Game plan
Nicolas Mahut v Tim Henman
Every number combines what Nicolas Mahut does well with what Tim Henman 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 At least one of them is no longer active or has too little charted in the last three seasons, so both are compared on their careers.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 Nicolas Mahut's record against Tim Henman's tactical lookalikes and in their charted head-to-heads. 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 | Nicolas | Tim |
|---|---|---|
| Direction choice | +0.07 ±0.19 better than 76% | +0.09 ±0.11 better than 80% |
| Shot selection | +0.20 ±0.36 better than 73% | +0.03 ±0.21 better than 56% |
| Execution | −0.08 ±0.92 better than 64% | −1.47 ±0.39 better than 10% |
| Points left on the table | 3.05 ±0.16 lower than 18% | 3.76 ±0.27 lower than 5% |
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.
Nicolas Mahut serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Nicolas wins | v Tim | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 42% | 80% | 76% | 82.9%±4.8 | 55% ▲ |
| Body | 11% | 65% | 65% | 67.5%±10.3 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 47% | 82% | 79% | 85.6%±4.4 | 45% ▼ |
Optimal v Tim Henman: +0.9±0.8 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix. Serving T every time would read +3.2 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Nicolas wins | v Tim | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 50% | 84% | 76% | 85.5%±4.4 | 63% ▲ |
| Body | 6% | 66% | 70% | 73.4%±11.0 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 44% | 78% | 75% | 80.4%±5.4 | 37% ▼ |
Optimal v Tim Henman: +0.6±0.7 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving wide every time would read +2.9 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Tim Henman serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Tim wins | v Nicolas | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 45% | 76% | 77% | 80.2%±4.9 | 43% ▼ |
| Body | 11% | 64% | 65% | 65.5%±10.8 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 44% | 77% | 81% | 82.7%±4.9 | 57% ▲ |
Optimal v Nicolas Mahut: +1.0±0.8 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix. Serving T every time would read +3.0 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Tim wins | v Nicolas | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 47% | 73% | 80% | 80.3%±5.5 | 60% ▲ |
| Body | 15% | 62% | 68% | 67.1%±11.3 | 2% ▼ |
| T | 38% | 73% | 77% | 78.0%±5.7 | 38% |
Optimal v Nicolas Mahut: +1.3±0.9 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix. Serving wide every time would read +2.9 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.
Nicolas Mahut returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Tim | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 44% | +4.3 | +0.2 | −5.1 | −0.6±2.5 |
| FH down the line | 19% | +1.7 | −4.1 | +2.7 | +0.3±4.0 |
| FH crosscourt | 16% | +5.5 | −1.2 | −1.7 | +2.5±4.1 |
| FH slice through the middle | 14% | −4.2 | −0.3 | −0.1 | −4.5±2.3 |
| FH slice down the line | 5% | −4.3 | +2.7 | +0.9 | −0.6±2.5 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +3.1±3.7 per 100 returns v the current mix (271 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Tim | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH slice through the middle | 44% | −4.2 | +3.1 | −2.5 | −3.6±2.4 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 22% | +0.5 | +6.3 | +0.2 | +7.0±3.0 |
| BH through the middle | 11% | +6.4 | −1.2 | −4.7 | +0.5±2.3 |
| BH slice down the line | 9% | −8.4 | +3.4 | +2.1 | −2.9±3.3 |
| BH down the line | 8% | +4.2 | +1.1 | −4.4 | +0.9±4.0 |
Lean BH slice crosscourt: +6.9±2.6 per 100 returns v the current mix (201 returns charted)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Tim | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH slice through the middle | 28% | −11.3 | +0.7 | +0.6 | −10.0±2.4 |
| BH down the line | 24% | −0.2 | −0.3 | +2.1 | +1.5±4.8 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 18% | −4.0 | +0.3 | +1.1 | −2.6±2.4 |
| BH through the middle | 16% | −2.9 | −0.4 | −0.8 | −4.1±2.1 |
| BH crosscourt | 10% | +1.0 | −0.8 | +2.0 | +2.3±2.5 |
