Federer Hits Tweener On A Roof
Federer Hits Tweener On A Roof
Jun072016
Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers shows how landing your first serve all the time can hurt your game
Can you make too many first serves?
It seems like a ridiculous question, but the more you dig into it, the more valid it becomes. First serves are the only shot in tennis that do not have a detrimental consequence if missed. It’s a “freebie”.
Is making six out of 10 first serves going to help you win more matches than making seven out of 10? It seems counterintuitive, but like many myths in our sport, numbers help explain what our eyes can only guess about.
Making your first serve has always been thought of as one of the best things you can do to win a match. It’s a balancing act between going for too much and hitting a fault, or not going for it enough to maximise the ultimate first-strike weapon.
An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of first-serve percentages challenges the myth that getting a very high percentage of first serves in the box is the best thing you can do to be victorious.
The recently completed 2016 Roland Garros is a case in point.
The leading eight players in the first-serve category made between 72 per cent and 80 per cent of their first serves. Common sense tells us that should be a good thing, but six of the eight failed to win a match. Six of the top eight in this specific category also lost in the opening round of the 2015 US Open.
At the 2016 Australian Open, things were very similar. There were 13 players who made between 67 per cent and 75 per cent of their first serves. But only one of those players made it through to the fourth round. Six lost in the second round and the other six all lost in the opening round.
Average First-Serve Percentage At Grand Slams
| Recent Grand Slams | Average Tournament First-Serve Percentage |
| 2016 Roland Garros | 62% |
| 2016 Australian Open | 61% |
| 2015 US Open | 58% |
| 2015 Wimbledon | 62% |
| Average | 60.75% |
The current players in the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings produce a variety of first-serve averages based on their individual playing styles but combine to produce an average very similar to the rest of their peers.
First-Serve Percentages of Top 10 Players
| Ranking | Player | Past 52 Weeks | Career |
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | 66.6% | 64.8% |
| 2 | Andy Murray | 61.2% | 58% |
| 3 | Roger Federer | 63.7% | 61.9% |
| 4 | Rafael Nadal | 70.6% | 68.9% |
| 5 | Stan Wawrinka | 56.6% | 57.6% |
| 6 | Kei Nishikori | 60.8% | 61% |
| 7 | Dominic Thiem | 61% | 58.7% |
| 8 | Tomas Berdych | 56.3% | 57.9% |
| 9 | Milos Raonic | 62.4% | 62.5% |
| 10 | Richard Gasquet | 62.4% | 61.7% |
| Average | 62.1% | 61.8% |
Making five out of 10 seems to be clearly not enough.
Making six out of 10 is much closer to the ideal ratio, with the elite level players just a percentage point or two above that. Making seven out of 10 typically means you are not hitting it big enough, although there will certainly be some matches where that is advantageous.
Yes, you can make too many first serves. Overall, too many first serves in the box means consistency is trumping power with the game’s most powerful shot, and the “penalty-free” benefits of the first serve are not being maximised. The metrics identify that right around six out of 10 is where professional players like to be to in order to win the most matches possible.
American teen saves one match point in opening win
#NextGen star Taylor Fritz saved one match point as he finished strongly to defeat qualifier Fabrice Martin 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-1 on Tuesday in the first round of the MercedesCup in Stuttgart.
In just his third tour-level match on grass, Fritz rallied from down 5/6 in the second set tie-break to level the match, before breaking serve three times as he raced through the decider, sealing victory in 88 minutes.
The 18-year-old Fritz sets a second-round clash with top seed Roger Federer, who is returning from injury after being forced to miss Roland Garros.
Check Out More #NextGen Features & Videos
German qualifier Florian Mayer upset sixth seed Viktor Troicki 6-4, 7-6(4) in 71 minutes, claiming just his second tour-level win of the season. The former Top 20 player is on the comeback after returning from a torn tendon in his right adductor in Bucharest.
Another qualifier, Radek Stepanek, will face second seed Marin Cilic in the second round after defeating Denis Istomin 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Britain’s Laura Robson was knocked out in the first round of the Nottingham Open, losing 6-3 7-5 to Portugal’s Michelle Larcher de Brito.
The 22-year-old former British number one has won only once in the main draw of a WTA event since September 2013 after suffering with a wrist injury.
