Pete Sampras beat Ivan Lendl 6-4 7-6(4) 3-6 4-6 6-2 in the quarter final of the US Open 1990 on hard court
Sampras would go on to win the first of his 14 Slam titles, while Lendl's streak of consecutive US Open finals was terminated at 8
Sampras won 171 points, Lendl 176
Sampras serve-volleyed on virtually all his first serves and a considerable portion of his second serves
(Note: I'm missing minor partial data - such as serve direction, return type and in one case volleying error and type - for a small number of points)
Serve Stats
Sampras....
- 1st serve percentage (99/186) 53%
- 1st serve points won (72/99) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (43/87) 49%
- Aces 24 (including 1 2nd serve), Service Winners 3
- Double Faults 12
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (61/186) 33%
Lendl. ...
- 1st serve percentage (91/161) 57%
- 1st serve points won (68/91) 75%
- 2nd serve points won (37/70) 53%
- Aces 13
- Double Faults 9
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (32/161) 20%
Serve Pattern
Sampras served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 51%
- to Body 7%
Lendl served...
- to FH 29%
- to BH 68%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 121 (55 FH, 65BH, 1 unknown), including 21 runaround FHs and 2 return-approaches
- 19 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (1 FH, 4 BH), including 1 runaround FH attempt
- 14 Forced (2 FH, 12 BH)
- Return Rate (121/152) 80%
Lendl made...
- 112 (45 FH, 65 BH, 2 unknown), including 3 runaround FHs
- 3 Winners (3 BH)
- 34 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 FH)
- 33 Forced (15 FH, 18 BH)
- Return Rate (112/174) 64%
Break Points
Sampras 5/14 (7 games)
Lendl 4/15 (10 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 32 (5 FH, 4 BH, 10 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 6 OH)
Lendl 36 (13 FH, 13 BH, 6 FHV, 1 BHV, 3 OH)
On s/v points, Sampras had 7 first volleys (3 FHV, 4 BHV), 7 second volleys (4 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH), a third volley OH and a FHV in an extended exchange
- 1 other FHV was a drop volley
- the BH1/2V hit the top of the net from where it bounced over with Sampras down break point
- 4 passes (1 FH, 3 BH). The FH was dtl, all the BHs were cc (1 on the run)
- on non-passes, 1 FH was hit at net and the other 3 were inside-in
Lendl had 21 passes (9 FH, 12 BH). The 9 FHs were (6 cc, 3 dtl), the 12 BHs were (4 cc, 7 dtl, 1 i-o), including 3 returns (2 cc, 1 dtl)
- 5 non-pass groundstrokes (4 FH, 1 BH). FHs were (2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 i-o) and BH was dtl.... most of the shots were hit from mid-court
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot from behind the service line but I've judged to be a net point
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Sampras 97
- 61 Unforced (22 FH, 32 BH, 3 FHV, 4 BHV)
- 35 Forced (8 FH, 9 BH, 6 FHV, 3 FH1/2V, 5 BHV, 3 BH1/2V, 1 BHOH)
- 1 unknown volley (both volley type and error type unknown)
Lendl 68
- 29 Unforced (17 FH, 12 BH)
- 39 Forced (14 FH, 25 BH)
(Note: all half volleys refer to such strokes played at net.)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Sampras was 88/143 (62%) at net, including 62/95 (65%) serve-volleying - 47/74 (64%) off 1st serves, 15/21 (71%) off second - and 0/2 return-approaching
He was 1/2 when forced back from net
Lendl was 20/26 (80%) at net, including 1/1 serve-volleying (a first serve point)
He was 0/1 when forced back from the net
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Match Report
An epic match in its nature, especially in light of what the winner went on to achieve, but not a great match in terms of level of play. Overall, I think Lendl, who won more points in the match, was the better player while from Sampras' point of view, the result indicated mettle of mind as well as quality play.
