Winning begets winning. Winning just one point when returning creates a fascinating dynamic that helps increase the probability of winning a second. Win two points, and your percentages rise again to win the third. It all starts with one, but it snowballs from there. An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the Top 10 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings as of 12 June uncovers that there is a natural, underlying progression at work when players return serve. The data set is from the 2015 and 2016 seasons, as well as all 2017 tournaments up to and including Roland Garros. The data focus specifically on the three even point scores in a game: Love All 15/15 30/30 1. Love...
You have got to win small to win big. Pablo Carreno Busta is enjoying a breakout season, boasting a career-best Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 17 this week, following his strong run to the Roland Garros quarter-finals. For good measure, he is also ranked No. 18 in doubles, which is only one spot off his career best that he achieved in January after reaching the Australian Open doubles semi-finals. His climb up the Emirates ATP Rankings very much mirrors his playing style – patient and steady. Carreno Busta has been ranked in the Top 100 in singles for 201 consecutive weeks since 5 August 2013. This is his sixth week in the coveted Top 20. [ALSO LIKE] But just how...
The growth of match analytics in tennis provides us with new insights into what actually matters to winning. It also helps us better organise the practise court at all levels of the game. Forehands and backhands typically dominate practice, as shot tolerance and repetition are developed. Serving also gets attention, as does transitioning to the net to finish with volleys and overheads. What gets left behind? The return of serve. The return of serve is without doubt the least practised shot in tennis, but it is a trademark of the best players in the game. There is a disconnect between how often this specific shot is practised, and how obviously important it is to winning tennis matches. [ALSO LIKE] An...
ATP World Tour Uncovered presented by Peugeot and Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers look at how the best doubles teams perform when serving, return and are placed under pressure.
The highest ranked singles players in the Emirates ATP Rankings are overwhelmingly at the top of the tree because of their prowess returning serve. Not so in doubles. The current No. 1 ranked doubles team of Henri Kontinen of Finland and Aussie John Peers are the best performing serving team, propelling them to five ATP World Tour titles last year and helping them to break through for their first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers Ratings analysis of the Top 20 doubles teams when serving, returning, and under pressure provides new insights into what creates separation in doubles at the elite level of our sport. Teams must have played a minimum...
