Stats-Wraps: Austin Showdown Finals

Stats and facts emerging from the gold medal matches at the Florida Open:

• Anna Leigh Waters said in a post-match interview she plans to take off for about a month. She said she is having her wisdom teeth pulled, and her mother is having her long-postponed knee surgery. It is not clear when she plans to return.
• In the Men’s Doubles Final, the players hit 105 third shots, and only two of those were hit into the net or out of bounds.

• Ben Johns ramped up his singles game, winning a very clean match against Federico Staksrud

The stats from the gold medal matches appear in the following order:

• Mixed Doubles
• Men’s Doubles
• Women’s Doubles
• Men’s Singles 
• Women’s Singles

***STATS BREAKDOWN***

PPA Austin Showdown, Lakeway Texas, March 19, 2023.

MIXED DOUBLES FINAL: Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns defeated Anna Bright and James Ignatowich, 11-8, 11-13, 11-4, 11-5.

RALLIES:
1,644 shots.
186 rallies.
8.83 shots per rally.
46.5 rallies per game.
130/186 rallies were 9 shots or less. (69%)
56/186 rallies were 10 shots or more. (31%)

Shortest: 1 shot (7), 2 shots (5), 3 shots (13), 4 shots (19).

(23% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)

Longest: 34, 33, 29.
(2 rallies were 30 shots or more. 14 were 20+.)
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THIRD SHOTS:
Waters: 37 drops, 13 drives. (74% drops)
Johns: 15 drops, 26 drives. (36% drops)
Waters/Johns: 52 drops, 39 drives. (57% drops)
Bright: 23 drops, 1 drive. (95% drops)
Ignatowich: 33 drops, 26 drives (55% drops)
Bright/Ignatowich: 56 drops, 27 drives. (67% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 108 drops, 66 drives (62% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***

Waters: (7). 1 serve-long, 2 third shot drives-wide, 2 third shot drives-net, 2 third shot drops-net.

Johns: (8.) 2 serves-net, 2 returns-long, 2 third shot drives-long, 1 third shot drop-wide, 1 third shot drop-net.

Bright: none.

Ignatowich: (9). 2 serves-net, 2 serves-long, 2 returns-net, 1 return-long, 2 third shot drops-net.

***Third Shots Kept “In Play”***

Waters: 50/56 = 89%

Johns: 41/45 = 91%

Bright: 24/24 = 100%

Ignatowich: 59/61 = 96%

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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 10, initiated and lost 7.
Johns: initiated and won 14, initiated and lost 4.
Waters/Johns: initiated and won 24, initiated and lost 11. (68% success)
Bright: initiated and won 7, initiated and lost 7.
Ignatowich: initiated and won 12, initiated and lost 9.
Bright/Ignatowich: initiated and won 19, initiated and lost 16. (54% success rate)
Speed-up Totals: In the instances I counted, the team that initiated the speed-up won 43 and lost 27, for a 61% success rate.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).
Waters: 3

Johns: 2

Bright: 5

Ignatowich: 5

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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 24.

GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for 20% of the rallies.

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CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Waters: 8

Johns: 18

Bright: 2

Ignatowich: 11

(20% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
.
HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
Waters: 2 Ernes.

Johns: 1 ATP, 3 Ernes.

Bright: 1 ATP, 1 Erne defended.

Ignatowich: 2 Ernes.

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OFFENSIVE LOBS: 1.

Waters: 1 in, lost rally.

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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Waters: 7

Johns: 3

Bright: 7

Ignatowich: 2

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GAME POINTS:
Waters/Johns: Won 3 out of 10.
Bright/Ignatowich: Won 1 out of 4.
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)
Waters/Johns: Won 3, Lost 1.
Bright/Ignatowich: Won 2, Lost 2.
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DVR ALERT:

• Game One, 6-1-2: Match-high 34-shot rally.
• Game Two, 1-2-1: Ben Johns “Bert.”
• Game Three, 7-4-1: Waters “shake ‘n bake” (see photo).
• Before Game Four: Fun video: Waters tries to hit a third shot drop into the trophy.
• Game Four, 7-3-2: Waters tight cross-court half-volley winner.
• Game Four, 5-8-1, Johns ATP off Bright’s leg.

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MATCH NOTES:

• Waters/Johns failed to convert three game points in Game Two. They lost that game but won the match anyway. That’s difficult to do.
• Waters/Johns fourth title this year.
• Bright/Ignatowich, the #7 seed, first finals appearance together

***STATS BREAKDOWN***

PPA Austin Showdown, Lakeway Texas, March 19, 2023.

