Game plan
Boris Becker v Max Mirnyi
Every number combines what Boris Becker does well with what Max Mirnyi allows, each measured against the tour average and shrunk toward it when the sample is thin. Flip perspective
Forecast
Each player's serve and return strength is fitted against every opponent they were charted against, so a record built on weak opponents counts for less. At least one of them is no longer active or has too little charted in the last three seasons, so both are compared on their careers. The result is then nudged by Boris Becker's record against Max Mirnyi's tactical lookalikes and in their charted head-to-heads (lookalikes: +3.4 on serve, +0.6 on return vs expectation (9813 points)). A game-by-game Markov chain turns point odds into match odds; the 90% range covers the uncertainty in the two strengths, not the nudges. Charted matches lean toward big events, so treat this as a scouting estimate, not a betting line.
Head to head, per 100 shots
| Career | Boris | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Direction choice | +0.03 ±0.05 better than 65% | −0.09 ±0.21 better than 32% |
| Shot selection | +0.33 ±0.11 better than 83% | +1.40 ±0.23 better than 100% |
| Execution | −0.37 ±0.22 better than 50% | −1.00 ±0.99 better than 25% |
Each player's career against an average tour player in the same position, adjusted for opponent strength, with a 90% margin (shots clustered by match). Points left on the table is the gap to the best-value direction for the same stroke, so lower is better. Percentiles are within each player's own tour. A side is highlighted only when the gap is larger than the margin on the difference.
Serve plan
The share of points the server wins when a first serve lands in that direction (hover a rate for its 90% interval; ± is the 90% margin). "Matchup" combines the server's rate with how this returner handles that serve. "Optimal" is the mix that wins most against this returner once they start reading a habit, at the response measured across the tour, and only within the range servers' habits actually vary. The gain over the current mix is how exploitable that mix is.
Boris Becker serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Boris wins | v Max | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 41% | 78% | 81% | 84.5%±4.9 | 54% ▲ |
| Body | 9% | 70% | 69% | 74.6%±10.4 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 50% | 81% | 84% | 87.8%±4.3 | 46% ▼ |
Optimal v Max Mirnyi: +0.6±0.7 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving T every time would read +2.6 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Boris wins | v Max | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 49% | 78% | 73% | 77.5%±5.7 | 62% ▲ |
| Body | 12% | 71% | 63% | 70.7%±11.8 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 39% | 75% | 72% | 74.9%±6.4 | 38% ▼ |
Optimal v Max Mirnyi: +0.7±0.8 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving wide every time would read +1.8 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Max Mirnyi serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Max wins | v Boris | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 41% | 82% | 73% | 82.7%±5.3 | 54% ▲ |
| Body | 12% | 64% | 66% | 65.9%±9.8 | 2% ▼ |
| T | 48% | 73% | 72% | 70.5%±6.7 | 44% ▼ |
Optimal v Boris Becker: +0.7±0.7 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving wide every time would read +7.8 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Max wins | v Boris | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 52% | 78% | 70% | 75.5%±6.1 | 65% ▲ |
| Body | 12% | 66% | 61% | 64.1%±10.6 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 36% | 73% | 71% | 72.2%±7.4 | 35% |
Optimal v Boris Becker: +0.4±0.8 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving wide every time would read +2.6 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Return plan
Value of each return, in points per 100 returns against an average return of the same serve (direction, court, surface): the tour's result with that return, the returner's own edge with it, and what this server gives up when it comes back to that side. Returns with no charted direction are left out, so values compare with each other rather than with zero. Depth isn't a choice here: missed returns have no depth. Serve quality isn't charted, so a block through the middle partly reflects the serve that forced it.
Boris Becker returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Max | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 42% | +4.3 | −1.3 | −2.5 | +0.4±2.3 |
| FH down the line | 34% | +1.7 | +2.1 | −1.8 | +1.9±3.5 |
| FH crosscourt | 19% | +5.5 | +2.7 | −1.1 | +7.1±3.5 |
| FH slice through the middle | 2% | −4.2 | +2.6 | ±0.0 | −1.6±1.7 |
| FH slice down the line | 1% | −4.3 | −1.1 | −0.7 | −6.1±2.5 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +4.9±3.3 per 100 returns v the current mix (2642 returns charted)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Max | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 29% | +6.4 | −2.2 | −1.5 | +2.7±2.1 |
| BH slice through the middle | 20% | −4.2 | +3.0 | −1.0 | −2.2±1.9 |
