Ricoh ATP Match Facts 2008 : Andy Murray

Drew · Mar 25, 2008

Ricoh ATP Match Facts 2008 : Andy Murray

Drew · Oct 23, 2008

Update on the year to date (First post has links to 2006 & 2007 stats).

I am showing here where Andy was at the end of March....and now upto October 20th

Serving :

Aces :

17. Murray - 119 in 18 - NOW 398 in 61 down to 18th

1st Serve % :

75. Murray 56% in 18 - NOW 57% in 61 Up to 50th

1st Serve Points Won

16. Murray - 76% in 18 - NOW 74% in 61 Down to 21st

2nd Serve points Won

32. Murray - 52% in 18 - NOW 52% in 61 Up to 28th

Service Games Won

18. Murray - 84% in 18 - NOW 82% in 61 Down to 22nd

Break Points Saved

27. Murray - 64% in 18 - NOW 62% in 61 Same at 27th

Return of Serve

Points Won Returning 1st Serve

11. Murray - 33% in 18 - NOW 33% in 61 - Up to 9th

Points Won Returning 2nd Serve

12. Murray - 54% in 18 - NOW 54% in 61 - Up to 3rd

Break Pts Converted

29. Murray - 42% in 18 - NOW 41% in 61 - Up to 23rd

Return Games Won

12. Murray - 29% in 18 - NOW 28% in 61 - Up to 9th

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Summary...

Serving.

Andy's recent improved serve not quite showing through yet. Up in only two sections down in the other 4.

Returning.

Up in all sections...shows he really does go for weak second serves.

Overall his percentages have not changed much at all but compared to his peers he has improved in lots of areas.

NB : Stats dont tell the whole story.

The Hoose · Satellite level

I think there's an error on the stats page, which lists too many players in the aces section. I don't think Isner, Guccione or Ljubicic should be included, which would push Andy up to 15th - sending him up in 3 and down in 3 of the serving sections.

It's one thing to have good percentages at the start of the season but to have been able to sustain them throughout the year and through all the big tournaments is impressive.

-- Edited by The Hoose at 14:05, 2008-10-23

indiana · Tennis legend

I did happen to be looking at these stats just this morning.

The break point conversion stats are intersting.

Now we know Andy is an especially good returner, and the stats show him as 9th best returner of first serves and 3rd best returner of second serves

So, to me, he should really be better than 23rd at converting break points. With his return ability, there must be room for improvement here.

I wonder what he is doing wrong that 22 players, most of whom are generally not as good returners are doing right ?

It's maybe not a huge leap %wise. in that he is on 41% and most of the top 10 ( after the first 3 ) are on 44 or 45%., but it is a step he would appear to need to make.

The top 2 are Djokovic and Nalbandiian on 49%, whose general return statistics of first and second serves are very similar to Andy's, if anything slightly less good, but for some reason are clearly better at converting break points.

This then gives a clue to why, although their overall return stats on first and second service are very similar, Djokovic and Nalbandian win 30% of their return games, while Andy wins 28%,.

Essentially, they arer better at winning the return points that matter and hence more return games.

I was thinking that although it does seem to be a break point issue, there could be red herrings. eg. maybe Djokovic and Nalbandian don't fight for every point to the extent Andy does and hence maybe their general stats are brought down slightly by what they do at 40-0 or 40-15 down, and might also otherwiise have been better than Andy's. Not that I am aware of this or have any evidence that that's the case, just a possible thought.

I am a statistician by my degree, so don't always take the absolutely obvious first reading of figures smile

That said, I do suspect there is at least some break point issue here.

So that's maybe one thing to focus on and consider during the short close season.

All right, yes, first the serve !! smile

The Hoose · Satellite level

I think you have a point on Andy trying a bit harder at 40-0 down. I also think it might be something to do with his opponents: when Andy's deliberately playing in passive Andy mode he often fashions break points through his opponents not knowing how to play the percentages and making unforced errors. I get the feeling his opponents focus more at break point down and that passive Andy doesn't work particularly well on these points. I sense Andy's primary aim is to keep the ball in play when he has break points - he doesn't like netting returns - when perhaps a more aggressive approach on these points would be better.