MEN’S DOUBLES FINAL: Ben Johns and Collin Johns defeated Riley Newman and Matt Wright, 12-10, 11-3, 11-6

RALLIES:
1,064 shots.
109 rallies.
9.76 shots per rally.
36.3 rallies per game.
67/109 rallies were 9 shots or less. (61%)
42/109 rallies were 10 shots or more. (39%)

Shortest: 1 shot (0), 2 shots (6), 3 shots (2), 4 shots (10).

(16% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)

Longest: 34, 33, 26.
(2 rallies were 30 shots or more. 9 were 20+.)
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THIRD SHOTS:
Collin Johns: 7 drops, 5 drives. (58% drops)
Ben Johns: 15 drops, 34 drives. (30% drops)
Johns/Johns: 22 drops, 39 drives. (36% drops)
Wright: 2 drops, 2 drives. (50% drops)
Newman: 25 drops, 13 drives (65% drops)
Wright/Newman: 27 drops, 15 drives. (64% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 49 drops, 54 drives (47% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***

Collin Johns: (2), 2 returns-long.

Ben Johns: (4). 2 returns-net, 1 return-long, 1 third shot drive-net.

Wright: none.

Newman: (2). 1 return-long, 1 third shot drop-net.

***Third Shots Kept “In Play”***

Collin Johns: 12/12 = 100%

Ben Johns: 49/50 = 98%

Wright: 4/4 = 100%

Newman: 38/39 = 97.4%

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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-.

Collin Johns: initiated and won 4, initiated and lost 4.
Ben Johns: initiated and won 4, initiated and lost 2.
Johns/Johns: initiated and won 8, initiated and lost 6. (57% success)
Wright: initiated and won 5, initiated and lost 6.
Newman: initiated and won 13, initiated and lost 8.
Wright/Newman: initiated and won 18, initiated and lost 14. (56% success rate)
Speed-up Totals: In the instances I counted, the team that initiated the speed-up won 26 and lost 20, for a 56% success rate.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).
Collin Johns: 0.

Ben Johns: 0.

Wright: 3.

Newman: 2.

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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 8.

GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for only 11% of the rallies.

.
CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Collin Johns: 5.

Ben Johns: 9.

Wright: 6.

Newman: 1.

(19% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
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HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
Collin Johns: 1 ATP, 1 ATP defended.

Ben Johns: 1 Erne defended.

Wright: 1 ATP, 2 Ernes.

Newman: 1 ATP, 1 ATP defended, 1 Erne.

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OFFENSIVE LOBS: 1.

Ben Johns: 1 in, won rally.

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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Collin Johns: 7.

Ben Johns: 4.

Wright: 9.

Newman: 5.

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GAME POINTS:
Johns/Johns: Won 3 out of 7.
Newman/Wright: Won 0 out of 3.
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)
Johns/Johns: Won 1, Lost 0.
Newman/Wright: none.
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DVR ALERT:

• Game One, 4-4-1: wild hands battle.
• Game One, 8-9-1: 2 ATPs in this rally.
• Game Two, 4-0-2: Dave Fleming called it “the best point of the day.”
• Game Three, 0-1-1: Ben Johns drop-shot winner.

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MATCH NOTES:

• Newman/Wright failed to convert three game points in Game One.
• The Johns brothers have now won five straight gold medal matches vs. Newman/Wright.

***STATS BREAKDOWN***

PPA Austin Showdown, Lakeway, Texas, March 19, 2023.

WOMEN’S DOUBLES FINAL: Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters defeated Vivienne David and Meghan Dizon, 11-2, 11-7, 11-6.

RALLIES:
1,178 shots.
126 rallies.
9.34 shots per rally.
42 rallies per game.
84/126 rallies were 9 shots or less. (66%)
42/126 rallies were 10 shots or more. (33%)

Shortest: 1 shot (0), 2 shots (4), 3 shots (7), 4 shots (13).

(19% of the rallies were four shots or fewer.)

Longest: 43, 36, 34.
(3 rallies were 30 shots or more. 9 were 20+.)
.
THIRD SHOTS:
Bright: 22 drops, 1 drive. (95% drops)
Waters: 19 drops, 29 drives. (39% drops)
Bright/Waters: 41 drops, _30 drives. (57% drops)
David: 5 drops, 2 drives. (71% drops)
Dizon: 24 drops, 22 drives (52% drops)
David/Dizon: 29 drops, 24 drives. (54% drops)
Third Shot Totals: 70 drops, 52 drives (57% drops)
***Missed Serves/Returns/Third Shots***
Bright: (1). 1 third shot drop-net.

Waters: (4). 1 return-long, 1 return-net, 2 third shot drives-net.

