Pete Sampras beat Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 in the Australian Open final, 1997 on hard court
It was Sampras' second and last Australian Open title. He had won the last Slam at the US Open. Moya was unseeded and beaten defending champion Boris Becker and number 2 seed Michael Chang among others en route to his first Slam final
Sampras won 89 points, Moya 59
Sampras serve-volleyed off all 7 but first serves
Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (50/69) 72%
- 1st serve points won (41/50) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (10/19) 53%
- Aces 12 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (30/69) 43%
Moya...
- 1st serve percentage (50/79) 63%
- 1st serve points won (29/50) 58%
- 2nd serve points won (12/29) 41%
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/79) 29%
Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 67%
- to BH 33%
Moya served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 61%
- to Body 8%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 53 (18 FH, 35 BH), including 2 runaround FHs & 3 return-approaches
- 3 Winners (3 FH)
- 21 Errors, comprising...
- 10 Unforced (7 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 2 return-approach attempts
- 11 Forced (4 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (53/76) 70%
Moya made...
- 37 (23 FH, 14 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 FH)
- 16 Forced (13 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (37/67) 55%
Break Points
Sampras 6/6
Moya 1/2 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 24 (10 FH, 1 BH, 3 FHV, 5 BHV, 5 OH)
Moya 10 (7 FH, 3 BH)
Sampras had 11 from serve-volley points
- 9 first 'volleys' (2 FHV, 3 BHV, 3 OH, 1 BH at net)
- 2 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 OH)
- FHs - 2 cc (1 return), 2 dtl (1 pass, 1 at net - the 1 at net can at a stretch be called a pass), 2 inside-out, 2 inside-in returns, 1 longline/inside-out and 1 drop shot
Moya's FHs - 1 cc pass, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-out/dtl pass, 1 inside-in, 1 longline return pass (that Sampras left) and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 2 dtl (1 slice) and 1 inside-out pass
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 24
- 18 Unforced (9 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
- 6 Forced (2 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV)... with 1 FH at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.2
Moya 32
- 17 Unforced (10 FH, 7 BH)
- 15 Forced (10 FH, 5 BH)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.7
(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...
- 38/48 (79%) at net, including...
- 27/36 (75%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 24/32 (75%) off 1st serve and...
- 3/4 (75%) off 2nd serve
---
- 3/3 (100%) return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back
Moya was...
- 0/3 (0%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Match Report
Routine win for Sampras on a slow hard court. His serve-volleying is too much for Moya to handle, but baseline rallies are competitive and good - Sampras being the more proactive, while remaining balanced and smart in the extent to which he looks to attack
Court is slow and both players are able to run down hard hit wide shots with reasonable comfort
Sampras serve-volleys 82% off the time off first serves. He wins 6/7 staying back, mostly with unreturned serves. Curiously, he serves and volleys to Moya's FH - he serves 67% of the time there and 15/18 return errors drawn are FHs. Note also Moya with 10 FH FEs to 5 on the BH. These are mostly passing shots
Not sure how familiar with the 20 year old, unseeded Moya's game Sampras would have been. Moya running around his BH to play FHs as often as he can in baseline rallies announces his FH preference and his BH is not impressive in play either. Not an obvious choice then to target the FH with serves and volleys. It works like a charm, though its unlikely going the other way would have worked any less well.