First 2 sets dead even. a point here and there making the difference. Lendl choked a bit at key moments while Sampras either held his level or successfully attacked (high level, but normal - for him... it stood out given his age, the opponent and the occasion)
In set 1, Lendl was broken to yield the set. He'd made just 1 UE the whole set going into the game (Sampras had 13) but made 4 in the fourteen point game. Sampras on his end boldly took the net in what turned out to be the last 2 points of the game, but even here, Lendl missed a very makeable pass set point down
Lendl gained his first break by forcing net errors from Sampras and served for the set. Again, he choked a bit to open the door and again Sampras stormed in to net to break back.
Both men survived tough holds - Sampras being the more impressive in holding, but somewhat wasting his own break chances with return errors - to send the set into a tiebreaker. Sampras power served his way to take it, while hitting the odd good offensive shot on his return points
Players were equal for 2 sets (Sampras 87 points, Lendl 86), but in the next 2, Lendl stormed ahead as the American went flat.
The fire breathing serving and constant net rushing subsided, allowing Lendl to wear down the young American and push the match into a decider.
With the players experience and reputations, all signs pointed to Lendl carrying on his good work in the 5th and Pete perhaps being overawed. Instead, a revitalized Sampras, who'd gone into his shell for two sets, came out all guns blazing to take the match away. He was aided in this again by Lendl making some highly uncharacteristic errors at critical points... but all in all, I'd judge Sampras to be the hero of the 5th more than Lendl throwing it away
On Sampras' play
Sampras serve-volleyed off the first serve throughout the match. Off the second, he regularly did so in the first and last sets and little to some at other times. The serve itself is a handful and his volleying also looked good, with cat quick movements to back help it along.
His groundstrokes... leave a lot to be desired. He made errors off both wings all day, but intentionally or otherwise, it makes for a disarming prospect. He can hold serve on the strength of his serve and volleying, so he's mostly playing from the back on return.
Does it matter if he makes loose errors and loses points? He's supposed to lose return games anyway. And just for a couple of minutes, if he can keep his groundstrokes in play, that's the break and the match.
This is largely how I remember Sampras overall... but in this match, his groundies were a lot more erratic than in later years
Sampras returned surely. You can see the high return rate of 80%. Part of this is Lendl's fault. Sampras took to returning the Czech's more powerful serves with extreme care and high net clearance. Lendl would take a step in to court and wait for the ball to drop before hitting his first forehand (usually inside-out to the Sampras BH).... if he was tempted to rush to net and put a few away to give the young American something to think about, he controlled the itch well.
Sampras was quick to step around BHs to hit FHs (something I don't remember him doing much in later years)
On Lendl's play
Too cautious from Ivan. He seemed to be waiting for Sampras' fire to burn out and then pick up the pieces. To an extent, he did in sets 3 and 4.... and I imagine anyone watching would have expected that to continue in set 5 too, so I'm not too harsh in judging Lendl's strategy. Also, he was 50-50 with Pete even when the fire was burning bright
Still, to see a guy who had been serve-volleying first and second serves every point a couple of months ago on grass to continually stay back, even as Sampras was all but moonballing returns made me wonder if Ivan didn't overdo the caution a bit. By no means was he winning all the points that started this way (though of course, he won most, being by far the better baseliner)
Look at his errors: Not a single volleying error of any kind... I've never seen that. Despite coming in rarely, its impressive... so why hold tight to the baseline to the extent he did against an opponent who was taking advantage of that being the case?
The uncharacteristic errors at bad times also caught my eye. He gave up the break in the 5th with two very strange errors to completely innocuous balls - he wasn't even trying to be aggressive on those shots.