David: (2). 1 return-wide, 1 return-net.

Dizon: (3). 2 third shot drives-net, 1 third shot drop-net.

***Third Shots Kept “In Play”***

Bright: 23/24 = 95%

Waters: 48/50 = 96%

David: 7/7 = 100%

Dizon: 46/49 = 94%

.
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-.

Bright: initiated and won 10, initiated and lost 4.
Waters: initiated and won 12, initiated and lost 6.
Bright/Waters: initiated and won 22, initiated and lost 10. (68% success)
David: initiated and won 1, initiated and lost 2.
Dizon: initiated and won 7, initiated and lost 5.
David/Dizon: initiated and won 8, initiated and lost 7. (53% success rate)
Speed-up Totals: In the instances I counted, the team that initiated the speed-up won 30 and lost 17, for a 63% success rate.
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DINKS INTO THE NET OR WIDE: (Unstressed, “regular” dinks. Not speed-ups, blocks, etc.).
Bright: 1

Waters: 1

David: 3

Dizon: 1

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RALLIES ENDING IN THREE SHOTS OR LESS (excluding winners): 10.

GOOD FUNDAMENTALS: The two categories above accounted for only 12% of the rallies.

.
CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Bright: 10

Waters: 10

David: 1

Dizon: 6

(21% of the rallies ended with a clean winner)
.
HIGHLIGHT REEL: (ATPs, Ernes, etc.)
none.

.

OFFENSIVE LOBS: 4.

Waters: 1 in, won rally; 3 in, lost rallies.

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VOLLEYS INTO THE NET:
Bright: 5

Waters: 5

David: 9

Dizon: 7

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GAME POINTS:
Bright/Waters: Won 3 out of 4.
David/Dizon: none.
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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)
Bright/Waters: none.
David/Dizon: Won 1, Lost 2.
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DVR ALERT:

• Game One, 10-2-2: Waters lob/drop combo.
• Game Two, 6-6-2: match-high 43-shot rally.
• Game Two, 8-7-2: scrambling rally, David “scorpion” winner.

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MATCH NOTES:

• David and Dizon, first PPA final together.
• Waters has won six straight PPA tournaments while alternating partners, Parenteau and Bright.

***STATS BREAKDOWN***

PPA Austin Showdown, Lakeway, Texas, March 19, 2023.

MEN’S SINGLES FINAL: Ben Johns defeated Federico Staksrud, 11-8, 11-2.

CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Johns: 14, including 2 on the third shot.

Staksrud: 13, including 1 on the third shot.

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ERRORS on SERVE, RETURN, THIRD SHOT:

Johns: (2). Game Two, 7-0, third shot; Game Two, 1-7, return.

Staksrud: (8.)

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ERRORS on BASELINE DRIVES:

Johns: 1. Game Two, 7-0, third shot.

Staksrud: 6.

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LONGEST RALLY: 13 shots.

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GAME POINTS:

Johns: Won 2 out of 6.

Staksrud: none.

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TIME OUTS: Did the team that called time out win the next rally? (excluding video reviews)

Johns: Won 1, Lost 0.

Staksrud: Won 0, Lost 2.

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DVR ALERT:

• Game One, 6-4: Johns sharp forehand.
• Game One, 9-4: 13-shot rally.
• Game Two, 7-0: Staksrud Erne.

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MATCH NOTES:

• Staksrud beat Johns in the semifinal at the Arizona Grand Slam.
• Johns’ total of two errors in objective categories is an extraordinarily low number. This was a very high level of performance.

**STATS BREAKDOWN***

PPA Austin Showdown, Lakeway, Texas, March 19, 2023.

WOMEN’S SINGLES FINAL: Anna Leigh Waters defeated Catherine Parenteau, 12-10, 9-11, 11-1.

CLEAN WINNERS: (No net-cord, no opponent’s paddle).

Waters: 18, including 3 on the third shot.

Parenteau: 12, including 2 on the third shot.

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ERRORS on BASELINE DRIVES:

Waters: 17.

Parenteau: 14.

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ERRORS on SERVE, RETURN, THIRD SHOT:

Waters: 9.

Parenteau: 12.

.

LONGEST RALLY: 14 shots.

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GAME POINTS:

Waters: Won 2 out of 3.

Parenteau: Won 1 out of 3.

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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 2, Lost 4.

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DVR ALERT:

• Game Two, 3-1: Parenteau races from one sideline to the other.
• Game Two, 4-3: 14-shot rally.
• Game Three, 1-1: Waters winner ends a wild rally.

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MATCH NOTES:

• Last week, Parenteau gave Waters her first loss since last June (Parris Todd).