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An “unknown statistic”: Andre forced 26 errors with his forehand groundies, returns, and passes.
What can statistics really tell us about tennis matches? What can we learn from the classic Agassi versus Sampras match at this year’s U.S. Open, for example? What about junior and club tennis and all the other levels of the game? What can the average player learn from statistical analysis of his game?
The answer is a tremendous amount. Match charting allows any player to understand how points are won and lost. It’s shocking how few players can tell you how they actually win or lose points. It’s equally shocking how many players have wildly mistaken notions about how they win or lose points.
Understanding the types of shots and shot patterns that lead to winning points can revolutionize how you play matches. It’s even possible to reverse the outcome in long standing rivalries if you understand what really pays on a percentage basis over the course of a match.
In this new series we’ll look at what statistics can tell us about how to win matches, starting with an analysis of what I call the “unknown statistic,” the forced error.
The Forced Error
I call…
