Madrid ATP 1000

[jimlosaltos]

That's interesting. On the ground level rallies they sometimes showed during the final (wish they showed more), it looked like Draper was hitting with significantly more clearance than Ruud, which suggests (could be wrong) more rpm's.

I found Ruud the more natural clay courter of the two; he's really well balanced and moves a little better on clay than Draper.

Here's a highlight video by TennisTV from that ground level perspective. YouTube 4:52 min. You really get a sense of the pace of the game

The way the camera pans makes this better than most of these. I'm not sure if they've got some amazing dolly/ track to scoot a small camera back and forth OR it's done digitally, merging several cameras images. The tone at points makes it look like the latter.

[stotty]

That's interesting. On the ground level rallies they sometimes showed during the final (wish they showed more), it looked like Draper was hitting with significantly more clearance than Ruud, which suggests (could be wrong) more rpm's.

I found Ruud the more natural clay courter of the two; he's really well balanced and moves a little better on clay than Draper.

[jimlosaltos]

https://open.substack.com/pub/hughcl...droid&r=1t7zzc

My question has been answered. Ruud had a significant edge on Draper rpm wise on the forehands. That is something.

Thanks for sharing !

Here's one TennisViz table from the Clark Substac you linked to. What stands out to me is Ruud's forehand "usage" at 70% vs 45% for Draper. Ruud has long been, along with Stef Tsitsipas, the leading proponent of running around the backhand to hit inside-out forehands (ala Peak Fed). But Draper being down below tour average at 45% is a bit of a surprise. One reason is that his backhand is excellent BUT Draper beat Alcaraz and Rune to win Indian Wells but being extra aggressive at getting to his forehand from the backhand corner and hitting, I believe it was an amazing 51% inside-in. Not Sunday. By choice or because of Ruud's forehand?

As for Ruud averaging 10% more on his forehand, sometimes averages deceive. I suspect that when both players went for a big heavy forehand, Draper had as much or more RPMs than Ruud. But Ruud hit some slow spinners to push Draper back and change pace, while Draper flatted out more forehands.

To me, the difference was Ruud serving better and with more variety than I've ever seen from him. Secondly, Ruud came up with special shots on big points -- the biggest being the topspin, lob return of serve from the back wall against a serving-and-volleying Draper to steal the first set. Gutsy & brilliant. Literally sprinted back during Draper's motion.

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[stroke]

https://open.substack.com/pub/hughclarke/p/draper-vs-rune-madrid-final-recap?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1t7zzc

My question has been answered. Ruud had a significant edge on Draper rpm wise on the forehands. That is something.

[stroke]

Yes they used to regularly give rpm's on forehands, but for some reason have stopped.

[jimlosaltos]

Ruud get a break to go up 3-2 3rd set. 2 monster forehands out there. I would love to see their rpm's for the match. They are certainly 2 of the highest rpm forehands on Tour.

Yes. Sadly, I don't see those. The velocity stats are almost identical: forehand, serves, except Draper backhand is 122 kph vs 99 kph for Ruud. Well, and Ruud second server is 107 MPH vs 96 MPH (sorry to mix units but that's what they got }

In fact, they didn't do many of the stats for the match, at least on TennisTV. But I found the second set.

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[stotty]

Ruud get a break to go up 3-2 3rd set. 2 monster forehands out there. I would love to see their rpm's for the match. They are certainly 2 of the highest rpm forehands on Tour.

Yes, two great forehands. I'm not sure whose I prefer. I like the way Ruud can flatten his out when needed. And what a final game from Ruud...emphatic.

[stroke]

Ruud get a break to go up 3-2 3rd set. 2 monster forehands out there. I would love to see their rpm's for the match. They are certainly 2 of the highest rpm forehands on Tour.

[jimlosaltos]

Priceless. Ruud scrambles to get to a run around forehand hits a winner at a ridiculously short angle with 4,303 RPMs.

Courier as camera shows Stefan Edberg nodding and mugging in appreciation: "If you totaled up all Stefan's RPMs for his career you might not get to 4,303 RPMs"

[jimlosaltos]

Tennis Insight's has Ruud forehand and backhand in the first set at an identical 9.2 "Shot Quality".
That's awesome.

As second set starts TI puts Ruud's serve at 9.6 which is, what will I call it, "Gio Level" Naw ....

Jack has finally settled back down, levels second set at 3-3 and Ruud is starting to look a bit tense, misses a return a routine volley. Ruud's 0 for all his Masters and majors finals. Got to be no his mind.

[jimlosaltos]

Jack got tight...5-5

Yup, he did. Understandably. And Ruud got clever and stole the first set.
Draper played lights out, was on top all set, then got tight and Ruud got really clever. On break point, Draper serving to Ruud backhand, Rudd started in his normal fairly deep position then ran way back during Jack's toss and hit a sky high lob return to Jack's forehand corner. Completely flummoxed him.


Set to the veteran.


And Draper is screaming, angrily at his own bench - for a long time. Don't know if that fires him up or is Jack melting down. Haven't seen enough to guess.

Courier: "They (his box) are telling him "You need to read him" and I think Courier said, 'Jack is yelling "That's not what I need to hear now".

And then Ruud takes the first game of the second set with back-to-back aces wide.

[stotty]

Jack got tight...5-5

[jimlosaltos]

Draper, as he is about to serve for the first set, has been playing lights out.
Ruud is playing well, has hit some great backhand passes, but is under pressure constantly.

Per Jim Courier: Draper's back hand is "averaging near 80 MPH".

[jimlosaltos]

Casper Ruud, in tomorrow's finals vs Draper in Madrid, gives more detail on why he had to change his game.
Ruud joins Sasha Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Andy Roddick in saying the pro tennis balls slowing substantially after the Covid epidemic disrupted the supply chain, and have stayed slower since.

Casper has been going for winners earlier, hitting more flat balls, because it's easier to attack heavy topspin.

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[jimlosaltos]

Sabalenka wins Madrid in contested but straight sets.

Coco, who'd served quite well in making the final, hit 8 double faults in only 11 games.
She also won a lower percentage on her first service than Aryna did on her second.
Despite that Coco had a set point in the second and took it to a tiebreak. Cup half full?

I fear I have to post some video/ images of Coco's serve. Sigh.

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