There are many ways to win a tennis match. During this year’s US Open, USOpen.org will be playing a numbers game, digging deeper into the statistical analysis of select matches to provide highlights, further insights, and data points on player performance.
Emma Raducanu completed the dream with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Leylah Fernandez in the 2021 US Open women's singles final to become the first qualifier—man or woman—to claim a major title.
We took this opportunity to highlight how the teenager won her first Grand Slam.
Controlling matches
To understand which player is dominating, we analyze the percentage of shots they hit in offense, neutral and defense during the match. In all ten of her matches at this year’s US Open, Raducanu was the player to spend a higher percentage in offense than her opponents.
Why is this important? When a player has an attacking advantage in the point (offense), they will win the point 68%, compared to 39% when in a defensive situation. As a result, the player who spends the majority of the match in offense will win more often (70%).
Raducanu’s ability to consistently dominate matches has been fundamental to her success.
How did Raducanu control matches?
First-serve consistency: As well as being effective at forcing her opponents into defense, Raducanu’s first serve was one of the most consistent at this year’s US Open at 72%, significantly higher than the tournament average of 63%.
Second serve speed: Raducanu’s 93 mph average was considerably higher than the US Open average of 82 mph. This additional pace kept her opponents from attacking her second serve.
Return of Second Serves
Contact point: Raducanu (vs. US Open average)
- Inside the baseline: 93% (47%)
- 0-2 m behind the baseline: 7% (45%)
- 2 m beyond the baseline: 0% (8%)
Taking the ball inside the baseline was vital in reducing her opponent’s time, contributing to them defending after 39% of second serve returns.
Moving the opponent
Raducanu regularly forced her opponents into defense by moving them with forehand and backhands down-the-line shots. While winners inform us what happened at the end of the point, the shots that occur prior can be crucial in gaining the attacking advantage. In the case of Raducanu, it was the forehand and backhand down the line that were pivotal. Throughout the tournament, Raducanu used 123 forehands down the line, of which 41% created an attacking advantage, leading to 61% of points won.
On the backhand side, Raducanu hit 106 down the line, of which 38% led to the opponent being in defense, winning 58%.
In an extraordinary tournament, fans will never forget how impressively Raducanu controlled matches through a combination of consistent first serves, early returns, and accurate groundstrokes. However, the genius of Raducanu is how often she used these to control and win ten matches back-to-back. That is Grand Slam-winning tennis.
Watch: Raducanu vs. Fernandez, Final Highlights
