More About Drop Shots: Alexander Bublik Edition by Jeff Sackmann

[Rovesciarete]

More than a year ago Heavy Topspin featured this excellent investigation of this specific tactic by this particular player. A timely read with lots of stats and a nice graphic:

If Carlos Alcaraz is the prince of the drop shot, Alexander Bublik is the court jester. We learned this week that Bublik hits droppers more than any other tour regular, about once every 14 points. That’s three times as often as tour average. No one else goes to the well more than once per 19 points.

Side matters

Armed with these adjustments, we can compare each player’s forehand and backhand drop shots, as well. Bublik has a fairly wide split. He wins just over 50% of points when he hits a forehand drop shot, next to only 39% behind a backhand drop shot. His expectations when faced with a backhand are worse in general, but not that much worse. His forehand drop shot success rate is two percentage points better than if he went with a standard groundstroke, while his backhand drop shot is five points worse.

So Sasha, if you’re reading this: We all love your drop shots. But maybe take it easy with the backhands.

Maybe one should sent this article to Simone Vagnozzi, which had a fantastic forehand drop shot