Game plan
Caty Mcnally v Elena Rybakina
Every number combines what Caty Mcnally does well with what Elena Rybakina 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 At least one of them is no longer active or has too little charted in the last three seasons, so both are compared on their careers.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 Caty Mcnally's record against Elena Rybakina's tactical lookalikes and in their charted head-to-heads (head-to-head: −2.2 on serve, −4.3 on return vs expectation (104 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 | Caty | Elena |
|---|---|---|
| Direction choice | −0.32 ±0.11 better than 5% | +0.15 ±0.03 better than 80% |
| Shot selection | +0.05 ±0.33 better than 50% | +0.33 ±0.06 better than 81% |
| Execution | −0.93 ±0.98 better than 20% | +0.40 ±0.26 better than 75% |
| Points left on the table | 3.33 ±0.16 lower than 2% | 2.42 ±0.05 lower than 73% |
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.
Caty Mcnally serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Caty wins | v Elena | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 43% | 63% | 65% | 61.9%±6.4 | 59% ▲ |
| Body | 19% | 60% | 57% | 59.4%±8.7 | 18% |
| T | 38% | 62% | 67% | 60.9%±7.6 | 23% ▼ |
Optimal v Elena Rybakina: +0.5±0.9 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving wide every time would read +0.8 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Caty wins | v Elena | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 33% | 57% | 68% | 59.0%±8.4 | 47% ▲ |
| Body | 20% | 51% | 58% | 53.3%±9.1 | 4% ▼ |
| T | 48% | 58% | 65% | 58.8%±6.7 | 49% ▲ |
Optimal v Elena Rybakina: +0.3±1.0 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving wide every time would read +1.2 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Elena Rybakina serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Elena wins | v Caty | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 39% | 71% | 66% | 70.8%±6.5 | 55% ▲ |
| Body | 11% | 63% | 52% | 57.1%±10.0 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 50% | 78% | 61% | 73.0%±6.4 | 45% ▼ |
Optimal v Caty Mcnally: +0.8±0.8 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix. Serving T every time would read +2.6 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Elena wins | v Caty | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 55% | 78% | 67% | 79.2%±5.3 | 49% ▼ |
| Body | 9% | 61% | 65% | 69.8%±10.0 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 36% | 70% | 73% | 77.6%±5.9 | 51% ▲ |
Optimal v Caty Mcnally: +0.7±0.8 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving wide every time would read +1.4 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.
Caty Mcnally returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Elena | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH slice through the middle | 27% | −6.7 | +1.1 | −0.4 | −6.0±2.2 |
| FH through the middle | 25% | +4.2 | −1.9 | −1.3 | +0.9±2.5 |
| FH crosscourt | 20% | +5.3 | −3.8 | −1.6 | −0.1±3.6 |
| FH down the line | 14% | +1.5 | +1.0 | −1.6 | +1.0±3.9 |
| FH slice crosscourt | 10% | −6.6 | +1.1 | +1.6 | −3.9±2.4 |
Lean FH down the line: +3.1±3.6 per 100 returns v the current mix (180 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Elena | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 52% | +6.0 | −0.2 | −0.8 | +5.1±2.2 |
| BH crosscourt | 21% | +7.7 | −0.8 | −2.4 | +4.5±3.0 |
| BH down the line | 11% | +2.2 | +1.2 | −2.3 | +1.0±3.8 |
| BH slice through the middle | 7% | −6.2 | +0.5 | −1.5 | −7.2±2.0 |
| BH slice down the line | 5% | −12.5 | −1.8 | −3.0 | −17.3±3.0 |
Lean BH through the middle: +3.1±1.3 per 100 returns v the current mix (177 returns charted)
2nd serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Elena | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 54% | −3.2 | −2.0 | −0.5 | −5.7±2.5 |
| FH crosscourt | 22% | +0.5 | +1.9 | +0.7 | +3.1±3.4 |
| FH down the line | 13% | −0.6 | −1.0 | −0.2 | −1.7±3.9 |
| FH slice through the middle | 11% | −15.2 | +0.1 | −1.9 | −17.0±2.1 |
Lean FH through the middle: −1.2±1.5 per 100 returns v the current mix (54 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Elena | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 47% | −2.6 | +1.7 | −0.5 | −1.3±2.1 |
| BH crosscourt | 32% | +1.5 | +2.2 | −0.3 | +3.3±2.8 |
