Federer’s call for ATP-WTA unity could be way to go for tours upon return
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Like many other players, Roger Ferderer has been vocal on social media during the current lockdown. Notable were his proposals…
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Data show the pace of second serves is not a measure of success
Are you hitting your second serve too fast?
An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the Top 10 from the 2019 season uncovers a paradoxical relationship between second serve speed and the corresponding win percentages. A more powerful shot in tennis, especially with a serve, has always been looked upon as more desirable than a slower shot. That belief may not be as set in concrete as we once thought.
The first thing to start with is to organise the 2019 year-end Top 10 in order of fastest to slowest with average second-serve speed.
2019 Year-End Top 10: Average 2nd Serve Speed
| Rating | Player | Average 2nd Serve Speed |
| 1 | Matteo Berrettini | 102.8 mph |
| 2 | Alexander Zverev | 100.6 mph |
| 3 | Gael Monfils | 99.9 mph |
| 4 | Dominic Thiem | 99.0 mph |
| 5 | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 97.0 mph |
| 6 | Rafael Nadal | 96.4 mph |
| 7 | Novak Djokovic | 96.1 mph |
| 8 | Roger Federer | 95.9 mph |
| 9 | Daniil Medvedev | 95.8 mph |
| 10 | Roberto Bautista Agut | 93.5 mph |
When you cut the group in half, combining the fastest five averages and the slowest five averages, something eye-opening emerges. The five players who had the slowest second-serve speed all climbed higher in the group when examining win percentages. The only player to be in the leading five players in average speed and win percentage was Dominic Thiem.
Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Daniil Medvedev and Roberto Bautista Agut owned the five slowest averages of the Top 10 ranked players in 2019. They combined to average 95.5 mph for their second serve while the five leading players averaged right at 100 mph.
The following table re-orders the Top 10 with percentage of points won from second serves in 2019.
2019 Year-End Top 10: 2nd Serve Win Percentages
| Rating | Player | Average 2nd Serve Win % |
| 1 | Rafael Nadal | 59.64% |
| 2 | Roger Federer | 59.44% |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | 57.02% |
| 4 | Roberto Bautista Agut | 55.96% |
| 5 | Dominic Thiem | 55.28% |
| 6 | Daniil Medvedev | 54.57% |
| 7 | Matteo Berrettini | 53.77% |
| 8 | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 52.92% |
| 9 | Gael Monfils | 50.47% |
| 10 | Alexander Zverev | 44.31% |
The clear pattern is that the five slowest servers all climbed the ladder to a higher position when analysing their win percentages while the five fastest servers all dropped to a lower rating when comparing mph to win percentages.
Comparison: Five Slowest Second Servers
•Rafael Nadal: Speed = 6th / Win % = 1st
•Roger Federer: Speed = 8th / Win % = 2nd
•Novak Djokovic: Speed = 7th / Win % = 3rd
•Roberto Bautista Agut: Speed = 10th / Win % = 4th
•Daniil Medvedev: Speed = 9th / Win % = 6th
Comparison: Five Fastest Second Servers
•Matteo Berrettini: Speed = 1st / Win % = 7th
•Alexander Zverev: Speed = 2nd / Win % = 10th
•Gael Monfils: Speed = 3rd / Win % = 9th
•Dominic Thiem: Speed = 4th / Win % = 5th
•Stefanos Tsitsipas: Speed = 5th / Win % = 8th
Below are five strategic possibilities why this dynamic is occurring:
1. A faster second serve gets back to the server faster, taking time away to prepare.
2. The five slower servers are stronger defensively with their Serve +1 forehand and backhand.
3. The returner is “out in front” of the slower second serve, not timing it as well.
4. The five slower servers have a better mix of location to keep the returner guessing.
5. The five slower servers rely more on spin, direction & depth to win second-serve points.
Performance around second serves is critical to reaching the elite level of our sport. Raw speed is just one of the layers that directly effects how many second-serve points you win.
Your favourite players are all at home, but they’re finding plenty of ways to pass the time. From Borna Coric’s dog walks to Jack Sock’s wedding planning, find out how the biggest names in tennis are keeping busy.
Coric kept up his morning routine of long walks with his dog, Nala.
Enjoying morning walks with Nala ? pic.twitter.com/t2szIbe0jI
— borna coric (@borna_coric) May 7, 2020
Sock confirmed that Nick Kyrgios and John Isner will be groomsmen at his wedding this year.