Lean BH down the line: +5.2±3.7 per 100 returns v the current mix (135 returns charted)
Tim Henman returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Nicolas | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 36% | +4.3 | −0.5 | +2.4 | +6.2±2.6 |
| FH down the line | 31% | +1.7 | +3.3 | −3.7 | +1.2±4.1 |
| FH crosscourt | 17% | +5.5 | −3.5 | +2.4 | +4.3±4.3 |
| FH slice through the middle | 9% | −4.2 | +1.5 | −0.5 | −3.3±2.3 |
| FH slice down the line | 5% | −4.3 | +0.8 | +0.4 | −3.0±2.7 |
Lean FH through the middle: +3.3±2.2 per 100 returns v the current mix (666 returns charted)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Nicolas | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH slice through the middle | 32% | −4.2 | +0.3 | −0.7 | −4.6±2.2 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 27% | +0.5 | +1.2 | −0.1 | +1.6±2.6 |
| BH through the middle | 16% | +6.4 | −2.1 | −0.7 | +3.6±2.6 |
| BH slice down the line | 10% | −8.4 | −0.9 | +0.2 | −9.0±2.9 |
| BH crosscourt | 9% | +8.8 | −5.3 | −1.3 | +2.2±3.6 |
Lean BH through the middle: +4.6±2.5 per 100 returns v the current mix (792 returns charted)
2nd serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Nicolas | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH down the line | 36% | −1.8 | −0.1 | −2.0 | −3.9±4.6 |
| FH through the middle | 30% | −3.5 | −2.4 | +1.1 | −4.8±2.9 |
| FH crosscourt | 28% | −0.2 | +2.5 | +1.1 | +3.4±4.1 |
| FH slice through the middle | 4% | −12.7 | +1.5 | +1.0 | −10.2±1.7 |
| FH slice down the line | 2% | −9.4 | −0.9 | ±0.0 | −10.3±1.3 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +5.9±3.5 per 100 returns v the current mix (238 returns charted)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Nicolas | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH slice crosscourt | 27% | −4.0 | +0.4 | ±0.0 | −3.7±2.0 |
| BH through the middle | 19% | −2.9 | +0.7 | +0.2 | −2.0±2.4 |
| BH slice through the middle | 16% | −11.3 | +0.7 | −1.2 | −11.8±2.1 |
| BH crosscourt | 14% | +1.0 | −2.7 | +2.8 | +1.2±3.3 |
| BH slice down the line | 10% | −9.3 | +2.1 | ±0.0 | −7.3±3.0 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +5.2±3.0 per 100 returns v the current mix (582 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.
Nicolas Mahut
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH slice to their backhand · return | +4.8±2.7 | +4.8 | ±0.0 |
| FH to their forehand · serve +1 | +3.8±4.7 | +4.9 | −1.2 |
| FH to their backhand · rally | +2.3±3.9 | +1.0 | +1.4 |
| FH to the middle · rally | +0.4±2.9 | +0.1 | +0.3 |
| FH to their backhand · serve +1 | +0.3±4.1 | +1.2 | −0.9 |
| BH slice to the middle · return | ±0.0±2.2 | +2.3 | −2.3 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to the middle · return | −4.1±2.8 | −0.5 | −3.6 |
| FH to their forehand · rally | −4.0±4.2 | +0.9 | −4.8 |
| BH to their forehand · return | −3.0±4.7 | −2.1 | −0.9 |
| FH to their forehand · return +1 | −2.9±4.7 | −0.7 | −2.2 |
| FH to their backhand · return +1 | −1.8±4.4 | −0.2 | −1.6 |
Tim Henman
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to their forehand · return | +5.8±4.9 | +2.7 | +3.1 |
| FH to their backhand · return +1 | +3.7±3.7 | −1.6 | +5.3 |
| FH to their backhand · serve +1 | +2.9±4.0 | −1.4 | +4.4 |
| FH to their forehand · serve +1 | +2.8±4.5 | +2.1 | +0.7 |
| BH to their backhand · return +1 | +1.9±3.3 | −0.8 | +2.7 |
| FH to their forehand · return +1 | +0.5±4.8 | +1.9 | −1.4 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to their backhand · rally | −8.6±3.8 | −5.3 | −3.2 |
| BH to their forehand · rally | −4.8±4.5 | −4.6 | −0.2 |
| BH to their backhand · return | −3.7±3.0 | −4.9 | +1.3 |
| FH to the middle · rally | −3.5±2.9 | −4.7 | +1.2 |
| FH to their forehand · rally | −3.5±4.2 | −1.8 | −1.7 |
Against Tim Henman-like opponents
| Nicolas Mahut v | Matches | Serve pts won | Return pts won |
|---|---|---|---|
| All charted opponents | – | 72.4% | 27.9% |
Similar by tactical fingerprint: Gilles Muller, Greg Rusedski, Mark Philippoussis, Pete Sampras, Patrick Rafter, Todd Martin, Richard Krajicek, Boris Becker, Michael Stich, Brad Gilbert. When two players have rarely met, their records against these lookalikes fill the gap.