The margins are fine for backing yourself to outrally people from the baseline.... a point here or there against an opponent who can take care of his own service games, and you end up with the short end of the stick. That is largely what happened to Lendl here
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One further point of interest. Both players were aiming for the lines with their first serves and many that were called out were out by a hair (if at all). I'd have been very curious to see this match with modern ball tracking handling the line calling.... I doubt all the serves called out actually were
Sampras would go on to win the first of his 14 Slam titles, while Lendl's streak of consecutive US Open finals was terminated at 8
Sampras won 171 points, Lendl 176
Sampras serve-volleyed on virtually all his first serves and a considerable portion of his second serves
(Note: I'm missing minor partial data - such as serve direction, return type and in one case volleying error and type - for a small number of points)
Serve Stats
Sampras....
- 1st serve percentage (99/186) 53%
- 1st serve points won (72/99) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (43/87) 49%
- Aces 24 (including 1 2nd serve), Service Winners 3
- Double Faults 12
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (61/186) 33%
Lendl. ...
- 1st serve percentage (91/161) 57%
- 1st serve points won (68/91) 75%
- 2nd serve points won (37/70) 53%
- Aces 13
- Double Faults 9
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (32/161) 20%
Serve Pattern
Sampras served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 51%
- to Body 7%
Lendl served...
- to FH 29%
- to BH 68%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 121 (55 FH, 65BH, 1 unknown), including 21 runaround FHs and 2 return-approaches
- 19 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (1 FH, 4 BH), including 1 runaround FH attempt
- 14 Forced (2 FH, 12 BH)
- Return Rate (121/152) 80%
Lendl made...
- 112 (45 FH, 65 BH, 2 unknown), including 3 runaround FHs
- 3 Winners (3 BH)
- 34 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 FH)
- 33 Forced (15 FH, 18 BH)
- Return Rate (112/174) 64%
Break Points
Sampras 5/14 (7 games)
Lendl 4/15 (10 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 32 (5 FH, 4 BH, 10 FHV, 6 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 6 OH)
Lendl 36 (13 FH, 13 BH, 6 FHV, 1 BHV, 3 OH)
On s/v points, Sampras had 7 first volleys (3 FHV, 4 BHV), 7 second volleys (4 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 OH), a third volley OH and a FHV in an extended exchange
- 1 other FHV was a drop volley
- the BH1/2V hit the top of the net from where it bounced over with Sampras down break point
- 4 passes (1 FH, 3 BH). The FH was dtl, all the BHs were cc (1 on the run)
- on non-passes, 1 FH was hit at net and the other 3 were inside-in
Lendl had 21 passes (9 FH, 12 BH). The 9 FHs were (6 cc, 3 dtl), the 12 BHs were (4 cc, 7 dtl, 1 i-o), including 3 returns (2 cc, 1 dtl)
- 5 non-pass groundstrokes (4 FH, 1 BH). FHs were (2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 i-o) and BH was dtl.... most of the shots were hit from mid-court
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot from behind the service line but I've judged to be a net point
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Sampras 97
- 61 Unforced (22 FH, 32 BH, 3 FHV, 4 BHV)
- 35 Forced (8 FH, 9 BH, 6 FHV, 3 FH1/2V, 5 BHV, 3 BH1/2V, 1 BHOH)
- 1 unknown volley (both volley type and error type unknown)
Lendl 68
- 29 Unforced (17 FH, 12 BH)
- 39 Forced (14 FH, 25 BH)
(Note: all half volleys refer to such strokes played at net.)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Sampras was 88/143 (62%) at net, including 62/95 (65%) serve-volleying - 47/74 (64%) off 1st serves, 15/21 (71%) off second - and 0/2 return-approaching
He was 1/2 when forced back from net
Lendl was 20/26 (80%) at net, including 1/1 serve-volleying (a first serve point)
He was 0/1 when forced back from the net
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Match Report
An epic match in its nature, especially in light of what the winner went on to achieve, but not a great match in terms of level of play. Overall, I think Lendl, who won more points in the match, was the better player while from Sampras' point of view, the result indicated mettle of mind as well as quality play.
