Pete Sampras beat Richard Krajicek 6-4, 6-2 in the Cincinnati quarter-final, 1999 on hard court
Krajicek had won the pairs last 4 matches
Sampras won 69 points, Krajicek 50
Krajicek serve-volleyed off all serves, Sampras all first serves and the majority of seconds
Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (36/65) 55%
- 1st serve points won (31/36) 86%
- 2nd serve points won (14/29) 48%
- Aces 4, Service Winners 4
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (28/65) 43%
Krajicek...
- 1st serve percentage (31/54) 57%
- 1st serve points won (22/31) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (8/23) 35%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (21/54) 39%
Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 31%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 7%
Krajicek served....
- to FH 23%
- to BH 57%
- to Body 19%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 26 (6 FH, 20 BH)
- 6 Winners (3 FH, 3 BH)
- 16 Errors, all forced...
- 16 Forced (2 FH, 14 BH)
- Return Rate (26/47) 55%
Krajicek made...
- 30 (9 FH, 21 BH), including 4 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 20 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 BH)
- 19 Forced (8 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (30/58) 52%
Break Points
Sampras 3/5 (4 games)
Krajicek 0/2 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 20 (9 FH, 8 BH, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Krajicek 8 (3 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 BHOH)
Sampras had 14 passes (7 FH, 7 BH)
- FHs - 1 cc return, 3 dtl, 1 inside-out return, 1 inside-in return and 1 lob
- BHs - 3 cc (1 return, 1 popping over on a net chord), 2 dtl (1 return), 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in return
- 1 FH cc (non-pass)
- 5 from serve-volley points
- 4 first 'volleys' (2 BHV, 1 FH at net, 1 BH at net)… 1 of the BHVs being net-to-net
- 1 second volley (1 OH)
Krajicek had 4 passes - 3 FHs (1 cc, 2 dtl) and 1 BH inside-out return
- 2 from serve-volley points - a first FHV and a second BHV
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 14
- 3 Unforced (2 BHV, 1 OH)
- 11 Forced (5 FH, 3 BH, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV, 1 Behind-the-Back)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 56.7
Krajicek 14
- 2 Unforced (1 BH, 1 FHV)
- 12 Forced (5 FH, 4 BH, 2 FHV, 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 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...
- 34/44 (77%) at net, including...
- 33/42 serve-volleying, comprising..
- 23/28 (82%) off 1st serve and..
- 10/14 (71%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 forced back
Krajicek was...
- 29/47 (62%) at net, including...
- 25/42 (60%) serve-volleying, comprising..
- 17/26 (65%) off 1st serve and..
- 8/16 (50%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
Match Report
An exceptional day on return teams up with characteristic dominance on serve for Sampras as he rolls over Krajicek on a very fast hard court
From the get-go, Sampras returns well. Of course, he makes plenty of return errors against the huge serve and 100% serve-volleying strategy of Krajicek, but when he get the ball in play, he does so powerfully. On second serves, he's stepping lightly into court to take a good clean whack at the return. In the 2nd game, a pair of return winners and forcing a volley error gives Sampras a break point. Next 3 points are all - not too surprisingly unreturned serves
Serve dominates and its Krajicek who is the more aggressive, proactive and impressive. He's quick to take the net when Sampras stays back and even utilizes chip-charge returns. Game 7 is a tough, 16 point affair and Krajicek hits some memorable shots. Takes the net to strike BHV winner. A magnificent BH inside-out chip return passing winner. A tremendous running FH dtl pass. A BHOH winner after forcing Sampras back from net. Still, he can only conjure the 1 break point, with Sampras winning just as many points with the usual lot of unreturned serves and forced passing error. On the sole break point, Krajicek chip-charges the return boldly even as Sampras is serve-volleying... Pete keeps cool and places his BHV away for a winner.
