Draw Coincidences - Wimbledon - 1969-2012 (Open Era Only)

Inspired by JHM's (my fellow moderator on 606v2) quote

"In fact, the coincidence of the same two players meeting in the 1st round in consecutive Wimbledons has occurred eight times since 1970."

I wanted to find the eight instances, and possibly near misses.

Consecutive Years @Wimbledon with same R1 matches

Year	PlayerID	PlayerName	OpponentPlayerID	OpponentName	ATP Verification Link
1970	M144	McManus, Jim	R055	Riessen, Marty	http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=R055&oId=M144
1971	R055	Riessen, Marty	M144	McManus, Jim
1988	S288	Saceanu, Christian	R016	Reneberg, Richey	http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=R016&oId=S288
1989	R016	Reneberg, Richey	S288	Saceanu, Christian
1990	M035	Mattar, Luiz	M338	Matsuoka, Shuzo	http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=M035&oId=M338
1991	M338	Matsuoka, Shuzo	M035	Mattar, Luiz
1993	W035	Woodforde, Mark	M338	Matsuoka, Shuzo	http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=W035&oId=M338
1994	M338	Matsuoka, Shuzo	W035	Woodforde, Mark
2000	S604	Sa, Andre	P398	Parmar, Arvind	http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=S604&oId=P398
2001	S604	Sa, Andre	P398	Parmar, Arvind
2006	B896	Becker, Benjamin	C514	Chela, Juan Ignacio	http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=C514&oId=B896
2007	B896	Becker, Benjamin	C514	Chela, Juan Ignacio
2007	G569	Ginepri, Robby	G415	Gonzalez, Fernando	http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=G569&oId=G415
2008	G569	Ginepri, Robby	G415	Gonzalez, Fernando
2010	M873	Mahut, Nicolas	I186	Isner, John	http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=I186&oId=M873
2011	I186	Isner, John	M873	Mahut, Nicolas

There are two additional interesting facts that emerged from this research.

1. Ginepri v Gonzalez turns out even more of an interesting coincidence. W 2007, RG 2008, W 2008.

2. Shuzo Matsuoka (JPN) has figured in two separate instances in this consecutive matrix, with Mark Woodforde and Luiz Mattar.

The Player IDs are from ATP (not ITF), and the ATP Verification links (H2H) have the same player IDs.