| BH down the line | 18% | +4.2 | +0.1 | +2.1 | +6.4±3.6 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 15% | +0.5 | +5.9 | +0.9 | +7.3±2.2 |
| BH crosscourt | 12% | +8.8 | +1.6 | −2.0 | +8.4±3.0 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +5.0±2.8 per 100 returns v the current mix (3917 returns charted)
2nd serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Max | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 36% | −3.5 | +0.8 | −0.6 | −3.2±2.4 |
| FH down the line | 32% | −1.8 | +2.2 | +1.3 | +1.7±4.1 |
| FH crosscourt | 28% | −0.2 | +2.8 | +3.4 | +6.0±3.7 |
| BH slice through the middle | 1% | −6.9 | +0.5 | −0.4 | −6.8±1.5 |
| BH inside-in | 1% | +2.5 | +2.9 | +0.9 | +6.3±3.1 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +5.1±3.1 per 100 returns v the current mix (747 returns charted)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Max | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 26% | −2.9 | −1.9 | −1.7 | −6.5±2.0 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 21% | −4.0 | +3.0 | −1.8 | −2.9±1.7 |
| BH crosscourt | 19% | +1.0 | +6.4 | +0.9 | +8.3±2.7 |
| BH down the line | 13% | −0.2 | −2.4 | +4.2 | +1.6±4.2 |
| BH slice through the middle | 10% | −11.3 | +3.9 | −0.4 | −7.8±1.6 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +9.6±2.3 per 100 returns v the current mix (2680 returns charted)
Max Mirnyi returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Boris | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 37% | +4.3 | −0.5 | −1.6 | +2.1±2.4 |
| FH down the line | 32% | +1.7 | +1.2 | −0.8 | +2.1±3.6 |
| FH crosscourt | 24% | +5.5 | −5.4 | +1.5 | +1.5±3.5 |
| FH slice through the middle | 7% | −4.2 | +1.1 | +0.1 | −3.0±2.0 |
Lean FH through the middle: +0.5±2.1 per 100 returns v the current mix (140 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Boris | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH slice through the middle | 32% | −4.2 | −1.7 | −1.9 | −7.7±2.0 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 27% | +0.5 | +4.0 | +1.7 | +6.2±2.5 |
| BH through the middle | 18% | +6.4 | −1.8 | −4.2 | +0.4±2.1 |
| BH slice down the line | 11% | −8.4 | −1.5 | +5.3 | −4.6±2.7 |
| BH crosscourt | 6% | +8.8 | +1.4 | −3.6 | +6.6±2.3 |
Lean BH slice crosscourt: +7.1±2.0 per 100 returns v the current mix (154 returns charted)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Boris | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH down the line | 30% | −0.2 | −1.9 | +0.9 | −1.2±4.0 |
| BH through the middle | 23% | −2.9 | −4.5 | −1.8 | −9.2±1.8 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 21% | −4.0 | +0.9 | +2.1 | −1.0±2.0 |
| BH slice through the middle | 12% | −11.3 | −0.4 | +0.5 | −11.1±1.7 |
| BH crosscourt | 8% | +1.0 | −3.7 | +1.8 | −0.8±1.9 |
Lean BH slice crosscourt: +3.3±2.0 per 100 returns v the current mix (99 returns charted)
Rally plan
Edge, in points per 100 shots: the hitter's skill with the shot (own) plus how much the receiver usually gives up against it (theirs), both measured against the tour average on clay. Each player's clay record is shrunk toward their all-surface one, so a thin sample on it moves the numbers only a little.
Boris Becker
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to their backhand · serve +1 | +5.6±4.2 | −0.1 | +5.7 |
| FH to their backhand · return | +0.1±3.6 | +0.6 | −0.5 |
| BH to their forehand · return | −0.5±4.5 | −5.1 | +4.5 |
| BH to the middle · return | −1.0±2.8 | −0.5 | −0.4 |
| FH to their forehand · serve +1 | −1.0±3.9 | −0.2 | −0.9 |
| BH to their backhand · return | −2.5±3.1 | −1.8 | −0.6 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to the middle · return | −2.7±3.1 | −1.5 | −1.1 |
| BH to their backhand · return | −2.5±3.1 | −1.8 | −0.6 |
| FH to their forehand · serve +1 | −1.0±3.9 | −0.2 | −0.9 |
| BH to the middle · return | −1.0±2.8 | −0.5 | −0.4 |
| BH to their forehand · return | −0.5±4.5 | −5.1 | +4.5 |
Max Mirnyi
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH volley to their forehand · serve +1 | +6.3±6.1 | +2.0 | +4.3 |
| BH slice to their backhand · return | +4.2±2.8 | +2.8 | +1.4 |
| BH volley to their backhand · serve +1 | +0.5±5.3 | +0.2 | +0.3 |
| BH slice to the middle · return | −1.0±2.7 | −0.6 | −0.4 |
| FH to the middle · return | −2.9±2.5 | −1.2 | −1.7 |
| BH to the middle · return | −8.8±2.9 | −6.3 | −2.6 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH to the middle · return | −8.8±2.9 | −6.3 | −2.6 |
| FH to the middle · return | −2.9±2.5 | −1.2 | −1.7 |
| BH slice to the middle · return | −1.0±2.7 | −0.6 | −0.4 |
| BH volley to their backhand · serve +1 | +0.5±5.3 | +0.2 | +0.3 |
| BH slice to their backhand · return | +4.2±2.8 | +2.8 | +1.4 |
Against Max Mirnyi-like opponents
| Boris Becker v | Matches | Serve pts won | Return pts won |
|---|---|---|---|
| All charted opponents | – | 66.2% | 36.6% |
| Players most similar to Max Mirnyi | 52 | 68.1% | 36.6% |
Similar by tactical fingerprint: Stefan Edberg, Greg Rusedski, Patrick Rafter, Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek, Michael Stich, David Wheaton, John Mcenroe, Pat Cash. When two players have rarely met, their records against these lookalikes fill the gap.