Novak Djokovic shared a throwback video of his basketball skills.
⛹?? #tbt #stayhome #stayactive pic.twitter.com/rbEl5AC3mB
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) May 14, 2020
Roberto Bautista Agut took on Villarreal CF football star Santi Cazorla in a fun challenge.
It’s #tennisathome challenge time ?
World No. 12 @BautistaAgut takes on @VillarrealCF‘s @19SCazorla! ??@LaLiga | @ATPTour_ES pic.twitter.com/fNq79vDuLW
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 14, 2020
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga got the whole family involved in his goal of TikTok stardom.
Benoit Paire appeared to ditch his beard grooming habits while in lockdown
Juan Ignacio Londero continued to stay on top of his fitness.
Para no perder la costumbre ? ?️♂️
??? @juanlondero | #TennisAtHome pic.twitter.com/dY5mFm9xfw
— ATP Tour en Español (@ATPTour_ES) May 12, 2020
Juan Sebastian Cabal enjoyed some bonding time with his newborn son.
John Millman gave a shout-out to one of the winners in the Emirates ATP Fan Essay Contest, who wrote about how the Aussie inspired him.
Thanks mate for such a nice article. Brilliantly written, capturing one of my favourite nights, which was made so special by people like yourself in the crowd cheering me on. https://t.co/3Xkpnydudb
— John Millman (@johnhmillman) May 11, 2020
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open, opened its doors to support the city’s battle against the coronavirus, transforming into a temporary hospital.
The tournament announced on its website Thursday that the final patient being treated at the temporary hospital has left, and the space used for it — 12 indoor courts — will now be broken down, sanitised, and returned to its original form.
“The hospital has officially closed, and we are currently in the shutting-down mode,” USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Chief Operating Officer Danny Zausner said, according to the US Open’s website. “[Crews] will be in there for the next three to four weeks disassembling, sanitising and getting us ready to open up for indoor business when we can.”
The first patients began arriving at the temporary hospital the second week of April, but the facility was never forced to maximum capacity.
Teams have utilised Louis Armstrong Stadium, the centre’s second-largest stadium, to fulfill meal packages to be sent to patients, healthcare workers and school children. Since starting by preparing 150,000 meals per day, the program has been scaled back to provide hot food for first responders. Zausner says food production is set to end on 22 May.
“We were just trying to do our part. We were limited in terms of what our capabilities were, but we were able to provide a safe haven for first responders and, with our food service partners and Restaurant Associates, were able to feed them,” Zausner said. “We felt really good about that. But as we said all along, relative to what people are doing out there day by day, 24 hours a day, we were just scratching the surface.”
After seven years of persistence as a pro tennis player, Gianluca Mager was rewarded by cracking the Top 100 after reaching his maiden ATP Tour final this February at the Rio Open presented by Claro. But the Italian is still waiting to enjoy the benefits of his labour.
Two weeks after his inspired run, the COVID-19 pandemic halted play on Tour and Mager returned to his hometown of Sanremo. The 25-year-old has remained at home since then, but normalcy is slowly returning to daily life in Italy and he recently resumed some of his training.
“We’ve started to play tennis for the past week,” Mager told ATPTour.com. “I tried to do some exercises in my house before that, a lot of core work and stretching. I tried to eat well and not gain too much weight. It’s not easy because my house isn’t that big and I couldn’t go out, but I did my best.
“The situation is a bit difficult because our job is to travel every week, so to stay in one place for three months and do the same thing every day is strange. But I’m happy because I can stay with my family and my girlfriend. I’m trying to take advantage of spending time with them.”
A smile still flashes across Mager’s face when he talks about his week in Rio de Janeiro. He arrived with two tour-level wins in his career, but came through qualifying and took out Buenos Aires champion Casper Ruud in the opening round, then followed up with a stunning quarter-final upset over then-World No. 4 Dominic Thiem. Mager moved from No. 128 to a career-high standing of No. 77.
What a moment for Gianluca Mager ?
The Italian qualifier gets the job done in straight sets against the World No. 4 ?
?: @TennisTV | @RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/QY1wtQBPDa
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 22, 2020
Although Mager initially imagined that he’d be competing in ATP Masters 1000 events and making his Grand Slam main draw debut this month at Roland Garros, the pandemic has shifted his priorities. With more than 223,000 cases of COVID-19 in Italy and 31,368 related deaths as of 14 May, he’s simply grateful to be healthy.