Non-Consecutive R1 matches

Year	PlayerID	PlayerName	OpponentPlayerID	OpponentName
1970	P074	Pattison, Andrew	V049	Van Dillen, Erik
1976	V049	Van Dillen, Erik	P074	Pattison, Andrew
1971	M111	McMillan, Frew	S103	Sakai, Toshiro
1973	S103	Sakai, Toshiro	M111	McMillan, Frew
1971	C020	Case, Ross	S123	Simpson, Jeff
1974	S123	Simpson, Jeff	C020	Case, Ross
1976	M118	Moore, Raymond	E005	Edmondson, Mark
1978	E005	Edmondson, Mark	M118	Moore, Raymond
1976	D074	Dent, Phil	L036	Lloyd, John
1981	L036	Lloyd, John	D074	Dent, Phil
1977	C044	Connors, Jimmy	L025	Lewis, Richard
1980	L025	Lewis, Richard	C044	Connors, Jimmy
1977	V049	Van Dillen, Erik	P059	Panatta, Adriano
1980	P059	Panatta, Adriano	V049	Van Dillen, Erik
1977	D048	Dupre, Pat	S058	Smid, Tomas
1981	S058	Smid, Tomas	D048	Dupre, Pat
1979	E005	Edmondson, Mark	A022	Amritraj, Vijay
1983	A022	Amritraj, Vijay	E005	Edmondson, Mark
1983	F030	Fleming, Peter	B021	Bates, Jeremy
1987	F030	Fleming, Peter	B021	Bates, Jeremy
1984	B021	Bates, Jeremy	M092	Motta, Cassio
1989	B021	Bates, Jeremy	M092	Motta, Cassio
1987	G022	Goldie, Dan	E025	Evernden, Kelly
1989	E025	Evernden, Kelly	G022	Goldie, Dan
1988	F035	Forget, Guy	E004	Edberg, Stefan
1996	E004	Edberg, Stefan	F035	Forget, Guy
1992	S331	Stoltenberg, Jason	H223	Haarhuis, Paul
1994	S331	Stoltenberg, Jason	H223	Haarhuis, Paul
1993	P226	Pioline, Cedric	D214	Damm, Martin
1999	D214	Damm, Martin	P226	Pioline, Cedric
1994	C274	Chang, Michael	C378	Costa, Albert
1996	C378	Costa, Albert	C274	Chang, Michael
1995	B484	Burgsmuller, Lars	B446	Bjorkman, Jonas
2001	B446	Bjorkman, Jonas	B484	Burgsmuller, Lars
1996	R255	Rafter, Patrick	V141	Vacek, Daniel
2001	V141	Vacek, Daniel	R255	Rafter, Patrick
1996	C328	Carlsen, Kenneth	L290	Lapentti, Nicolas
2003	C328	Carlsen, Kenneth	L290	Lapentti, Nicolas
1999	C487	Clement, Arnaud	P305	Portas, Albert
2006	P305	Portas, Albert	C487	Clement, Arnaud
2005	A479	Almagro, Nicolas	T315	Tursunov, Dmitry
2007	T315	Tursunov, Dmitry	A479	Almagro, Nicolas
2005	B747	Benneteau, Julien	K316	Kiefer, Nicolas
2008	K316	Kiefer, Nicolas	B747	Benneteau, Julien
2005	M762	Melzer, Jurgen	L360	Ljubicic, Ivan
2008	L360	Ljubicic, Ivan	M762	Melzer, Jurgen
2007	K435	Kohlschreiber, Philipp	S963	Serra, Florent
2009	K435	Kohlschreiber, Philipp	S963	Serra, Florent

I did not put verification links for the non-consecutive matches, but they can be found on the ATP website. (The adventurous posters can try building the URL using the player IDs in this table and use the first table links as an example).

I will take a look at other slams, in the next few weeks.

Anyone interested can build probabilities for such occurrences.

All data from unreliable and unverified ATP Website. E&OE. Please note that this is posted, with minor edits to suit a specific website, on 606v2 and MTL .

laverfan wrote:with minor edits to suit a specific website

LOL

summerblues wrote:

laverfan wrote:with minor edits to suit a specific website

LOL

I am glad that you like my sense of humour. (I am old, but not senile, at least yet ). You can read a different version on 606v2 or non-table version on MTL.

PS: Did you get your new Internet connection?

My internet installation is scheduled for next Saturday (I only ordered it yesterday after I got too frustrated trying to get FiOS) so the first week I will have to survive on my DSL. Thanks for asking.

What is your point here or JHM's?

I have a feeling if I told you it was my birthday tomorrow, you 'd draw a chart and try to prove it's not!

Tenez wrote:What is your point here or JHM's?

Interesting. "Rare" events happen more frequently than people intuitively expect them.

noleisthebest wrote:I have a feeling if I told you it was my birthday tomorrow, you 'd draw a chart and try to prove it's not!

Why would I draw a chart for something you consider a fact, or, for example, Draw Rigging/Fixing which is also a fact, correct?

Having 2 players playing against each other consecutively in the first round is not a particularly rare event. We have 64 matches in the first round and 128 players. For a player A to play player B, it's one chance in 127 (let's forget about seeding and the variation of players entering). But since we have 64 chance each year, the chance of 2 same players meeting in the first round consecutively is roughly 50% per first round draw....which you data actually show. So certainly not a rare event!

But that's very different from "wanting" player A and player B to meet which is 1/127.

Now the question is was there any vested interest by the Wimbledon organisers to spice the first round matches by trying to reproduce the previous year epic between Mahut and Isner?