Whatever the matter, Sampras serve mostly to FH, Moya struggles to get return in play - court is slow enough that its possible to have done so to reasonable extent. Even Sampras' great serve, I'd estimate 65% return rate to be manage-able. Moya manages 55%. Great serving from Sampras, no discredit to Moya but noting that doing better was within reason. He just doesn't seem up to it
Moya usually returns high and Sampras dispatches easy volleys. 9/11 serve-volley winners are first 'volleys', including 3 OHs. Along with 43% unreturned rate, that spells easy time for Sampras on his first serve points and he wins a full 82% of them
Play on other 3 serves in the match feature mostly baseline play. Moya runs around his BH to hit FHs as much as possible. He's not offensive and stock play is FH inside-out to Sampras' BH. Their slightly loopy shots on not particularly forceful. Moya FH inside-out vs Sampras BH cc is a neutral rally
Otherwise, Moya plays BH cc's when he can't get around to hit the FH. His BH is a harried, uncomfortable looking shot. Sampras' looks, if not is, better. Both finish with 7 UEs on the BH. BH play is roughly a wash, with Moya engaging when he has to. Sampras doesn't make any particular effort to avoid playing BHs
Action is livelier on FH side. Both players go inside-in - mostly as neutral change-ups, not attacking shots. Moya retains that clay-courter's slight loopiness while Sampras hits flatter, and hard enough to slightly rush Moya. Both move well enough to cope with these change-ups
The most attacking baseline play starts from big FH cc's from Sampras. Often strong enough to push Moya back and into reactive, if not defensive position. From there, he continues pounding down to try to beat down an error or comes in to net to finish. 0 interest in coming forward from Moya. He's at net 3 times all match - and 2 of those are forced approaches. The other, funnily enough, is a serve-volley. He loses all 3 points. Sampras by contrast is 8/9 rallying to net. Its easier for him to do so as harder hitter, but its not particularly hard for Moya. Just no interest in the ploy
No rush to attack from Pete. On average, he plays from further behind the baseline than Moya, though he's quicker to step up if there's a chance to. There's a decent amount of moving-opponent-around play and both move very well to cover the ball. Sampras being harder hitter gives him a little edge in these types of rallies
Baseline UEs out virtually equal, in total and of breakdown. Sampras 16 (9 FH, 7 BH), Moya 17 (10 FH, 7 BH). Baseline-to-baseline winners read Sampras 5, Moya 6
2 standout winners are a Moya, running BH dtl slice and a Sampras FH inside-out drop shot. Very, very rare choice from Pete
A decent serve from Moya, potentially troublesome on a quick court. More discredit to Pete for 70% return rate than credit to Moya's serve. Pete does pound the odd FH return (he has 3 winners) and chip-charges 3 times (winning all 3 points). He chip-charges (not necessarily successfully) off the FH a couple of times, which is again, very rare for him
Match Progression
Sampras breaks to go up 3-1 with Moya missing 3 FHs. He breaks again to end the set - an approach and a BH inside-out (another rare shot choice from Pete) forcing errors.
The two trade breaks early in the second. Moya gaining his with a BH inside-out pass winner and strong pass to force a FHV error. He has another break point later after Sampras muffs an OH. Sampras ends the game staying back off first serves. After breaking in a strong game to leave himself serving for set, Sampras stays back off all first serves in closing it out - he forces 4 return errors anyway, 1 with a second serve
Moya's under the gun for all the third set and has to serve 40 points to Pete's 19 in it. Breaking early in a 14 point game, Pete breaks again to love to end the match in a poor game from Moya
Summing up, straight forward win for Sampras. His serve-volleying is too good for Moya. Baseline play is about even with both players steady and moving well, but Sampras the more proactive, his FH being the most damaging shot on show and willing to come forward to finish points. Moya plays a steady, FH centric game without being damaging. He maximizes what he gets out of his serve, but would need Sampras to be loose off the ground to keep holding - and that doesn't happen
Stats for Wimbledon final between Sampras and Cedric Pioline - Match Stats/Report - Sampras vs Pioline, Wimbledon final, 1997 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
Stats for '96 US Open final between Sampras and Michael Chang - (7) Match Stats/Report - Sampras vs Chang, US Open final, 1996 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
Stats for '94 Australian Open final between Sampras and Todd Martin - (7) Match Stats/Report - Sampras vs Martin, Australian Open final, 1994 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
It was Sampras' second and last Australian Open title. He had won the last Slam at the US Open. Moya was unseeded and beaten defending champion Boris Becker and number 2 seed Michael Chang among others en route to his first Slam final
Sampras won 89 points, Moya 59
Sampras serve-volleyed off all 7 but first serves
Serve Stats
Sampras...
