So I carried out an absolute ROBBERY of a set in Full Ace Tennis vs Djoker (who is basically the final boss) as Ole Rog earlier. Stats attached here:
- 3 return points won
- 17 serve points lost (Djoker won 32% of return points)
- 0 BPs
- 56% first serve rate
- 47% 2nd serve points won
- Served 63% of the total points, only won 46% of total points
And yet in the TB, traded minibreaks, got 1 more minibreak to get SP, and converted.
Which got me thinking...
What are the "best" / (worst) sets like this one that have happened IRL?
I've got something that's so freakishly similar that you'll think I'm making it up
2018 Halle final, 1st set, Coric beats Federer 7-6(6)
Going into 'breaker...
- 3 return points won
- 15 serve points lost (Fed won 34% return points)
- 0 BPs
- 70% first serve rate
- 46% 2nd serve points won
- Served 62% of total points, only won 45% of total points
in TB, traded minibreaks, got 1 more minibreak to get SP and converted (Fed led 6-4, with a serve point to come)
Basic Stats for set (including TB) -
- 1st serve in - Coric 71%, Fed 82%
- 1st serve won - Coric 78%, Fed 93%
- 2nd serve won - Coric 47%, Fed 50%
BPs - Coric 0, Fed 0/1
How is it your winners/UEs stuff is so much better than his?
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I like sets like this. Few others that come to mind (none of them tiebreakers)
1) '04 Indian Wells, Agassi beats Federer 6-4
"Agassi takes first set with 1 break, a terrible game from Fed with 2 double faults and 2 FH UEs (1 of them on the move and not too easy). In remaining 4 return games, Agassi wins 1 point (a double fault). Not only can he hardly win a point, he can barely make a return. His return rate for the set is 6/19 or 31.6%. He himself holds fairly comfortably - he serves 27 points in set to Fed's 22 and doesn't face break point - but is down 0-15 three times, once going on to 15-30 from there. Not much - but anything looks substantial compared to how he's completely shut out returning other than the break"
2) '80 Wimby, Connors beats McEnroe 6-3
"Second set is hell of a struggle. Both players hold to 30 once and remaining 7 games all go to deuce and/or have break points in them. Connors in particular is put through the wringer and serves 62 points or 12.4 per game, including a mammoth 26 point game. Mac has it easier and serves just 28 or 7 a game
What matters is Connors breaks (1/3 from 2 games), Mac doesn't (0/13 from 4 games) to win the set
The 26 point game is particularly thrilling. Mac has 8 break points in it, Connors just 3 game points. Just about everything that can happen on those break points, does - 1st serves and 2nd serves, good returns and not so good ones, unreturned serves and Connors' sole ace, baseline rallies developing, 1 or other player rallying to net, Connors serve-volleying and getting easy volleys or tough ones. Everything that is, bar Mac winning any of the points"
3) '85 French, Wilander beats McEnroe 7-5
"In second set, McEnroe has 8 break points in 4 games to Wilander's 0 as he steps up to serve to take the match into a tiebreak. 4 points later, the set is over - possibly the worst service game McEnroe had in his career (3 third ball UEs - 1 volley and 2 regulation BH cc's to open court - and a double fault). Wilander served 64 points in the set, McEnroe exactly half that amount
4) '89 French, Chang beats Edberg 6-4
"Particularly crucial is 4th set. After players trade breaks early, virtually every Chang service game turns into a monumental tussle. He holds in games lasting 18 points (4 break points), to love, 12 points (5 break points - including from down 0-40) and 8 points (1 break point), while Edberg holds to 15 twice and is taken to deuce once (no break points)
All that counts for nothing for Edberg because he's broken to 30 to give up the set. In short, Chang is 1/1, Edberg 0/11 (3 games)... and its Chang's break that ends the set. Chang serves 47 points, Edberg 30
To rub it in, first game of 5th set carries on in same vein and lasts 18 points. And Edberg breaks."