“I feel a bit sorry because this is the first time I could play in the main draw of ATP Tour events and Grand Slams. I was playing well, felt confident and could have done even better in my results,” Mager said. “But I’m still happy because my family is healthy and nobody got sick [with COVID-19]. A lot of people died in Italy, so in these moments, tennis is only a second priority.”
Mager’s surge into the Top 100 is even more surprising given his unconventional path. He only competed in three ITF junior events and preferred to spend his teenage years enjoying the picturesque views of his hometown. But after being introduced to former ATP Tour player Diego Nargiso, he ditched his partying ways and dedicated himself to the sport at age 18.
First Final Feeling!
Qualifier Gianluca Mager reaches a maiden ATP final 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(2) over Balazs. He meets Garin for the ?#RioOpen pic.twitter.com/bgzgtK1nwR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 23, 2020
In his first year as a pro, Mager took a train and bus every day to practise in Beausoleil, a French commune that adjoins Monaco. Despite the grueling commute, he never missed a training session.
“I didn’t give too much importance to tennis when I was younger. I preferred to be with my friends and stay outside,” Mager admitted. “When I was 18, I started to take it seriously. I stopped going out and started going to bed early. When I met Diego, he helped me to become motivated and it finally became a real passion for me. I started to practise better and was more professional.”
It’s a lifestyle that the Italian has grown accustomed to. Although he’s enjoyed strengthening his relationships with loved ones that he doesn’t get to see much during a normal year, Mager is eager for play to resume on Tour.
“I can’t wait to enjoy the tournaments that I would have played during the lockdown,” Mager said. “I was playing a lot of smaller tournaments before this, but now I’ll get to be on the ATP Tour and it’s going to be a completely different thing.”
Former World No. 1 Andy Murray is on a roll off the court.
Two weeks ago, the 32-year-old won a video game tournament: the Mutua Madrid Open Virtual Pro. Now, he has won a quiz contest against Manchester United star Marcus Rashford.
“If I win, you’re getting me box tickets!” Murray proclaimed before the quiz began.
For his part, Murray said that if he lost, he would get Rashford Wimbledon Centre Court tickets. But the 46-time tour-level titlist cruised to victory, 4-2.
Murray knew how many goals Rashford scored in his first-team debut (2), his jersey number (10), how many goals Rashford has scored for England (10) and the year he won the FA Cup with Manchester United (2016).
“I’m happy with my day’s work now,” Murray said. “How are you planning on delivering those tickets to me?”
“You can steal my box for the game,” Rashord responded with a smile.
Rafael Nadal played an incredible clay-court season in 2017, going 24-1 with four titles, including a triumph at Roland Garros. However, a 23-year-old Dominic Thiem prevented the Spaniard from clay perfection that season.
Thiem stunned the legendary lefty 6-4, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia for one of the biggest wins of his career, ending Nadal’s 17-match winning streak.
“It’s a great achievement for me. If you’re up a set and a break, you never feel safe because he just doesn’t give you one easy point. You really have to finish the match off, and that’s what I did today,” Thiem said. “He’s this kind of player who never gives up. [He is] probably the best fighter in tennis. Especially on clay, it’s one of the toughest things to beat him.”
What makes the Austrian’s straight-sets victory even more impressive is that earlier that clay season, he lost twice against Nadal without winning a set. Entering their clash at the Foro Italico, the Spaniard led their ATP Head2Head series 4-1. Nadal’s four victories came in straight sets, and Thiem needed a final-set tie-break in his win.
But Thiem came out firing in Rome, looking to dictate play at every opportunity in his one-hour, 51-minute win.
“I came in with a very aggressive game style, because I knew that if I wanted to have a chance, then I would have to do something different and be more aggressive,” Thiem said. “I knew that if it goes in, everything, maybe I have a chance. If not, maybe I’d also lose easily. But today was one of these days where I really felt the ball great on the racquet, and a lot of risky shots went in.
“It was a very, very good performance and I think probably one of my best matches.”
Thiem was clutch under pressure, saving six of seven break points he faced. He won more points behind his second serve (58%) than Nadal did behind his first serve (55%).
“The opponent played very well. [I] just congratulate him, because he was better than me this afternoon,” Nadal said. “He played great in all aspects. Just well done for him.”
