By Chris Oddo | Thursday, February 27, 2014

 

Who leads the ATP Tour in successful drop shots? It's one of the many tennis statistics that we'd like to see on our livescore app, but currently do not.

It's nearly March, and that means that it's about time for another baseball season to begin. Whether you're a baseball fan or not, there's one thing that is undeniably awesome about baseball--the ubiquitous, over-the-top availability of statistics. Want to know what your favorite player is batting with runners in scoring position, with a 2-0 count, while chewing tobacco and with one hole in the left sock? Baseball has you covered.

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Over here in the tennis world, meanwhile, fans and journalists are still left largely in the dark. The ATP and WTA tours do a great job of archiving—and feeding us—the basic numbers, but when we want to dig a little deeper to really try and crack the code of today's game, the numbers we need are few and far between.

Here's a short list of six stats that we'd really enjoy seeing on our livescores app in the not-too-distant future.

1. Deeper Break Point Stats

Yes, it's great to know that Tomas Berdych saved five of seven break points, or that Ivo Karlovic has saved 75 percent of break points for the season, but how about some more details? For instance, how about telling us Roger Federer's 1st-serve percentage when he's facing break point? And while you're at it, how about telling us how many aces and unreturnable serves he has hit on such points?

Just telling us how many break points somebody saved isn't telling us the whole story. What about how many winners Novak Djokovic hits on break points versus errors? Who leads the tour in digging out of 0-40 holes, and who has hit the most return winners while break point down? Who has saved the most break points when he has had to hit his second serve?

Maybe we're asking a lot, but it would be nice if the tours could start somewhere...

2. Returns in Play

Which players are the best at getting first serves back in play? We know John Isner rarely—if ever—breaks serve, but what we don't know are the actual statistical deficiencies that are stacked against Isner. I've always wondered if Isner should just go for more winners while returning serve, and I'd sure like to know how many winners he actually hits (particularly against second serve) so I could have a better understanding of the big man's deficiencies. More than likely, his coach would benefit from this as well.

3. Passing Shots

Who is the best on tour at passing their opponents when they are at the net? What is the typical success rate of an approaching player and which players have the highest ratio? Who has hit the most lob winners on the WTA Tour? Wouldn't that be cool to know?

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4. Drop Shots

What percentage of points does Jerzy Janowicz win when he attempts a drop shot versus what percentage of break points down does Janowicz win when he attempts a drop shot? Conversely, which player is best at defending their opponent's drop shots (on which surface) and which are the best?

5. Unforced Errors and Forced Errors

Which player averages more unforced errors per match than any other? Which player forces the most errors? Who makes the most errors while returning serve? Who makes the most backhand errors? They are subjective statistics and would vary from tournament to tournament, but regardless, they would be invaluable to many tennis fans, writers and coaches.

6. Direction of Shot

Who leads the tour in backhand-down-the-line winners? How about forcing errors to the crosscourt on the forehand side? Which player hits the most aces down the T, and which player hits the most unreturnable serves out wide in the deuce court?

We'll stop there but we could have continued. Clearly tennis is a bit undermanned and underfinanced when compared to baseball, but it sure would be nice if the ATP and WTA tours could get together and find a way to step up the statistical analysis, don't you think?

What tennis stats would you like to see more of? Leave your ideas in the comments section and we'll be sure that the powers that be see more of them.