Sampras has his worst service game in game 9, getting 4/10 first serves in and gifting 3 double faults. Again, Krajicek can only manage the one break point... and he's centimeters from converting. His FH inside-out return hits the very top of the tape and would probably have gone for a winner had it not. Instead, Sampras finishes up with a service winner and an ace
And then Sampras breaks to 15 in a brilliant game, highlighted by a running FH dtl pass, a FH lob and a nice BH inside-out pass, set up by a strong return that drew a weak volley
Krajicek gifts the first break of the second set to Sampras to go down 0-2. Up 40-15, the Dutchman double faults 3 times in a row and misses an easy volley. Sampras cruises through his service games (losing 4 points in 4 games) while getting to 30 on Krajicek's next 2 service games
But the final game of the match is a break to love by Sampras... a splendid game, comparable to the masterful break to love Krajicek won of him at Wimbledon '96. First point, a strong return elicits a weak volley and Sampras blasts a pass from just behind the net which Krajicek would have needed to be lucky to get back in play (he doesn't). 2nd point is a clean as a whistle BH cc return winner off a first serve. 3rd point is a running BH dtl pass winner, a real needle threader. Last point is a another return winner - this time FH inside-out. The worst shot of the lot.... and it was a very good shot
Statistical Points of Interest & Play
Note Krajicek winning just 35% second serve points. This is heavily weighed down by the second set, where he's 1/9 with 5 double faults
- Note the very high rate of Sampras' return winners 6/26. Krajicek only serves to the FH 11 times, and 3 are hit for winners
- the unusually balanced volleying patterns. Usually in these big game matches, players keep volleying to the weaker BH side - which is reflected in them having much higher BH FEs than FH. Not here. Both players have more FH FEs - these would virtually all be passing errors
Other than 1 terrible service game, Krajicek plays well. He can't make the breakthrough on return though - I'd credit Sampras for saving the first he was down break point and mildly discredit Krajicek for the second.
By contrast, Sampras earns 2/3 games he broke with brilliant play... and of maintained a high level on his service games so Krajicek couldn't create more chances
Summing up, well played match from both - Sampras lifting himself to well beyond just "well played" at choice moments to run away with the won.
You can find Sampras' semi with Agassi here https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-vs-agassi-cincinnati-semi-final-1999.636368/
and the final with Rafter https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...mpras-vs-rafter-cincinnati-final-1999.650572/
A superb run by Sampras... he's on fire in all 3 matches
and the pairs 96 Wimby match https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-sampras-wimbledon-quarter-final-1996.645951/
Krajicek had won the pairs last 4 matches
Sampras won 69 points, Krajicek 50
Krajicek serve-volleyed off all serves, Sampras all first serves and the majority of seconds
Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (36/65) 55%
- 1st serve points won (31/36) 86%
- 2nd serve points won (14/29) 48%
- Aces 4, Service Winners 4
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (28/65) 43%
Krajicek...
- 1st serve percentage (31/54) 57%
- 1st serve points won (22/31) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (8/23) 35%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (21/54) 39%
Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 31%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 7%
Krajicek served....
- to FH 23%
- to BH 57%
- to Body 19%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 26 (6 FH, 20 BH)
- 6 Winners (3 FH, 3 BH)
- 16 Errors, all forced...
- 16 Forced (2 FH, 14 BH)
- Return Rate (26/47) 55%
Krajicek made...
- 30 (9 FH, 21 BH), including 4 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 20 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 BH)
- 19 Forced (8 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (30/58) 52%
Break Points
Sampras 3/5 (4 games)
Krajicek 0/2 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 20 (9 FH, 8 BH, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Krajicek 8 (3 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 BHOH)
Sampras had 14 passes (7 FH, 7 BH)
- FHs - 1 cc return, 3 dtl, 1 inside-out return, 1 inside-in return and 1 lob
- BHs - 3 cc (1 return, 1 popping over on a net chord), 2 dtl (1 return), 1 inside-out and 1 inside-in return
- 1 FH cc (non-pass)
- 5 from serve-volley points
- 4 first 'volleys' (2 BHV, 1 FH at net, 1 BH at net)… 1 of the BHVs being net-to-net
- 1 second volley (1 OH)
Krajicek had 4 passes - 3 FHs (1 cc, 2 dtl) and 1 BH inside-out return
- 2 from serve-volley points - a first FHV and a second BHV
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 14
- 3 Unforced (2 BHV, 1 OH)
- 11 Forced (5 FH, 3 BH, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV, 1 Behind-the-Back)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 56.7
Krajicek 14
- 2 Unforced (1 BH, 1 FHV)
- 12 Forced (5 FH, 4 BH, 2 FHV, 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 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...