- 1st serve percentage (50/69) 72%
- 1st serve points won (41/50) 82%
- 2nd serve points won (10/19) 53%
- Aces 12 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (30/69) 43%
Moya...
- 1st serve percentage (50/79) 63%
- 1st serve points won (29/50) 58%
- 2nd serve points won (12/29) 41%
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/79) 29%
Serve Patterns
Sampras served...
- to FH 67%
- to BH 33%
Moya served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 61%
- to Body 8%
Return Stats
Sampras made...
- 53 (18 FH, 35 BH), including 2 runaround FHs & 3 return-approaches
- 3 Winners (3 FH)
- 21 Errors, comprising...
- 10 Unforced (7 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 2 return-approach attempts
- 11 Forced (4 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (53/76) 70%
Moya made...
- 37 (23 FH, 14 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 FH)
- 16 Forced (13 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (37/67) 55%
Break Points
Sampras 6/6
Moya 1/2 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Sampras 24 (10 FH, 1 BH, 3 FHV, 5 BHV, 5 OH)
Moya 10 (7 FH, 3 BH)
Sampras had 11 from serve-volley points
- 9 first 'volleys' (2 FHV, 3 BHV, 3 OH, 1 BH at net)
- 2 second volleys (1 FHV, 1 OH)
- FHs - 2 cc (1 return), 2 dtl (1 pass, 1 at net - the 1 at net can at a stretch be called a pass), 2 inside-out, 2 inside-in returns, 1 longline/inside-out and 1 drop shot
Moya's FHs - 1 cc pass, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-out/dtl pass, 1 inside-in, 1 longline return pass (that Sampras left) and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 2 dtl (1 slice) and 1 inside-out pass
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Sampras 24
- 18 Unforced (9 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
- 6 Forced (2 FH, 1 BH, 1 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV)... with 1 FH at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.2
Moya 32
- 17 Unforced (10 FH, 7 BH)
- 15 Forced (10 FH, 5 BH)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.7
(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...
- 38/48 (79%) at net, including...
- 27/36 (75%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 24/32 (75%) off 1st serve and...
- 3/4 (75%) off 2nd serve
---
- 3/3 (100%) return-approaching
- 1/1 forced back
Moya was...
- 0/3 (0%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Match Report
Routine win for Sampras on a slow hard court. His serve-volleying is too much for Moya to handle, but baseline rallies are competitive and good - Sampras being the more proactive, while remaining balanced and smart in the extent to which he looks to attack
Court is slow and both players are able to run down hard hit wide shots with reasonable comfort
Sampras serve-volleys 82% off the time off first serves. He wins 6/7 staying back, mostly with unreturned serves. Curiously, he serves and volleys to Moya's FH - he serves 67% of the time there and 15/18 return errors drawn are FHs. Note also Moya with 10 FH FEs to 5 on the BH. These are mostly passing shots
Not sure how familiar with the 20 year old, unseeded Moya's game Sampras would have been. Moya running around his BH to play FHs as often as he can in baseline rallies announces his FH preference and his BH is not impressive in play either. Not an obvious choice then to target the FH with serves and volleys. It works like a charm, though its unlikely going the other way would have worked any less well.
