Stats-Wrap: Post Finals in Desert Ridge
| July 11, 2023
***STATS BREAKDOWN***
PPA Desert Ridge Open, Phoenix, Arizona, February 5, 2023.
OVERALL TAKEAWAYS:
- Singles: More clean winners and fewer errors on serves, returns, and thirds is a winning combination.
- Men’s Doubles: the Johns brothers have a plan against Newman and Wright. Make Riley hit the third shot (55 for Riley, 2 for Matt); dink, especially to the middle (Newman/Wright had 9 dinking errors, Johns’ had 2); and win most of the rally-ending hand-battles (Johns/Johns 37, Newman/Wright 30).
- Women’s Doubles: 14 offensive lobs in this match! Is this a trend or a fluke? First finals jitters? Jones had 4 dinking errors in game one (out of a total of five in the match), and at the end of game three, she sprayed volleys long or wide, giving Parenteau/Waters the last three points of an 11-9 win. Back on Dec. 4 in Orlando, Jackie Kawamoto, playing with Jansen in her first PPA final, had similar jitters, with a match-high 5 dinking errors, and a match-high 8 errors on serves/returns/third shots. It is hard for players to be comfortable playing in the finals when their opportunities are so limited, because a small group of players are often filling those spots.
- Mixed Doubles: Lucy and Matt tried something different. In their loss to Anna Leigh & Ben in the DC gold medal match on October 22, Matt hit mostly third shot drives, (2 drops and 10 drives). Last Sunday, he hit 76% third shot drops, (23 drops, 7 drives).
The Carvana PPA Tour “Stats-Wrap” from the PPA Desert Ridge Open, featuring a breakdown of all five gold medal matches.
The matches appear in this order:
- Men’s Singles
- Women’s Singles
- Men’s Doubles
- Women’s Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
***STATS BREAKDOWN***
PPA Desert Ridge Open, Phoenix, Arizona, February 5, 2023.
MEN’S SINGLES Final: Ben Johns defeated Federico Staksrud, 11-5, 4-11, 11-3.
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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).
Johns: 13, including 1 on the third shot.
Staksrud: 9, including 1 on the third shot.
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ERRORS on SERVE, RETURN, THIRD SHOT:
Johns: 9.
Staksrud: 6.
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LONGEST RALLY: 15 shots.
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GAME POINTS:
Johns: Won 2 out of 3.
Staksrud: Won 1 out of 4.
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TIME OUTS: Did the player that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)
Johns: none.
Staksrud: Won 3, Lost 1.
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DVR ALERT:
- Game One, 10-5, game-high 15-shot rally.
- Game Two, 8-3, Staksrud amazing footwork on an aborter Erne, hits a winner anyway.
- Game Two, 10-3, excellent firefight.
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MATCH NOTES:
Back-to-back finals for Staksrud, and an improvement on his 11-6,11-6 loss to Johns at The Masters.
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***STATS BREAKDOWN***
PPA Desert Ridge Open, Phoenix, Arizona, February 5, 2023.
WOMEN’S SINGLES Final: Anna Leigh Waters defeated Catherine Parenteau, 11-3, 4-11, 11-6.
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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).
Waters: 16, including 1 on the third shot.
Parenteau: 10, including 1 on the third shot.
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ERRORS on SERVE, RETURN, THIRD SHOT:
Waters: 12.
Parenteau: 15.
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LONGEST RALLY: 12 shots.
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GAME POINTS:
Waters: Won 2 out of 3.
Parenteau: Won 1 out of 1.
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TIME OUTS: Did the player that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)
Waters: Won 1, Lost 2.
Parenteau: Won 3, Lost 2.
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MATCH NOTES:
Back-to-back triple crowns for Waters.
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***STATS BREAKDOWN***
PPA Desert Ridge Open, Phoenix, Arizona, February 5, 2023.
MEN’S Doubles Final: Ben Johns and Collin Johns defeated Riley Newman and Matt Wright, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8.
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RALLIES:
1,410 shots.
133 rallies.
10.6 shots per rally.
44.3 rallies per game.
75/133 rallies were 9 shots or less. (56%)
58/133 rallies were 10 shots or more. (44%)
Shortest: 1 shot (0), 2 shots (6), 3 shots (8), 4 shots (5).
(14% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)
Longest: 46, 31, 31, 31.
(4 rallies were 30 shots or more. 17 were 20+.)
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THIRD SHOTS:
Ben Johns: 33 drops, 25 drives. (56% drops)
Collin Johns: 9 drops, 3 drives. (75% drops)
Johns/Johns: 42 drops, 28 drives. (60% drops)
Newman: 24 drops, 31 drives. (43% drops)
Wright: 2 drops, 0 drives (100% drops) (yes, two)
Newman/Wright: 26 drops, 31 drives. (45% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 68 drops, 59 drives (53% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***
Ben Johns: (8.) 3 returns-net, 1 return-long, 2 third shot drives-net, 1 third shot drive-long, 1 third shot drop-net.Collin Johns: none.Newman: (3) 1 return-long, 1 third shot drive-wide, 1 third shot drop-net.Wright: (1) 1 return-long.