Thiem, who lost in the next round against Novak Djokovic, went on to reach his second consecutive Roland Garros semi-final. But against Nadal, he wasn’t able to conjure the same level he found at the Foro Italica. Nadal dismissed the Austrian 6-3, 6-4, 6-0, and he went on to lift the trophy without dropping a set.
Did You Know?
Nadal currently leads Thiem 9-5 in their ATP Head2Head series.
Learn more about the Belgian’s career, from dream debut runs to ATP Cup history
David Goffin is the No. 10 player in the FedEx ATP Rankings with four ATP Tour titles to his name.
ATPTour.com looks at five things you should know about the 29-year-old.
1) He Played His Idol On His Roland Garros Debut
In 2012, as a lucky loser, Goffin survived two five-set matches en route to the Round of 16 at Roland Garros. The 21-year-old faced his idol, Roger Federer, for a place in the quarter-finals.
After taking the opener, Goffin pushed Federer in the second set before falling to a four-set defeat. Following the match, Goffin and Federer shared a joint interview on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
2) He Returned In Style In 2014
After breaking his left wrist in September 2013, Goffin reached new heights the following year. The Belgian arrived at the 2014 Generali Open on a 15-match and 30-set winning streak, after capturing ATP Challenger Tour titles in Scheveningen, Poznan and Tampere.
Searching for his first ATP Tour trophy, the 23-year-old cruised through to the semi-finals in Kitzbühel without dropping a set, before earning three-set comeback wins against Maximo Gonzalez and Dominic Thiem to take the title. At the 2014 Nitto ATP Finals, the Rocourt native received the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year trophy.
3) He Ended 2017 In Top Form
At the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals, Goffin earned three Top 4 victories en route to the championship match. The 26-year-old overcame Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem to advance to the semi-finals, where he rallied from a set down to upset six-time champion Roger Federer.
Goffin met World No. 6 Grigor Dimitrov in the final, but fell in three sets to the Bulgarian. With titles in Tokyo and Shenzhen, Goffin ended the year with a 59-24 record.
4) 2019 Was A Year Of Two Halves
“Last year was a lot of ups and downs for me. At the beginning of the year, it was really tough. I was a little bit lost,” said Goffin.
In his opening 15 tournaments of the 2019 ATP Tour season, Goffin earned just two Top 30 victories and failed to win more than two matches at any event. But the Belgian reversed his fortunes at the NOVENTI OPEN in Halle, beating three Top 30 players in four matches to earn his place in the championship match.
Despite his loss to Federer in the final, Goffin continued to build in confidence through the remainder of the year. After a quarter-final run at Wimbledon, the four-time ATP Tour titlist reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final at the Western & Southern Open and advanced to the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships semi-finals in Tokyo.
“I changed coaches. I started to work with Thomas Johansson and then week-after-week, I started to play much better,” said Goffin. “The second half was much better. I finished the year No. 11 [in the FedEx ATP Rankings] so, at the end, it was a good year.”
5) He Entered The History Books At The 2020 ATP Cup
Remember this for future quiz nights: David Goffin was the first player to use Video Review in ATP Cup history.
In his opening match of the 2020 ATP Tour season, the 5’11” right-hander unsuccessfully challenged a foot fault call during his match against Radu Albot. Goffin went on to clinch the tie for Team Belgium with a 6-4, 6-1 victory and ended the team competition with a 3-1 record.
In the Final Eight, Goffin became only the second man to beat Nadal in singles while playing for Spain (excluding Olympics). Nadal had won 32 straight such contests heading into the match (32-2).
ATPChallengerTour.com pays tribute to the three-time Tournament of the Year award winner
In December, four tournaments were recognised for excellence in standards set across the global ATP Challenger Tour and for their steadfast commitment to growing the game. These integral events in Puerto Vallarta, Heilbronn, Braunschweig and Szczecin have become player and fan favourites for their dedication to providing a world-class experience both on and off the court.
This week would have been the seventh edition of the NECKARCUP, which earned Tournament of the Year honours in three straight seasons from 2017-19. Despite being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heilbronn remains one of the more scenic and sparkling destinations on the circuit.
With five of its six champions currently residing in the Top 40 of the FedEx ATP Rankings, Heilbronn has been a breeding ground for the future stars of the ATP Tour. World No. 34 Jan-Lennard Struff captured the inaugural title in 2014, followed by No. 7 Alexander Zverev, No. 27 Nikoloz Basilashvili and No. 32 Filip Krajinovic, winner in both 2017 and 2019.