Whatever the matter, Sampras serve mostly to FH, Moya struggles to get return in play - court is slow enough that its possible to have done so to reasonable extent. Even Sampras' great serve, I'd estimate 65% return rate to be manage-able. Moya manages 55%. Great serving from Sampras, no discredit to Moya but noting that doing better was within reason. He just doesn't seem up to it
Moya usually returns high and Sampras dispatches easy volleys. 9/11 serve-volley winners are first 'volleys', including 3 OHs. Along with 43% unreturned rate, that spells easy time for Sampras on his first serve points and he wins a full 82% of them
Play on other 3 serves in the match feature mostly baseline play. Moya runs around his BH to hit FHs as much as possible. He's not offensive and stock play is FH inside-out to Sampras' BH. Their slightly loopy shots on not particularly forceful. Moya FH inside-out vs Sampras BH cc is a neutral rally
Otherwise, Moya plays BH cc's when he can't get around to hit the FH. His BH is a harried, uncomfortable looking shot. Sampras' looks, if not is, better. Both finish with 7 UEs on the BH. BH play is roughly a wash, with Moya engaging when he has to. Sampras doesn't make any particular effort to avoid playing BHs
Action is livelier on FH side. Both players go inside-in - mostly as neutral change-ups, not attacking shots. Moya retains that clay-courter's slight loopiness while Sampras hits flatter, and hard enough to slightly rush Moya. Both move well enough to cope with these change-ups
The most attacking baseline play starts from big FH cc's from Sampras. Often strong enough to push Moya back and into reactive, if not defensive position. From there, he continues pounding down to try to beat down an error or comes in to net to finish. 0 interest in coming forward from Moya. He's at net 3 times all match - and 2 of those are forced approaches. The other, funnily enough, is a serve-volley. He loses all 3 points. Sampras by contrast is 8/9 rallying to net. Its easier for him to do so as harder hitter, but its not particularly hard for Moya. Just no interest in the ploy
No rush to attack from Pete. On average, he plays from further behind the baseline than Moya, though he's quicker to step up if there's a chance to. There's a decent amount of moving-opponent-around play and both move very well to cover the ball. Sampras being harder hitter gives him a little edge in these types of rallies
Baseline UEs out virtually equal, in total and of breakdown. Sampras 16 (9 FH, 7 BH), Moya 17 (10 FH, 7 BH). Baseline-to-baseline winners read Sampras 5, Moya 6
2 standout winners are a Moya, running BH dtl slice and a Sampras FH inside-out drop shot. Very, very rare choice from Pete
A decent serve from Moya, potentially troublesome on a quick court. More discredit to Pete for 70% return rate than credit to Moya's serve. Pete does pound the odd FH return (he has 3 winners) and chip-charges 3 times (winning all 3 points). He chip-charges (not necessarily successfully) off the FH a couple of times, which is again, very rare for him
Match Progression
Sampras breaks to go up 3-1 with Moya missing 3 FHs. He breaks again to end the set - an approach and a BH inside-out (another rare shot choice from Pete) forcing errors.
The two trade breaks early in the second. Moya gaining his with a BH inside-out pass winner and strong pass to force a FHV error. He has another break point later after Sampras muffs an OH. Sampras ends the game staying back off first serves. After breaking in a strong game to leave himself serving for set, Sampras stays back off all first serves in closing it out - he forces 4 return errors anyway, 1 with a second serve
Moya's under the gun for all the third set and has to serve 40 points to Pete's 19 in it. Breaking early in a 14 point game, Pete breaks again to love to end the match in a poor game from Moya
Summing up, straight forward win for Sampras. His serve-volleying is too good for Moya. Baseline play is about even with both players steady and moving well, but Sampras the more proactive, his FH being the most damaging shot on show and willing to come forward to finish points. Moya plays a steady, FH centric game without being damaging. He maximizes what he gets out of his serve, but would need Sampras to be loose off the ground to keep holding - and that doesn't happen
Stats for Wimbledon final between Sampras and Cedric Pioline - Match Stats/Report - Sampras vs Pioline, Wimbledon final, 1997 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
Stats for '96 US Open final between Sampras and Michael Chang - (7) Match Stats/Report - Sampras vs Chang, US Open final, 1996 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
Stats for '94 Australian Open final between Sampras and Todd Martin - (7) Match Stats/Report - Sampras vs Martin, Australian Open final, 1994 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
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