ATP: Roger Federer – Master (also) of the Crunchtime

When things get tough on hard, the best professionals show special qualities. In the ATP statistics for pressure situations Roger Federer is once again at the forefront.

It was by no means impossible to win against Marcos Baghdatis or Leonardo Mayer in the last 52 weeks – except perhaps in a third or fifth round. Mayer finished the 2017 season in 52nd position, but due to longer injury problems the Argentinean could only play 19 games on the Tour. Of which he won eleven. And I like to do so in the decisive set, such as against namesake Florian Mayer in the final of Hamburg.

The sample may be small in the case of Leonardo, but it still ranks among the top ten professionals in 2017 with 71.4% of the success rate in third or fifth sets. Just like Marcos Baghdatis, the experienced Cypriot has even won three quarters of his decisions. Two clutch players who don’t have the observers of the scene on their bill per se.

However, Roger Federer, who won 81.3% of all acts three or five, will lead this statistic – starting with the Australian Open 2017, where the Swiss won against Kei Nishikori, Stan Wawrinka and in the final against Rafael Nadal over the full distance.

Incidentally, the world’s number one in this ranking is not among the top ten professionals: Nadal’s success rate of only 64.3% over the year as a whole puts him in 19th place. And thus exactly the same as Alexander Zverev – whom he had beaten in five sets in Melbourne. Not quite as good as it looks for Dominic Thiem: The Lichtenwörther has a balance sheet of 36.8%, especially the US summer tour didn’t help Thiem in the crunchtime category.

On Asche, the 24-year-old’s favourite runner, the affair is already much more friendly: Dominic Thiem has won 75% of his deciding sentences on clay, which puts him in 17th place. Eight professionals in this category also have a white vest: Rafael Nadal, Tomas Berdych, Steve Johnson, Ryan Harrison, Juan Martin del Potro, Federico Delbonis, Adrian Mannarino and the indestructible Gilles Müller.

On grass, the list of crunchtime artists is even longer: 25 players have not lost a third or fifth set – including Tommy Haas (won against Federer in Stuttgart) and Peter Gojowczyk two Germans. And Sebastian Ofner, the sensational man from Wimbledon.

At Hartplatz, only two pros ended the year without a late defeat: Milos Raonic and Leonardo Mayer. Roger Federer’s 86.7% record was somewhat affected by the three-set defeat against David Goffin in London.