FedEx Performance Zone: Deadly In Deciders
FedEx Performance Zone: Deadly In Deciders
ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at career performances in deciding sets using the FedEx ATP Performance Zone
You don’t want to go the distance with Kei Nishikori. When matches get extended to deciding sets, Nishikori is the most successful player of all time winning them. This speaks to how well his physical game holds up under pressure, and how strong his mind is to not buckle with both players in the match so close to the finish line.
A FedEx ATP Performance Zone analysis reveals that Nishikori takes a 50-50 battle at the start of a deciding set and wins almost eight out ten of them. In a one-set shootout to decide the final outcome, Nishikori’s will to win and ability to craft a winning game plan helps him find another gear to elevate himself above the pack.
|
Player
|
Career Deciding Set Won % |
Career Record W-L
|
|
1) Kei Nishikori
|
0.787 |
96-26
|
|
2) Novak Djokovic
|
0.745 |
146-50
|
|
3) Bjorn Borg
|
0.744 |
119-41
|
|
4) Andy Murray
|
0.704 |
140-59
|
|
5) Juan Martin del Potro
|
0.701 |
75-32
|
|
6) Jimmy Connors
|
0.690 |
232-104
|
|
7) Rafael Nadal
|
0.686 |
140-64
|
|
8) John McEnroe
|
0.686 |
164-75
|
|
9) Pete Sampras
|
0.682 |
189-88
|
|
10) Rod Laver
|
0.677 |
109-52
|
The career Top 10 list is this category is a mixture of playing styles from different eras, indicating that success in this area is not predicated on specific physical attributes, but rather mental and emotional toughness under pressure.
View Career Performances In Deciding Sets
Interestingly, every player in the Top 10 Career Deciding Sets Won index has been ranked in the Top 4 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, with seven of them former World No. 1s.
The FedEx ATP Performance Zone win-loss index also uncovered several other former World No. 1s in the 10-20 range, including Boris Becker (12), John Newcombe (13) Thomas Muster (14), Mats Wilander (15), Yevgeny Kafelnikov (19) and Ivan Lendl (20).
In 2016, Nishikori is continuing his outstanding performance in deciding sets, going 11-3, placing him in sixth place this season with a 78.6 win percentage. The five players in front so far in 2016 are Dominic Thiem (95 per cent / 19-1), Novak Djokovic (85.7 per cent / 6-1), Milos Raonic (84.6 per cent / 11-2), Tomas Berdych (80 per cent / 8-2) and John Millman (80 per cent / 8-2).
In the past 52 weeks, Thiem has won the most deciding set matches with 21, with Murray a close second with 18 wins, and Nishikori tied for third place with Benoit Paire and Nadal with 16 victories.