Naomi Broady is also out after a 6-2 6-1 loss to world number 72 Su-Wei Hsieh.
There was better news for British number four Tara Moore, who beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-2 7-5.
Fellow British player Heather Watson plays later on Tuesday, while Johanna Konta progressed through the first round on Monday with a 6-3 6-0 win over American Victoria Duval.
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki also reached the second round with a 7-5 6-3 win over Cagla Buyukakcay, but fifth seed Yanina Wickmayer is out after a 7-5 7-6 defeat by lucky loser Andrea Hlavackova.
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Find out the details of the major sports coverage on offer across the BBC’s television, radio and online platforms this week.
Highlights includes live TV and radio coverage of the start of Euro 2016, commentary of the Royal London One-Day coverage, England v Sri Lanka in the third Test at Lord’s and the Canadian Grand Prix.
All times BST. Fixtures and event start times are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. For more details of forthcoming coverage, visit the specific sport’s page on the website. Coverage on BBC Red Button can be subject to late schedule changes, so details may differ from this page.
Watch on BBC TV as former France forward Thierry Henry looks back on the stories of European Championships gone by and examines the social and cultural impact football has across the continent.
13:00-13:45, Rugby league – Super League Show, BBC Two
13:55-22:00, Cricket – Yorkshire v Worcestershire, One-Day Cup, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
16:45-19:00, Women’s football – Wales v Norway, Euro 2017 qualifier, BBC Two Wales
19:30-21:30, Football – Euro 96 – When Football Came Home (repeat), BBC Radio 5 live
21:30-22:30, Football, Fighting Talk, BBC Radio 5 Live
Josh Widdicombe is judge and jury as Wales’ Elis James, Germany’s Henning Wehn, England’s Tom Davis and Irelands’s Neil Delamere battle for points in this Euros preview show.
22:45-23:45, Football – Thierry Henry: My France, My Euros, BBC One (23:45-00:45 BBC One Scotland, 23:10-00:10, BBC One Wales & 23:15-00:15 BBC One NI)
Follow live BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentary as Nottinghamshire host Warwickshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
13:55-22:00, Cricket – Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire, One-Day Cup, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
17:30-19:00, Rugby league – Super League Show (repeat), BBC Red Button
19:00-23:13, Football – England v Germany, Euro 96 Rewind, BBC Red Button and online
20:00-21:30, Football – France, Fear, Faith and Football, BBC Radio 5 live
A look at the changing context of the social and political background in France through three key moments in French football that took place at the Stade de France.
21:30-22:30, Rugby union – 5 live rugby union news and interviews, BBC Radio 5 live
22:45-23:30, Football – Euro 2016: Football Focus Special, BBC One (23:10-23:55, BBC One Wales & 23:45-00:30, BBC One NI)
23:13-23:30, Football – Euro 2016 build-up, BBC Red Button
23:30-02:30, Football – Euro 2016 preview show, BBC Red Button
England face Sri Lanka on the first day of the third Test at Lord’s and there’s coverage on the BBC Red Button of the Euro 2016 pre-tournament concert from the Eiffel Tower.
10:25-18:45, Cricket – England v Sri Lanka, third Test, day one, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
19:00-21:30, Football – Euro 2016 preview, BBC Radio 5 live
19:00-00:00, Football – Euro 2016 Concert, live from the Eiffel Tower, BBC Red Button
19:30-22:30, Rugby league – Castleford Tigers v Widnes Vikings, Super League, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
21:30-22:00, Football – Three Lions – The Story of the Song, BBC Radio 5 Live
Comedian David Baddiel and singer Ian Broudie discuss their ‘Three Lions’ song which was the official England anthem during Euro 96
Euro 2016 begins with tournament hosts France taking on Romania with full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and your calls and reaction after the game.
