The final set in a tennis match: four years at Wimbledon

Authors: Magnus J. R.; Klaassen F. J. G. M.

Source: Journal of Applied Statistics, Volume 26, Number 4, 1 May 1999 , pp. 461-468(8)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

We consider the "final" (deciding) set in a tennis match. We examine whether it is true that the chances for both players to win the match are equal at the beginning of the final set, even though they were not equal at the beginning of the match. We also test whether it is easier for an unseeded woman to beat a seeded player than it is for an unseeded man, and whether male players are more closely equal in quality than are females. We examine whether the service dominance decreases in long matches, and whether winning the "pre-final" set provides an advantage in the final set. We use almost 90 000 points at Wimbledon to test all five hypotheses.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1999-05-01

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