***Third Shots Kept “In Play”***
Ben Johns: 58/62 = 93%
Collin Johns: 12/12 = 100%
Newman: 55/57 = 96%
Wright: 2/2 = 100%
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SPEED-UPS:
I counted the instances when a regular dinking rally or dinking opportunity was accelerated, and that shot or the ensuing hand-battle led directly to the end of the rally. (therefore, not including speedups that were eventually re-set during the same rally, or when a team became clearly defensive.) Here are those “starts,” and the ensuing result for that -team-.
Ben Johns: initiated and won 7, initiated and lost 5.
Collins Johns: initiated and won 2, initiated and lost 1.
Johns/Johns: initiated and won 9, initiated and lost 6. (60% success)
Newman: initiated and won 8, initiated and lost 18.
Wright: initiated and won 16, initiated and lost 10.
Newman/Wright: initiated and won 24, initiated and lost 28. (46% success rate)
Speed-up Totals: In the instances I counted, the team that initiated the speed-up won 33 and lost 34, for a 49% success rate.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).
Ben Johns: 1
Collin Johns: 1
Newman: 2
Wright: 7
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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 12.
GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for only 17% of the rallies.
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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).
Ben Johns: 17
Collin Johns: 4
Newman: 8
Wright: 3
(24% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
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HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
Ben Johns: 1 Tweener.
Collin Johns: 1 Erne defended.
Newman: 3 left-handed shots
Wright: 1 Erne.
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OFFENSIVE LOBS: 2.
Ben Johns: 0.
Collin Johns: 0.
Newman: 1 in, won rally.
Wright: 1 in, lost rally.
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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Ben Johns: 4
Collin Johns: 8
Newman: 6
Wright: 5
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GAME POINTS:
Johns/Johns: Won 3 out of 10.
Newman/Wright: Won 0 out of 2.
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding tv & video reviews)
Johns/Johns: Won 1, Lost 0.
Newman/Wright: Won 1, Lost 0.
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DVR ALERT:
- Game Two, 11-10-2, game-high 46-shot rally.
- Game Three, 0-0-2 (replay), Ben Johns Tweener.
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MATCH NOTES:
Newman/Wright could not convert two game points in Game Two, and wound up losing that game. It is very difficult to have such a “close call” and wind up winning a match. Matt Wright did not hit a third shot until 4-4-2 in game three. Riley Newman had hit 47 by then. Wright hit two third shots the entire match.
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***STATS BREAKDOWN***
PPA Desert Ridge Open, Phoenix, Arizona, February 5, 2023.
WOMEN’S Doubles Final: Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh Waters defeated Lea Jansen and Allyce Jones, 11-3, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7.
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RALLIES:
1,346 shots.
140 rallies.
9.6 shots per rally.
35 rallies per game.
82/140 rallies were 9 shots or less. (58%)
58/140 rallies were 10 shots or more. (42%)
Shortest: 1 shot (0), 2 shots (4), 3 shots (11), 4 shots (8).
(16% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)
Longest: 41, 33, 25, 25.
(2 rallies were 30 shots or more. 10 were 20+.)
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THIRD SHOTS:
Parenteau: 10 drops, 16 drives. (38% drops)
Waters: 21 drops (includes 2 lobs), 24 drives. (46% drops)
Parenteau/Waters: 31 drops, 40 drives. (43% drops)
Jansen: 7 drops, 25 drives. (21% drops)
Jones: 27 drops, 6 drives (81% drops)
Jansen/Jones: 34 drops, 31 drives. (52% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 65 drops, 71 drives (47% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***
Parenteau: (2) 1 return-net, 1 third shot drive-net.Waters: (5) 2 third shot drives-long, 2 third shot drives-net, 1 third shot drop-net.Jansen: (4) 2 returns-long, 1 third shot drive-net, 1 third shot drive-long.Jones: (2) 1 return-net, 1 third shot drive-long.
***Third Shots Kept “In Play”***
Parenteau: 26/27 = 96%
Waters: 45/50 = 90%
Jansen: 32/34 = 94%
Jones: 33/34 = 97%
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SPEED-UPS:
I counted the instances when a regular dinking rally or dinking opportunity was accelerated, and that shot or the ensuing hand-battle led directly to the end of the rally. (therefore, not including speedups that were eventually re-set during the same rally, or when a team became clearly defensive.) Here are those “starts,” and the ensuing result for that -team-.
Parenteau: initiated and won 7, initiated and lost 6.
Waters: initiated and won 9, initiated and lost 9.
Parenteau/Waters: initiated and won 16, initiated and lost 15. (51% success)
Jansen: initiated and won 9, initiated and lost 4.
Jones: initiated and won 5, initiated and lost 5.
Jansen/Jones: initiated and won 14, initiated and lost 9. (60% success rate)
Speed-up Totals: In the instances I counted, the team that initiated the speed-up won 30 and lost 24, for a 55% success rate.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).
Parenteau: 0
Waters: 0
Jansen: 1
Jones: 4
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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 13
GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for only 12% of the rallies.