If not they have been really lucky cause the chance of this happening would have been 1/127....so you may have to wait 127 years to make it a "normal" occurence!!!

SB & LF,

since you are pretty local, any plans for visiting USO and sending us some first-hand stories ?

noleisthebest wrote:SB & LF,

since you are pretty local, any plans for visiting USO and sending us some first-hand stories ?

I was planning to go this years, but the tickets did not work out.

LF - Do you sleep sometimes?

laverfan wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:SB & LF,

since you are pretty local, any plans for visiting USO and sending us some first-hand stories ?

I was planning to go this years, but the tickets did not work out.

That's a shame. Do fill us out on the local atmosphere when you can though do New Yorkers love it as much as we do Wimbledon?

It is more like a carnival, especially in the night matches.

laverfan wrote:It is more like a carnival, especially in the night matches.

It definitely seems a compete contrast to Wimbledon, Arthur Ashe looks like a place where it's only worth going to if you have a decent ticket, which has just reminded me I need to fill out that form for the ballot, I may get a ticket for next year....knowing my luck it would be for court 18 where Isner will be drawn against Mahut

noleisthebest wrote:....knowing my luck it would be for court 18 where Isner will be drawn against Mahut

The spectators will also be given a reward for sitting through the 3-day match.

noleisthebest wrote:SB & LF,

since you are pretty local, any plans for visiting USO and sending us some first-hand stories ?

Not this year no . Also, I find that when it really comes down to it, I prefer watching tennis (or most sports for that matter) on TV. The viewing angle pretty consistent from match to match, slow-motion replays, close-ups with multiple angles, commentary (esp when good) etc just trump watching live action for me.

For me, going to the USO is more fun during the early rounds - but that is just as much for the atmosphere as tennis itself. There are lots of people everywhere, plenty of matches on outer courts, the place is just buzzing with action. I went to the USO final match once only (Roger vs Andre) but by then most of the complex looks like a fair that is just closing down. And as far as the tennis action itself goes - as I said, I find I get to follow it better on TV.

So now if I ever go I try to go sometime around the first weekend - by then you start getting some decent matches involving seeds but you still have lots of action all over the place.

Apparently, it's become fun/popular watching qualifying rounds: more and more people are in the stands, average 7000, entrance is still free, plus you can catch the "big" names in practice

I'm lucky enough to have nice seats this year for this Thursday night session on Ashe, so fingers crossed Fed will be playing! to me!
One of my friends who had tickets for next Wednesday for the quarters is bringing his sister instead of me If it was a girlfriend I'd understand but it is his sister and she is a Nadal fan He is a Federer fan like me! Go figure...
Anyways, I'm excited for this Thursday!

sphairistike wrote:I'm lucky enough to have nice seats this year for this Thursday night session on Ashe, so fingers crossed Fed will be playing! to me!
One of my friends who had tickets for next Wednesday for the quarters is bringing his sister instead of me If it was a girlfriend I'd understand but it is his sister and she is a Nadal fan He is a Federer fan like me! Go figure...
Anyways, I'm excited for this Thursday!

Great!
Have a super time and don't forget to cheer for Nole

If he is playing I will! I'd love to see Federer bagel him in the final and beat him to win the USO for a record breaking 6th time!

sphairistike wrote:If he is playing I will! I'd love to see Federer bagel him in the final and beat him to win the USO for a record breaking 6th time!

I am with you on that one!

Tenez wrote:LF - Do you sleep sometimes?

I can survive with a couple of hours, typically.

sphairistike wrote: Anyways, I'm excited for this Thursday!

Very nice. Hope you enjoy night session on Ashe. The music can be loud.

laverfan wrote:

Tenez wrote:LF - Do you sleep sometimes?

I can survive with a couple of hours, typically.

THat's what I gathered. From 10am to 12pm BST! THat's about 5am to 7am your time!

I'd be dead by now.