- 34/44 (77%) at net, including...
- 33/42 serve-volleying, comprising..
- 23/28 (82%) off 1st serve and..
- 10/14 (71%) off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 forced back
Krajicek was...
- 29/47 (62%) at net, including...
- 25/42 (60%) serve-volleying, comprising..
- 17/26 (65%) off 1st serve and..
- 8/16 (50%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
Match Report
An exceptional day on return teams up with characteristic dominance on serve for Sampras as he rolls over Krajicek on a very fast hard court
From the get-go, Sampras returns well. Of course, he makes plenty of return errors against the huge serve and 100% serve-volleying strategy of Krajicek, but when he get the ball in play, he does so powerfully. On second serves, he's stepping lightly into court to take a good clean whack at the return. In the 2nd game, a pair of return winners and forcing a volley error gives Sampras a break point. Next 3 points are all - not too surprisingly unreturned serves
Serve dominates and its Krajicek who is the more aggressive, proactive and impressive. He's quick to take the net when Sampras stays back and even utilizes chip-charge returns. Game 7 is a tough, 16 point affair and Krajicek hits some memorable shots. Takes the net to strike BHV winner. A magnificent BH inside-out chip return passing winner. A tremendous running FH dtl pass. A BHOH winner after forcing Sampras back from net. Still, he can only conjure the 1 break point, with Sampras winning just as many points with the usual lot of unreturned serves and forced passing error. On the sole break point, Krajicek chip-charges the return boldly even as Sampras is serve-volleying... Pete keeps cool and places his BHV away for a winner.
Sampras has his worst service game in game 9, getting 4/10 first serves in and gifting 3 double faults. Again, Krajicek can only manage the one break point... and he's centimeters from converting. His FH inside-out return hits the very top of the tape and would probably have gone for a winner had it not. Instead, Sampras finishes up with a service winner and an ace
And then Sampras breaks to 15 in a brilliant game, highlighted by a running FH dtl pass, a FH lob and a nice BH inside-out pass, set up by a strong return that drew a weak volley
Krajicek gifts the first break of the second set to Sampras to go down 0-2. Up 40-15, the Dutchman double faults 3 times in a row and misses an easy volley. Sampras cruises through his service games (losing 4 points in 4 games) while getting to 30 on Krajicek's next 2 service games
But the final game of the match is a break to love by Sampras... a splendid game, comparable to the masterful break to love Krajicek won of him at Wimbledon '96. First point, a strong return elicits a weak volley and Sampras blasts a pass from just behind the net which Krajicek would have needed to be lucky to get back in play (he doesn't). 2nd point is a clean as a whistle BH cc return winner off a first serve. 3rd point is a running BH dtl pass winner, a real needle threader. Last point is a another return winner - this time FH inside-out. The worst shot of the lot.... and it was a very good shot
Statistical Points of Interest & Play
Note Krajicek winning just 35% second serve points. This is heavily weighed down by the second set, where he's 1/9 with 5 double faults
- Note the very high rate of Sampras' return winners 6/26. Krajicek only serves to the FH 11 times, and 3 are hit for winners
- the unusually balanced volleying patterns. Usually in these big game matches, players keep volleying to the weaker BH side - which is reflected in them having much higher BH FEs than FH. Not here. Both players have more FH FEs - these would virtually all be passing errors
Other than 1 terrible service game, Krajicek plays well. He can't make the breakthrough on return though - I'd credit Sampras for saving the first he was down break point and mildly discredit Krajicek for the second.
By contrast, Sampras earns 2/3 games he broke with brilliant play... and of maintained a high level on his service games so Krajicek couldn't create more chances
Summing up, well played match from both - Sampras lifting himself to well beyond just "well played" at choice moments to run away with the won.
You can find Sampras' semi with Agassi here https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-vs-agassi-cincinnati-semi-final-1999.636368/
and the final with Rafter https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...mpras-vs-rafter-cincinnati-final-1999.650572/
A superb run by Sampras... he's on fire in all 3 matches
and the pairs 96 Wimby match https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-sampras-wimbledon-quarter-final-1996.645951/
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