RallyIQ

WTA · Right-handed · 2 charted matches · 2022–2022

Paula Ormaechea

Shot expected value

The share of points Paula Ormaechea 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 · 88 shots

OptionUsedWin %Tour
FH through the middle 25% 45.6%±12.6 45.8%
FH crosscourt 19% 60.9%±13.2 52.7%
FH down the line 17% 47.0%±13.9 52.2%
BH down the line 17% 42.9%±13.8 50.0%
BH through the middle 15% 46.2%±14.3 46.2%

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

position worth 45% to the average player · 71 shots

OptionUsedWin %Tour
BH crosscourt 55% 53.4%±10.7 47.6%
BH through the middle 28% 44.2%±12.9 43.3%
BH down the line 17% 51.1%±14.5 46.8%

Long rally, 9+: drive to your backhand side

position worth 44% to the average player · 46 shots

OptionUsedWin %Tour
BH crosscourt 57% 36.1%±11.6 47.9%
BH through the middle 30% 39.8%±13.8 42.7%

Long rally, 9+: drive to your middle

position worth 51% to the average player · 39 shots

OptionUsedWin %Tour
FH crosscourt 36% 60.5%±13.8 52.8%
FH down the line 28% 50.4%±14.8 53.1%

Serve under pressure

Deuce court

1st serveUsageBreak ptWon when in
Wide 47% 50% 57% / 66%
Body 23% 50% ▲ 57% / 57%
T 30% 0% ▼ 63% / 68%

73 normal · 4 break-point 1st serves

Ad court

1st serveUsageBreak ptWon when in
Wide 37% 31% 67% / 66%
Body 24% 8% ▼ 54% / 56%
T 39% 62% ▲ 60% / 64%

59 normal · 13 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
Wide47% 48.2%±10.1 n=36
Body25% 51.8%±11.7 n=19
T29% 52.6%±11.4 n=22

Consistent with an optimal mix (p = 0.74).

Ad court

1st serveUsagePoints won
Wide36% 52.6%±11.0 n=26
Body21% 50.5%±12.3 n=15
T43% 43.5%±10.4 n=31

Consistent with an optimal mix (p = 0.34).

Return by serve direction

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

ServeCourtDirectionPointsWonvs tour
1stAd courtBody 25 46% +1.9±11.1
1stAd courtT 9 32% −3.1±12.3
1stAd courtWide 29 38% +3.4±10.4
1stDeuce courtBody 27 40% −2.6±10.7
1stDeuce courtT 21 40% +8.3±11.3
1stDeuce courtWide 19 35% +1.1±11.2
2ndAd courtBody 6 54% −0.8±13.7
2ndAd courtT 2 55% −0.3±14.5
2ndAd courtWide 13 54% +0.1±12.5
2ndDeuce courtBody 19 46% −8.9±11.7
2ndDeuce courtT 3 57% +1.0±14.2
2ndDeuce courtWide 3 52% −1.9±14.3

Charted matches