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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).
Parenteau: 4
Waters: 12
Jansen: 10
Jones: 7
(23% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
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HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
Parenteau: 4 Ernes, 1 Erne defended.
Waters: none.
Jansen: 1 Erne defended.
Jones: 1 Erne, 3 Ernes defended.
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OFFENSIVE LOBS: 14.
Parenteau: (4) 1 in, won rally; 3 in, lost rallies.
Waters: (5) 2 in, won rallies; 2 in, lost rallies; 1 out.
Jansen: 0.
Jones: (5) 2 in, won rallies; 2 in, lost rallies; 1 out.
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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Parenteau: 4
Waters: 9
Jansen: 12
Jones: 6
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GAME POINTS:
Parenteau/Waters: Won 3 out of 4.
Jansen/Jones: Won 1 out of 2.
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding tv & video reviews)
Parenteau/Waters: Won 2, Lost 2.
Jansen/Jones: Won 2, Lost 4.
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DVR ALERT:
- Game Two, 3-5-2, Allyce Jones Erne, then diving save in the NVZ.
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MATCH NOTES:
14 Offensive Lobs is a big number. Is this the Year of the Lob? Waters won consecutive titles with different partners (Anna Bright at The Masters). Allyce Jones made her PPA finals debut.
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***STATS BREAKDOWN***
PPA Desert Ridge Open, Phoenix, Arizona, February 5, 2023.
MIXED Doubles Final: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns defeated Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9.
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RALLIES:
1,042 shots.
121 rallies.
8.6 shots per rally.
40.3 rallies per game.
91/121 rallies were 9 shots or less. (70%)
37/121 rallies were 10 shots or more. (30%)
Shortest: 1 shot (1), 2 shots (6), 3 shots (7), 4 shots (13).
(20% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)
Longest: 29, 28, 28.
(No rallies were 30 shots or more. 7 were 20+.)
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THIRD SHOTS:
Waters: 5 drops, 7 drives. (41% drops)
Johns: 30 drops, 20 drives. (60% drops)
Waters/Johns: 35 drops, 27 drives. (56% drops)
Kovalova: 17 drops, 6 drives. (73% drops)
Wright: 23 drops, 7 drives (76% drops)
Kovalova/Wright: 40 drops, 13 drives. (75% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 75 drops, 40 drives (65% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***
Waters: (1) 1 third shot drive-net.Johns: (3) 1 serve-net, 1 return-net, 1 third shot drive-wide.
Kovalova: (5) 1 return-net, 1 return-wide, 1 return-long, 1 third shot drive-net, 1 third shot drop-net.
Wright: (3) 2 third shot drops-net, 1 third shot drive-net.
***Third Shots Kept “In Play”***
Waters: 12/13 = 92%
Johns: 50/51 = 98%
Kovalova: 23/25 = 92%
Wright: 30/33 = 91%
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SPEED-UPS:
I counted the instances when a regular dinking rally or dinking opportunity was accelerated, and that shot or the ensuing hand-battle led directly to the end of the rally. (therefore, not including speedups that were eventually re-set during the same rally, or when a team became clearly defensive.) Here are those “starts,” and the ensuing result for that -team-.
Waters: initiated and won 6, initiated and lost 6.
Johns: initiated and won 4, initiated and lost 4.
Waters/Johns: initiated and won 10, initiated and lost 10. (50% success)
Kovalova: initiated and won 7, initiated and lost 4.
Wright: initiated and won 9, initiated and lost 7.
Kovalova/Wright: initiated and won 16, initiated and lost 11. (59% success rate)
Speed-up Totals: In the instances I counted, the team that initiated the speed-up won 26 and lost 21, for a 55% success rate.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).
Waters: 0Johns: 3Kovalova: 2Wright: 2
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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 12.
GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for only 15% of the rallies.
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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).
Waters: 9
Johns: 7
Kovalova: 5
Wright: 6
(22% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
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HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
Waters: 1 ATP defended, 1 Erne, 1 Erne defended.
Johns: 1 Erne, 1 Erne defended.
Kovalova: 1 ATP, 1 Erne defended.
Wright: 3 Ernes, 1 Erne defended.
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OFFENSIVE LOBS: 5.
Waters: (2) 1 in, won rally; 1 in, lost rally.
Johns: (1) 1 out.
Kovalova: (1) 1 out.
Wright: (1) 1 in, lost rally.
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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Waters: 7
Johns: 4
Kovalova: 6
Wright: 2
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GAME POINTS:
Waters/Johns: Won 3 out of 3.
Kovalova/Wright: none.
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding tv & video reviews)
Waters/Johns: Won 1, Lost 1.
Kovalova/Wright: Won 0, Lost 3.
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DVR ALERT:
- Game Two, 10-8-2, Ben Johns mishit a ball and thought the rally was over, but the ball stayed in play. A sequence we rarely see at this level.
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MATCH NOTES:
Kovalova and Wright won their last mixed doubles title at the Masters in November of 2021. Waters and Johns won the next event, the Desert Ridge Open in January 2022, ushering in a new era.
