Statisfaction: Murray is Becoming a Clutch Server

Andy Murray's success on grass this season has a lot to do with the age-old tennis axiom: win the big points and the match will follow

By Chris Oddo

(August 9, 2012) -- Andy Murray is most certainly a different player this year, and you don’t need a statistical analysis to come to that conclusion. Still, we went rummaging through the numbers to find out if there were any statistics that could help elucidate the reasons for Murray’s spectacular, gold-medal-winning summer.

It turns out there were. Whether by stroke of luck or stroke of genius, Murray has done a better job of protecting his serve this summer, particularly in the clutch.

The numbers, particularly on grass, are astounding.

Not much has been said of the fact, but Murray saved break points at an alarming rate on grass this season. Here’s a look at Murray’s percentage of break points saved numbers, on grass and overall, from 2006 to 2012:

% BREAK POINTS SAVED, ALL SURFACES	SEASON	% BREAK POINTS SAVED, ON GRASS
69	2012	78
61	2011	62
64	2010	71
65	2009	66
63	2008	71
60	2007	DID NOT PLAY
56	2006	63

The numbers showed that Murray did a fantastic job of knocking back break points on grass this year, and while there are surely many reasons for Murray’s elevated success on grass in 2012 (he made his first Wimbledon final and won the Olympic gold), the fact that he was more efficient -- and perhaps more importantly more aggressive--while facing break points than ever before can’t be a bad thing. For further proof, I looked back at Murray’s serving numbers for his career, both on all surfaces and on grass:

ANDY MURRAY	GRASS	ALL SURFACES
% BP’S SAVED 2012	78	69
% BP’S SAVED CAREER	69	62

Murray is saving break points at a much better clip, both on grass and overall. It’s not the only reason that Murray’s having more success in 2012, but I do believe that it is evidence that Murray is finally starting to deliver bigger, better serving under pressure. If this is indeed a trend rather than an aberration, expect Murray’s excellent results at Wimbledon and the Olympics to be a recurring theme.

(Photo Credit: Getty)