Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers: Andy’s Answers
Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers: Andy’s Answers
A quick glance at the Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers year-end stats shows just how dominant Andy Murray has become on the return game, and how he is carving a place among the game’s all-time greats
When considering the best returners in the annals of the sport, names like Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Lleyton Hewitt are quick off the tongue. But there’s a sizeable crop of current stars that are rapidly inserting themselves into the discussion, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and World No. 2 Andy Murray, long one of the best returners in professional tennis.
Since turning pro a decade ago, Murray has made a living out of neutralising power servers with his athletic return game. So solid is the Scotsman that he regularly ranks among the ATP World Tour’s best on the return charts. In fact, between 2007 and 2015, Murray finished among the top five in first-serve return points won (seven times), second-serve return points won (nine times) and return games won (seven times).
| Year |
1st Serve Ret. Won |
2nd Serve Ret. Won |
Break Pts. Converted |
Return Games Won |
| 2007 | 34% | 55% | 40% | 32% |
| 2008 | 33% | 54% | 42% | 29% |
| 2009 | 35% | 56% | 46% | 33% |
| 2010 | 32% | 55% | 42% | 30% |
| 2011 | 37%* | 56% | 46% | 36% |
| 2012 | 32% | 56% | 41% | 31% |
| 2013 | 34% | 55% | 44% | 31% |
| 2014 | 33% | 55% | 44% | 32% |
| 2015 | 33% | 55% | 45% | 31% |
BOLD = career-best, * = ATP World Tour leader
“The return has become a very important part of the game,” said Murray. “Before, when the courts were extremely quick, it was a different game. Guys were holding serve a lot more than they are now. That was a bit because of the surface. I just think that the return is maybe more important than the serve now because of the [slower] surface.”
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