10:00-18:45, Cricket – England v Sri Lanka, third Test, day two, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
13:00-14:00, The Friday Sports Panel, BBC Radio 5 live
17:30-19:00, Football – Euro 2016 preview show, BBC Red Button
18:45-22:00, Cricket – Essex v Middlesex, T20 Blast, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
20:00-22:00, Football – France v Romania, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (radio build-up from 18:30; Connected TV and online build-up 19:00)
22:00-22:30, Football – Euro 2016 calls and reaction, BBC Radio 5 live
23:25-00:10, Football – France v Romania highlights, Euro 2016, BBC One
01:30-03:10, Football – Euro 2016 replay: France v Romania, BBC Two
Watch live BBC coverage of Wales’ first game of Euro 2016 against Slovakia and listen to BBC Radio 5 live commentary of England’s opening match against Russia – while there is coverage of the Rugby union First Test between Australia and England on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.
09:00-09:45, Football – Euro 2016 highlights, BBC Red Button
10:30-18:45, Cricket – England v Sri Lanka, third Test, day three, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
11:05-13:00, Rugby union – Australia v England first Test, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 10:30)
12:15-13:15, Athletics – Diamond League highlights: Oslo, BBC Two
13:20-16:00, Football – Albania v Switzerland, Euro 2016, BBC One (build-up from 13:05 with 5 live commentary, BBC Red Button; Tactical Cam from 14:00, Connected TV and online)
14:00-16:00, Football – Albania v Switzerland, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up 13:00)
13:45-16:00, Gaelic football, Ulster Championship, BBC Two NI
16:00-19:20, Football – Wales v Slovakia, Euro 2016, BBC One (option of Welsh language or 5 live commentary, BBC Red Button; Tactical Cam from 17:00, Connected TV and online)
17:00-19:00, Football Wales v Slovakia, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 16:00)
20:00-22:00, Football – England v Russia, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 19:00, Connected TV and online)
22:00-23:00, Football – 606, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live
22:35-23:35, Football – Euro 2016 highlights, BBC One
23:35-05:00, Football – Euro 2016 catch-up, BBC Red Button
23:55-01:35, Football – Euro 2016 replay: England v Russia, BBC Two (not in Wales)
23:55-01:35, Football – Euro 2016 replay: Wales v Slovakia, BBC Two Wales
Listen to BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentary as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen aims to win a second race of his career in the Canadian Grand Prix while there is live BBC One coverage of Northern Ireland’s first game of Euro 2016 against Poland.
09:00-10:00, Sportsweek, BBC Radio 5 live
09:00-10:00, Football – Euro 2016 highlights (repeat), BBC Red Button
10:00-18:45, Cricket – England v Sri Lanka, third Test, day four, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
12:10-14:00, Football – Euro 2016 build-up, BBC Radio 5 live
12:45-18:00, Triathlon – World Series, Leeds, BBC Two (16:00-18:00, BBC Two NI)
13:45-16:00, Gaelic football -Donegal v Fermanagh, Ulster Championship, BBC Two NI
14:00-16:00, Football – Turkey v Croatia, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 13:00, Connected TV and online)
16:15-19:10, Football – Poland v Northern Ireland, Euro 2016, BBC One, (build-up from 16:00 with 5 live commentary, BBC Red Button; Tactical Cam from 17:00, Connected TV and online)
17:00-19:00, Football – Poland v Northern Ireland, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 Live (build-up from 16:00)
18:45-21:30, Formula 1 – Canadian Grand Prix, race, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
19:35-22:05, Football – Germany v Ukraine, Euro 2016, BBC One, (build-up from 19:00 with 5 live commentary, BBC Red Button; Tactical Cam from 20:00, Connected TV and online)
20:00-22:00, Football – Germany v Ukraine, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 Live (build-up from 19:00)
22:00-05:00, Football – Euro 2016 catch-up, BBC Red Button
00:45-02:25, Football – Euro 2016 replay, Poland v Northern Ireland, BBC Two
Live coverage of the Republic of Ireland v Sweden in their opening Euro 2016 game and day one of the Queen’s Club Championships in London across BBC TV, radio, Connected TV and online.
