Who wins the numbers game? If the stats are to be believed, Andy Murray’s serve is good enough to take him to the title. All he needs to do is convert more break points. Simple…
Most in each category in black
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Aces
54
Service winners
59
69
8
9
Double faults
38
68%
63%
First serve points won
129mph
Total unforced errors
57% 77%
140 32
26
71
Break points won
10
131mph
99
Total break points
14
77%
124mph
Break points won
12
64%
74%
Fastest first serve
89
7
15
First serves in
Andy Murray
Roger Federer
137mph 86
105
20
24
63
45%
83%
55
41%
61 36%
39%
Statistics from Wimbledon 2010
Serving up a treat
First-serve trajectories Nadal
Federer
Djokovic
Murray
As is evident from the main illustration, the left-handed Nadal’s service trajectory is different from his three main rivals, given that he uses his slice consistently down the T to the deuce court and out wide on the advantage court. Murray’s trajectory is the flattest of the top four seeds. There is little difference by way of trajectory between Federer and Djokovic (Federer hit
Murray serve direction
Average first-serve speeds: Wimbledon 2010
116mph
118mph
116mph
his first serve last year with slightly more top spin), although Federer’s is slightly quicker on average. In the two illustrations below, it is evident that Murray’s serving has been consistent in his past two tournaments as he reached the French Open semi-finals — his best showing at that tournament — and the final of the AEGON Championships, which he won
Murray serve direction
v Nadal, French Open 2011
119mph
Ace
First serve
Second serve
v Tsonga, Queen’s 2011 Ace
First serve
Second serve