| FH through the middle | 9% | −2.7 | +1.0 | −0.5 | −2.2±1.7 |
| FH inside-in | 6% | +0.7 | −0.3 | +0.7 | +1.1±3.1 |
| FH inside-out | 6% | +1.4 | +0.4 | −0.2 | +1.6±3.1 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +2.9±2.1 per 100 returns v the current mix (87 returns charted)
Elena Rybakina returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Caty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 46% | +4.2 | −0.8 | −0.5 | +2.8±2.2 |
| FH down the line | 31% | +1.5 | −0.2 | +0.5 | +1.9±3.7 |
| FH crosscourt | 15% | +5.3 | +0.1 | +1.3 | +6.7±3.7 |
| FH slice through the middle | 5% | −6.7 | −3.4 | −0.8 | −10.9±2.4 |
| FH slice crosscourt | 2% | −6.6 | −0.6 | +0.1 | −7.1±2.5 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +4.7±3.5 per 100 returns v the current mix (2246 returns charted)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Caty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 44% | +6.0 | ±0.0 | +0.9 | +7.0±2.2 |
| BH crosscourt | 22% | +7.7 | +1.7 | +3.1 | +12.5±3.1 |
| BH down the line | 19% | +2.2 | +0.2 | +2.9 | +5.3±4.1 |
| BH slice through the middle | 8% | −6.2 | −1.3 | −0.1 | −7.7±2.3 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 4% | −4.2 | −1.2 | +0.4 | −5.0±2.5 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +7.0±2.7 per 100 returns v the current mix (1613 returns charted)
2nd serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Caty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 41% | −3.2 | −1.1 | +0.9 | −3.4±2.8 |
| FH crosscourt | 30% | +0.5 | +2.4 | −0.6 | +2.4±4.0 |
| FH down the line | 28% | −0.6 | −0.8 | +1.1 | −0.3±4.9 |
| FH slice through the middle | 2% | −15.2 | −0.7 | ±0.0 | −15.9±1.4 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +3.4±3.3 per 100 returns v the current mix (580 returns charted)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Caty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH crosscourt | 43% | +1.5 | +0.4 | −0.1 | +1.8±3.0 |
| BH through the middle | 40% | −2.6 | ±0.0 | −1.4 | −4.1±2.4 |
| BH down the line | 16% | −0.5 | +0.8 | +1.9 | +2.3±4.9 |
Lean BH down the line: +2.8±4.4 per 100 returns v the current mix (849 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
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.
Caty Mcnally
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to their forehand · serve +1 | +4.5±3.3 | +2.1 | +2.4 |
| FH to the middle · serve +1 | +2.3±2.0 | +1.3 | +1.0 |
| BH to the middle · serve +1 | +1.8±2.0 | +1.7 | +0.1 |
| FH to their forehand · rally | +1.3±2.5 | +0.9 | +0.4 |
| FH to the middle · return +1 | +1.0±2.2 | +1.9 | −0.9 |
| FH to the middle · rally | +1.0±1.7 | +0.9 | +0.1 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to their backhand · return +1 | −4.4±3.6 | −3.6 | −0.8 |
| FH to the middle · return | −3.3±2.2 | −1.9 | −1.4 |
| BH to the middle · return | −2.2±1.8 | ±0.0 | −2.2 |
| BH to their forehand · rally | −1.9±3.8 | −2.8 | +0.9 |
| FH to their backhand · serve +1 | −0.6±3.2 | −0.2 | −0.3 |
Elena Rybakina
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH to their forehand · serve +1 | +5.1±4.0 | +1.3 | +3.9 |
| BH to their backhand · return | +3.9±2.8 | +0.8 | +3.0 |
| FH to their forehand · return | +3.0±3.5 | +2.0 | +1.0 |
| FH to their forehand · serve +1 | +2.9±3.1 | +0.9 | +2.0 |
| BH to their forehand · return | +2.8±3.6 | −0.8 | +3.6 |
| BH to the middle · return +1 | +1.5±2.1 | −0.6 | +2.1 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to the middle · rally | −2.7±1.9 | −2.5 | −0.2 |
| FH to the middle · serve +1 | −2.3±2.2 | −2.3 | +0.1 |
| FH to their forehand · rally | −1.9±2.4 | −0.3 | −1.6 |
| BH to the middle · rally | −1.4±1.8 | −1.1 | −0.3 |
| FH to their backhand · serve +1 | −1.3±3.2 | +2.3 | −3.6 |
Against Elena Rybakina-like opponents
| Caty Mcnally v | Matches | Serve pts won | Return pts won |
|---|---|---|---|
| All charted opponents | – | 52.4% | 39.3% |
| Elena Rybakina (charted head-to-head) | 1 | 49.0% | 30.9% |
Similar by tactical fingerprint: Barbora Krejcikova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Veronika Kudermetova, Danielle Collins, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Garcia, Rebecca Marino, Anett Kontaveit, Johanna Konta, Coco Vandeweghe. When two players have rarely met, their records against these lookalikes fill the gap.