RallyIQ

WTA · Right-handed · 3 charted matches · 2022–2025

Katarzyna Kawa

Shot expected value

The share of points Katarzyna Kawa 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 50% to the average player · 91 shots

OptionUsedWin %Tour
FH crosscourt 32% 54.2%±11.7 52.7%
FH through the middle 18% 39.3%±13.4 45.8%
FH down the line 15% 39.5%±13.8 52.2%
BH through the middle 13% 41.4%±14.3 46.2%
BH crosscourt 11% 60.6%±14.7 50.9%

Rally, shots 5–8: drive to your forehand side

position worth 43% to the average player · 59 shots

OptionUsedWin %Tour
FH crosscourt 51% 48.7%±11.6 46.7%
FH through the middle 29% 33.1%±12.7 41.3%
FH down the line 20% 31.2%±13.5 44.9%

Rally, shots 5–8: drive to your backhand side

position worth 45% to the average player · 42 shots

OptionUsedWin %Tour
BH crosscourt 64% 45.8%±12.0 47.6%
BH down the line 36% 38.1%±13.5 46.8%

Serve under pressure

Deuce court

1st serveUsageBreak ptWon when in
Wide 42% 0% ▼ 62% / 66%
Body 22% 50% ▲ 55% / 57%
T 36% 50% ▲ 67% / 68%

124 normal · 4 break-point 1st serves

Ad court

1st serveUsageBreak ptWon when in
Wide 38% 50% ▲ 59% / 66%
Body 31% 4% ▼ 55% / 56%
T 32% 46% ▲ 64% / 64%

98 normal · 24 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. A direction loses 0.19 points per 100 serves for every 10 points of habitual usage, measured from WTA 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 serveUsagePoints won
Wide41% 49.2%±9.1 n=52
Body23% 56.0%±10.6 n=29
T37% 55.2%±9.3 n=47

Consistent with an optimal mix (p = 0.45).

Ad court

1st serveUsagePoints won
Wide40% 52.5%±9.2 n=49
Body25% 49.7%±10.5 n=31
T34% 49.9%±9.7 n=42

Consistent with an optimal mix (p = 0.88).

Return by serve direction

Return points won against each serve direction, compared with the tour average.

ServeCourtDirectionPointsWonvs tour
1stAd courtBody 30 47% +3.1±10.6
1stAd courtT 25 39% +3.8±10.8
1stAd courtWide 38 33% −1.6±9.4
1stDeuce courtBody 39 48% +4.9±9.9
1stDeuce courtT 15 35% +2.6±11.7
1stDeuce courtWide 38 30% −4.3±9.1
2ndAd courtBody 11 48% −7.5±12.8
2ndAd courtT 1 53% −1.8±14.7
2ndAd courtWide 16 61% +7.5±11.8
2ndDeuce courtBody 17 50% −4.8±12.0
2ndDeuce courtT 21 49% −7.4±11.5
2ndDeuce courtWide 6 48% −6.2±13.7

Charted matches