate... which from his point of view, is manageable. He also has 4 passing winners, and when not hitting winners, he wasn't particularly giving Sampras easy first volleys. Just 4 first 'volley' winners for Pete - and 1 is a very difficult FH1/2V. Not much anybody could do against Sampras' first serving in third set though

Note Sampras' unusual dead even serve distribution - 44% to FH, 44% to BH. Generally for all players, default strategy would be to serve majority to BH, unless unusually, that side is particularly strong. Stats are indicating this wasn't the case here - note 12/12 return forced errors from Gilbert being BHs. Not the best of choices from Pete, but its a drop in the lake to what Gilbert does on serve

Gilbert serves 59% to FH, 32% to BH and the 9% to body are take-your-pick balls for Sampras (and he invariably chooses FH). And note the Sampras forced errors - 7 BH to 1 FH

Why is Gilbert serving so much to Pete Sampras' FH???

Violating as it does default norms, one would only serve that way if they had a very good reason to. Perhaps Sampras had reputation for having stronger BH than FH (more on this later)? Even if so, smart practice, if going off default norms, is to keep an eye open for the ploy not working. And switching in that case

Its clearly not working here. Sampras is returning more consistently and more damagingly of FH... yet Gilbert keeps going there. All match

Particularly strange as he makes other adjustments to his game mid-match (coming in more, chip-charging returns, not running around BHs among them) when he finds them not working. And his reputation for being particularly court smart. There's nothing smart about how he serves... and its not even particularly difficult to spot. Not sure what he was thinking. One understands starting that way, but not failing to switch when results were going against him

Gilbert gets the most out of his serve, sans the choice of direction. Its not a big serve, but he still finds 10 aces and a service winner (and this isn't due to Sampras being lazy on return... that type of thing probably came later in his career). Returning, Sampras focuses on getting balls back in play more than doing damage. Mostly against second serves as well as firsts - and second serves are gentle enough to have been more attackable than Pete attacks

Such returning isn't necessary because Sampras has the run of play in rallies - baseline or otherwise

 

[Waspsting]

Play - Net & Passing
Good volleying from Sampras. He starts off hitting a number of touch volleys and later, starts punching through them too. A particularly well handled first BHV winner where he leaps to take ball chest high and still punches it perfectly into open court, and a beautifully controlled FH1/2V winner are the pick of his volleys

Sampras declines to serve-volley of 8 first serves. Initially, he stays back on a small number after Gilbert hits some very strong returns. Later, he stays back probably because the serves aren't coming back (or even being touched) most of the time

Doesn't face a lot overtly difficult low volleys. 'Awkward' and 'not easy' are about as tough as it gets... he handles it well enough. Doesn't miss easy ones either... doesn't get many. Gilbert's returning and passing seems to be very even... not much very weak stuff, not much very strong stuff

Gilbert volleys decently, especially when serve-volleying. He looks to volley to open court and/or to the BH (Note Sampras with 0 FH FEs). Sampras though is superb on the pass - some blistering shots, especially BHs, which is usually where the volleys go

Good move from Gilbert to come in so regularly too. Looks quite comfortable at net, so much so one wouldn't describe him as an un-natural volleyer. He needs to come in because...

Play - Baseline
Sampras dominates baseline rallies with power and finesse. Again, the extent of his advantage grows as the match goes on - because his level rises (probably with his confidence) rather than Gilbert's falling

Gilbert plays a passive game and there are some oddities to it. For one thing, he runsaround or backsaway to play FHs quite often. You usually see this from players who have weak BHs or particularly strong FHs... but I don't see either in Gilbert's play

He's neutral to passive in his groundstrokes of both wings. Can and does let loose with clean BHs on the pass, but baseline-to-baseline is dinky of shot. That's not a bad reason to runaround the BH... but he he's not much different with the FH either. All he does by moving over so is sacrifice central court position

Unlike BH, Gilbert can hit hard FHs when he wants. Inside-out is his strongest shot... but he rarely lets loose with it (though barely making an error when he does). He provides his own commentary for the match - and 2 things he says ring smart

- stop running around BHs
- take big cuts

So he seems to have known what to do... but doesn't do it much. Takes a couple of big cuts or stays in central position for a few points... then goes back to normal

Sampras for his part hits firmly of both sides. As match goes on, he becomes bolder... stepping in more to take charge of points and hitting dtl winning plays. Some tremendous dtl shots from Sampras in the match over the highest part of the net, superb stuff

FH inside-in is his best shot for the match, a point endingly powerful shot. He usually doesn't take to net to finish points he's taken charge of, but finishes with still more powerful groundstrokes

Rallying neutrally, Gilbert has edge initially, with Sampras making more errors. Later, Sampras starts overpowering Gilbert... and Brad doesn't have an answer

Note Sampras with 29 winners to 27 total errors in play... a sign of extremely good play

Evolution of Sampras' groundgame?
My memory of Sampras' ground game is dangerous but unpredictable FH (has good days and bad) and neutral BH (on a good day, holds steady. On bad, gives up errors)

In matches I've rewatched recently, that seems to be accurate. Some more attacking BHs in early 90s period, got more neutral and just-holding-up type shot later. And FH possibly got even more dangerous over time and less erratic

At start of this match, commentators list 1 of Sampras' weakness as being his FH ('shaky', I think is the word they used). Later, they state his BH "is his stronger shot"

Don't think that's true - in this match or in matches recently watched from this period - but at least its an indicator of how Sampras' game was perceived and might go someway to explaining Gilbert's serving pattern (though quality of groundstrokes and returns aren't always interchangeable in terms of balance across wings)

Boris Becker would on rare occasions target Sampras' FH return. Even when he won the match, that sub-battle never went as well as serving to BH
---
Summing up, sleek showing from Pete Sampras. Taking quality of serving and serve-volleying for granted, its his baseline play that stands out - good point construction, power and finishing off both wings from the back. Brad Gilbert serves well if not wisely and comes to net smartly behind but whatever he was trying to achieve from the back eventually gets swept aside

 

[HBK4life]

Brad got a check. That’s what matters Jack!