09:15-10:15, Football – Euro 2016 catch-up, BBC Red Button
10:00-18:45, Cricket – England v Sri Lanka, third Test, day five, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
13:00-18:00, Tennis – Queen’s 2016, BBC Two, 12:30-13:30 & 17:45-21:00 BBC Red Button (continuous online and on Connected TV until 21:00)
14:00-16:00, Football – Spain v Czech Republic, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up 13:00 on Connected TV)
16:30-19:05, Football – Republic of Ireland v Sweden, Euro 2016, BBC One (build-up from 16:00 with 5 live commentary and Tactical Cam from 17:00, Connected TV and online)
17:00-19:00, Football – Republic of Ireland v Sweden, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up 16:00)
19:35-22:05, Football – Belgium v Italy, Euro 2016, BBC One (build-up from 19:00 with 5 live commentary and Tactical Cam from 20:00, Connected TV and online)
20:00-22:00, Football – Belgium v Italy, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 19:00)
22:00-22:30, Football – Euro 2016 Social, calls and social media reaction, BBC Radio 5 live
21:00-22:00, Sailing – America’s Cup highlights (repeat), BBC Red Button
01:10-02:50, Football – Euro 2016 replay: Republic of Ireland v Sweden, BBC Two
Tuesday, 14 June
Day five of action at Euro 2016 concludes the first round of group matches and there is also live action from the Queen’s tennis championship and horse racing from Royal Ascot.
09:15-10:15, Football – Euro 2016 catch-up, BBC Red Button
12:00-16:45, Tennis – Queen’s 2016, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (includes updates from Royal Ascot)
13:00-17:55, Tennis – Queen’s 2016, BBC Two, 12:30-14:35 & 17:45-21:00 BBC Red Button (continuous online and on Connected TV until 21:00)
16:45-19:00, Football – Austria v Hungary, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (build-up from 16:00 online and connected TV)
19:30-22:00, Football – Portugal v Iceland, Euro 2016, BBC One (build-up from 19:00 with 5 live commentary and Tactical Cam from 20:00, Connected TV and online)
20:00-22:00, Football – Portugal v Iceland, Euro 2016, BBC Radio 5 live (build-up from 19:00)
22:00-23:00, Sailing – Americas Cup highlights, BBC Red Button
22:00-22:30, Football – Euro 2016 Social, calls and social media reaction, BBC Radio 5 live
00:05-00:50, Rugby league – Super League Show, BBC Two
00:50-02:30, Football – Euro 2016 replay: Portugal v Iceland, BBC Two
Catch-up
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Former world number ones Lleyton Hewitt and Jim Courier have joined the BBC for its coverage of Wimbledon 2016.
Former British number one Annabel Croft is another addition to the BBC TV team, led by Sue Barker.
The BBC will have comprehensive coverage of Wimbledon 2016 across TV, radio, online and social media, with 153 hours scheduled across BBC One and BBC Two.
Tony Livesey and Eleanor Oldroyd take the helm for BBC Radio 5 live, bringing more than 100 hours of action.
Australian Hewitt won the men’s singles title in 2002 and made 17 consecutive appearances in the tournament before retiring earlier this year.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Courier reached the 1993 final, losing in four sets to fellow American Pete Sampras.
The BBC line-up includes: 2015 Davis Cup-winning coach Leon Smith, John McEnroe, Tim Henman, Martina Navratilova, Marion Bartoli, Pat Cash, Lindsay Davenport, Richard Krajicek, Mary Pierce and Tracy Austin.
Alongside BBC One and BBC Two coverage you can access live streams of up to 15 courts via our digital services, as well as keeping across all the action on BBC Radio 5 live.
Available to UK users only
Frenchman looking to win his third title at ‘s-Hertogenbosch
Defending champion Nicolas Mahut began his title defence with a straight-sets win on Monday at the Ricoh Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Mahut, the eighth seed at the ATP World Tour 250 grass-court event, swept Slovakian qualifier Lukas Lacko 6-1, 6-4 to move into the second round. The Frenchman, who also won the title in 2013, next will play countryman Paul-Henri Mathieu, who beat American Rajeev Ram 6-4, 6-4.
Mahut had another reason to celebrate on Monday. The 34 year old became the new No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings, replacing Brazil’s Marcelo Melo at the top spot.
Fifth seed Sam Querrey eked out a first-round win against Germany’s Benjamin Becker 7-6(3), 7-6(5). American Stefan Kozlov earned his first tour-level win by beating #NextGen player Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 in two hours. The 18-year-old Kozlov, who turned professional three years ago, received a wild card into the tournament. He next will face fourth-seeded American Steve Johnson in the second round.