Heilbronn has also been the site of teenage breakthroughs, featuring 18-year-old Zverev as its champion in 2015 and 17-year-old Rudolf Molleker in 2018. Molleker had never won a match at the Challenger level entering the week and he would leave with the trophy. And on the doubles court, Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies captured the title last year, before sprinting to their maiden Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros.
Tucked in the southwest corner of Germany, less than an hour north of Stuttgart, is the sleepy town of Heilbronn. With the river Neckar curling around the downtown district and a vast expanse of vineyards dotting the surrounding region, Heilbronn’s tranquility provides players with an idyllic setting for a tournament.
Enter the grounds of the NECKARCUP in Heilbronn and your immediate impression is one of a modern facility, built especially for a world-class tennis tournament.
Turn to the left and you’ll find a corridor of entertainment, featuring a stage for concerts and comedy shows, and nationally renowned dining, including Thomas Gödtel’s Tenno Sushi Lounge. Then shift to the right and stroll past the two main show courts, weaving through the VIP centre and a sponsor village that features a 3D printing machine.
But despite its lush ambiance, this venue actually has quite a long and storied history. One of the longest on the Challenger circuit, in fact. Turn back the clock more than a century and you will find this very stadium at the forefront of German tennis. Not only is the TC Heilbronn Trappensee the second-oldest tennis club in all of Germany, but it is also the third-oldest on the ATP Challenger Tour today.
Founded in 1892, it celebrates its 128th anniversary this year. Only the grass-court facilities in Ilkley (1880) and Surbiton (1881) have a longer legacy on the circuit, but Heilbronn boasts arguably the most colourful history.
The original site was constructed on the expanse of land adjacent to the current stadium, but during World War II, the city was the target of numerous bombings by the British and United States Air Forces. In April 1945, the U.S. military seized control of Heilbronn and the persistent air raids culminated in a nine-day battle. Located along the Neckar River, the city was an important battleground towards the end of the war.
Tournament directors Mine and Metehan Cebeci say that troops from the United States army were stationed in the region immediately surrounding the city, which was nearly entirely destroyed by more than 1,000 allied bombs. Following the war, the American forces helped the locals rebuild the tennis club, assisting in the construction of the current indoor facility that today houses three carpet courts. During the tournament, the building is transformed into a sprawling player lounge, dining area and event offices.
Today, the surrounding region is home to hundreds of vineyards. Heilbronn is known for its bustling wine industry, with more than 1,300 acres of land dedicated to the craft. It’s one of the more picturesque settings for a tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour. And that’s exactly why the Cebecis established the event. In just six years, it has become one of the premier stops on the ATP Challenger Tour, serving the players with all the amenities they need, from round-the-clock shuttle service to buffet lunches and dinners, a large warm-up and cool down area and six practise courts.
Metehan’s father, Erdogan, was an iconic figure at the club for many years. He served as the chief tennis intructor since immigrating from Turkey and taught Metehan how to play as a child. In 1988, Metehan moved from Turkey to Heilbronn at the age of 17. One year later, he and Mine met in the city and in 1990 they were married. Today, they live in Heilbronn and with their 22-year-old daughter helping with tournament operations and their 17-year-old son working as a ball boy, it truly is a family affair.
“You feel at home here,” said Germany’s Dominik Koepfer. “The player area is the best you will find on tour. There’s plenty of food, enough bikes and a great place to cool down and warm up. You have your privacy too, which is important. They pick you up from the train station and airport too, which is 40 minutes away. You don’t get that at all Challengers. Transport is every 30 minutes and the hotel is very good. There are enough practice courts too. It’s just a great tournament, which really helps this time of year.”
Moreover, the NECKARCUP is well advertised and promoted in the region, with live media coverage from multiple outlets spanning the entire week. From online publications to newspaper, TV and radio, the tournament is covered from top to bottom. And the public has taken notice, with nearly 6,000 people filling the stands throughout the week.
“It’s always great to play at home,” added Oscar Otte. “Every year the tournament is improving and getting better. The whole organisation is great and the player area is a really high level for a Challenger. There’s also a lot of spectators supporting the Germans. We all like to play here. For me, it’s the best Challenger.”