ATP · Right-handed · 3 charted matches · 1991–1994
Karel Novacek
Shot expected value
The share of points Karel Novacek goes on to win after each option in the positions they face most often, shrunk toward tour average when the sample is small. Showing the 8 most-used options; teal marks the best one with at least 30 shots.
Rally, shots 5–8: drive to your middle
position worth 51% to the average player · 59 shots
| Option | Used | Win % | Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH crosscourt | 32% | 37.3%±12.7 | 52.7% |
| FH down the line | 31% | 48.2%±13.3 | 51.5% |
| BH crosscourt | 25% | 45.2%±13.8 | 49.1% |
Rally, shots 5–8: drive to your forehand side
position worth 44% to the average player · 42 shots
| Option | Used | Win % | Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH crosscourt | 48% | 43.3%±12.9 | 46.6% |
| FH down the line | 36% | 51.3%±13.9 | 44.7% |
Serve under pressure
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Usage | Break pt | Won when in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 50% | 50% | 68% / 73% |
| Body | 13% | 20% | 56% / 63% |
| T | 37% | 30% | 78% / 75% |
135 normal · 10 break-point 1st serves
Ad court
| 1st serve | Usage | Break pt | Won when in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 76% | 72% | 65% / 73% |
| Body | 2% | 6% | 63% / 63% |
| T | 22% | 22% | 69% / 72% |
113 normal · 18 break-point 1st serves
Is the serve mix in equilibrium?
Game theory says a well-mixed server wins equally often with every direction they use. If one direction wins more, it's underused and points are being left behind. This is the minimax test Walker and Wooders ran on Wimbledon finals, applied to every charted first serve. Win rates include faults. "Optimal" allows for returners reading a habit. No measurable response (−0.05 ± 0.15 points per 100 serves for every 10 points of habitual usage), measured from ATP servers whose mix drifted between matches. Shifts stay within the range servers' habits actually vary, the only range that response was measured over.
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Usage | Points won |
|---|---|---|
| Wide | 50% | 54.7%±8.1 n=73 |
| Body | 13% | 52.0%±11.7 n=19 |
| T | 37% | 63.5%±8.7 n=53 |
Consistent with an optimal mix (p = 0.13).
Ad court
| 1st serve | Usage | Points won |
|---|---|---|
| Wide | 76% | 55.0%±7.2 n=99 |
| Body | 2% | 57.3%±14.2 n=3 |
| T | 22% | 56.5%±10.6 n=29 |
Consistent with an optimal mix (p = 0.69).
Repeating the previous direction to the same court: −14.5±9.1 points per 100 against switching. Negative means returners read repeats. Tour-wide, repeating costs women about 0.4 points per 100 and costs men nothing, so men's returners don't measurably anticipate direction. (133 repeats, 137 switches.)
Return by serve direction
Return points won against each serve direction, compared with the tour average.
| Serve | Court | Direction | Points | Won | vs tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ad court | Body | 5 | 40% | +3.3±13.6 | |
| 1st | Ad court | T | 21 | 22% | −5.7±9.6 | |
| 1st | Ad court | Wide | 68 | 35% | +7.6±7.9 | |
| 1st | Deuce court | Body | 19 | 39% | +2.1±11.5 | |
| 1st | Deuce court | T | 29 | 14% | −10.6±7.5 | |
| 1st | Deuce court | Wide | 38 | 30% | +2.5±9.1 | |
| 2nd | Ad court | Body | 15 | 46% | −3.1±12.2 | |
| 2nd | Ad court | T | 3 | 51% | +1.6±14.3 | |
| 2nd | Ad court | Wide | 18 | 51% | +2.7±11.9 | |
| 2nd | Deuce court | Body | 16 | 49% | +0.3±12.1 | |
| 2nd | Deuce court | T | 13 | 42% | −8.0±12.4 | |
| 2nd | Deuce court | Wide | 27 | 55% | +7.1±10.8 |