Every week, Tennis Analytics dives deep into the data, bringing you a stat of the week to help you understand tennis better and become a little smarter.
Stat of the Week: 5%
We looked at 23,869 points played at the 2022 Boys 16-18 Nationals Championships, Kalamazoo to check if rally lengths differ between the two age divisions.
Even though the age gap is just 2 years, at the Boys 18 division, the 1 to 4 rally length was 5% higher than at the Boys 16 level. Bigger, faster, stronger athletes dominate more on serve, facilitating this difference.
Point of the Week
Generally, stronger servers have a big advantage in the shorter rally lengths, drawing return errors or taking advantage of weak returns on the serve +1 stroke.
Looking at the returner’s perspective then, the aim should be to extend the rally into the 5+ range. The returner’s goal should be “don’t miss my first two shots.”
Photo of the Week
The defensive forehand slice of Daniil Medvedev, the #1 men’s seed at the US Open.
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