First 2 sets dead even. a point here and there making the difference. Lendl choked a bit at key moments while Sampras either held his level or successfully attacked (high level, but normal - for him... it stood out given his age, the opponent and the occasion)
In set 1, Lendl was broken to yield the set. He'd made just 1 UE the whole set going into the game (Sampras had 13) but made 4 in the fourteen point game. Sampras on his end boldly took the net in what turned out to be the last 2 points of the game, but even here, Lendl missed a very makeable pass set point down
Lendl gained his first break by forcing net errors from Sampras and served for the set. Again, he choked a bit to open the door and again Sampras stormed in to net to break back.
Both men survived tough holds - Sampras being the more impressive in holding, but somewhat wasting his own break chances with return errors - to send the set into a tiebreaker. Sampras power served his way to take it, while hitting the odd good offensive shot on his return points
Players were equal for 2 sets (Sampras 87 points, Lendl 86), but in the next 2, Lendl stormed ahead as the American went flat.
The fire breathing serving and constant net rushing subsided, allowing Lendl to wear down the young American and push the match into a decider.
With the players experience and reputations, all signs pointed to Lendl carrying on his good work in the 5th and Pete perhaps being overawed. Instead, a revitalized Sampras, who'd gone into his shell for two sets, came out all guns blazing to take the match away. He was aided in this again by Lendl making some highly uncharacteristic errors at critical points... but all in all, I'd judge Sampras to be the hero of the 5th more than Lendl throwing it away
On Sampras' play
Sampras serve-volleyed off the first serve throughout the match. Off the second, he regularly did so in the first and last sets and little to some at other times. The serve itself is a handful and his volleying also looked good, with cat quick movements to back help it along.
His groundstrokes... leave a lot to be desired. He made errors off both wings all day, but intentionally or otherwise, it makes for a disarming prospect. He can hold serve on the strength of his serve and volleying, so he's mostly playing from the back on return.
Does it matter if he makes loose errors and loses points? He's supposed to lose return games anyway. And just for a couple of minutes, if he can keep his groundstrokes in play, that's the break and the match.
This is largely how I remember Sampras overall... but in this match, his groundies were a lot more erratic than in later years
Sampras returned surely. You can see the high return rate of 80%. Part of this is Lendl's fault. Sampras took to returning the Czech's more powerful serves with extreme care and high net clearance. Lendl would take a step in to court and wait for the ball to drop before hitting his first forehand (usually inside-out to the Sampras BH).... if he was tempted to rush to net and put a few away to give the young American something to think about, he controlled the itch well.
Sampras was quick to step around BHs to hit FHs (something I don't remember him doing much in later years)
On Lendl's play
Too cautious from Ivan. He seemed to be waiting for Sampras' fire to burn out and then pick up the pieces. To an extent, he did in sets 3 and 4.... and I imagine anyone watching would have expected that to continue in set 5 too, so I'm not too harsh in judging Lendl's strategy. Also, he was 50-50 with Pete even when the fire was burning bright
Still, to see a guy who had been serve-volleying first and second serves every point a couple of months ago on grass to continually stay back, even as Sampras was all but moonballing returns made me wonder if Ivan didn't overdo the caution a bit. By no means was he winning all the points that started this way (though of course, he won most, being by far the better baseliner)
Look at his errors: Not a single volleying error of any kind... I've never seen that. Despite coming in rarely, its impressive... so why hold tight to the baseline to the extent he did against an opponent who was taking advantage of that being the case?
The uncharacteristic errors at bad times also caught my eye. He gave up the break in the 5th with two very strange errors to completely innocuous balls - he wasn't even trying to be aggressive on those shots.
The margins are fine for backing yourself to outrally people from the baseline.... a point here or there against an opponent who can take care of his own service games, and you end up with the short end of the stick. That is largely what happened to Lendl here
----
One further point of interest. Both players were aiming for the lines with their first serves and many that were called out were out by a hair (if at all). I'd have been very curious to see this match with modern ball tracking handling the line calling.... I doubt all the serves called out actually were