Match Stats/Report - Djokovic vs Murray, Rome semi-final, 2011

[Waspsting]

Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(2) in the Rome semi-final, 2011 on clay

Djokovic would go onto win the title, beating Rafael Nadal in the final. Murray would win the title in 2016, beating Djokovic in the final

Djokovic won 103 points, Murray 91

Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (65/96) 68%
- 1st serve points won (43/65) 66%
- 2nd serve points won (15/31) 48%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (11/96) 11%

Murray...
- 1st serve percentage (62/98) 63%
- 1st serve points won (40/62) 65%
- 2nd serve points won (13/36) 36%
- Aces 6, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (19/98) 19%

Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 48%
- to BH 50%
- to Body 2%

Murray served...
- to FH 48%
- to BH 49%
- to Body 3%

Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 75 (37 FH, 38 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 1 runaround BH
- 12 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- 6 Forced (4 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (75/94) 80%

Murray made...
- 83 (39 FH, 44 BH)
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 7 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 3 Forced (2 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (83/94) 88%

Break Points
Djokovic 6/13 (7 games)
Murray 5/10 (6 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 31 (11 FH, 11 BH, 4 FHV, 1 BHV, 4 OH)
Murray 27 (11 FH, 7 BH, 3 FHV, 1 FH1/2V, 1 BHV, 4 OH)

Djokovic's FHs - 1 cc, 6 inside-out (1 at net), 3 inside-in, 1 longline pass
- BHs - 1 cc, 5 dtl (1 pass), 2 drop shots, 1 lob, 2 net chord dribblers

- 2 OHs were on the bounce

Murray's FHs - 5 cc (3 passes, 1 at net), 1 dtl pass, 3 inside-out (1 at net), 1 inside-in return, 1 drop shot
- BHs - 1 cc, 4 dtl, 1 inside-in return, 1 drop shot

- 2 from serve-volley points (1 BHV, 1 OH), both first volleys

- 1 other FHV was a swinging inside-out

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 43
- 33 Unforced (15 FH, 15 BH, 2 FHV, 1 OH)... with 1 FH at net & 2 non-net, swinging FHVs
- 10 Forced (4 FH, 4 BH, 1 BHV, 1 BHOH)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.8

Murray 57
- 32 Unforced (20 FH, 9 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 BHOH)... with 2 FH at net & 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 25 Forced (15 FH, 10 BH)... with 3 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.5

(Note 1: All 1/2 volleys refer to such shots played at net. 1/2 volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke numbers)

(Note 2: the Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is an indicator of how aggressive the average UE was. The numbers presented for these two matches are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Djokovic was 18/27 (67%) at net

Murray was...
- 16/29 (55%) at net, including...
- 2/3 (67%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves

Match Report
Great match, with a see-saw thrilling finale and brilliant, clean hitting, fluid baseline action. Djokovic is the chief engine of said action, but Murray’s no puppet on a string and compensates by serving more powerfully and returning more surely to leave things close to even. He serves for the match at 5-4 in the decider and is 2 points away from victory at 30-15 at his closest. Djokovic prevails in a particularly well played end of the ending, the full stop of the exclamation mark of the match

Djokovic is at his very best from the back in terms of controlling the ball (as opposed to consistency, which is good, but not his very best). There’s hard hitting and there’s clinical hitting. Here, Djoko is clinically hard hitting - strainless but with testing force. And he puts the ball wherever he wants to - cc, dtl in the corners or longline around the middle of court off both sides, with the odd back-away FH inside-out thrown in (which he doesn’t really need since his BH is so good, but so is Murray’s). Even drop shots. It’s rare for Djoko to consistently score with drop shots, but he does here

All this allows him to move Murray around all over the court, including forwards, and he’s adept at finishing him off too. Throw in exemplary movement and this could be a masterclass blowout

Instead, it’s a masterpiece match, with Murray rising to the challenge after an initial let-down. While its advantage in serve and return that keeps him even after the first set (he returns particularly well), he stays close enough in court action that small advantage on the first two shots keeps him in touching distance to Djoko in master-mode. BH is particularly good. Doesn’t quite have Djoko’s easy variety of direction (though he has considerable amount and more than his norm, with excellent dtl aggressive shots), but his cc shot is even better and by far the most secure shot on show. Against formidable opposition of Djoko’s BH

Still, he can’t move Djoko around the way Djoko can him, though he does counter-move Djoko about some, with the angles created by Djoko’s lead. Not all the time - its not a wide, open, corner to corner match - but some. He doesn’t move as well as Djoko because he doesn’t slide, but is probably even quicker in running about the court (and has to be). And his FH doesn’t have the persistent power and depth of Djoko’s

Serving better and returning better is a must for Murray - and he does both

Serve & Return
Just solid serving and returning from Djoko, and a bit more than that from Murray - more powerful serve, more consistent return while being proactively aggressive with it

Unreturneds - Djoko 11%, Murray 19%, broken down as -
Aces/service winners - Djoko 4, Murray 7
First serve unreturnable rate - Djoko 6%, Murray 11%
Return FEs drawn - Djoko 3, Murray 6
Return UEs drawn - Djoko 4, Murray 6

… with both players facing 94 serves. That’s clear cut. Murray virtually getting twice what Djoko does in every area. Within context of there not being a lot to ‘get’ going on in terms of unreturned serves, as tends to be the way on clay, and with such quality returners on show

Murray steps a pace or 2 in the court when returning second serves. Doesn’t hurt his consistency any and he can throw his body weight behind the very early taken shots to add even more force to it, including knocking away consecutive winners to gain one of his breaks. He tends not to aim wide when returning like this (both in this match and in general) and in general, his consistency can suffer a little (acceptable cost for the power of the shot), though it doesn’t at all here

Just a normal second serve from Djoko - neither easy, nor hard to attack. Very good consistency on second return by Murray, given he’s always being forceful in taking the return earlier. Its very high level critique to note he doesn’t hit wide on top of early and hard. But more width at cost of power would probably be better against this opponent, who seems to be unbothered by just pace and early taken shot

Djoko still wins 48% second serve points. Sans small 2 double faults, its 15/29 - a great yield, given Murray’s return should be pushing him on defensive for third ball (or even end the point) so often. That’s about Djoko’s superiority in play. Murray’s return is excellent

By contrast, Murray wins just 36% second serve points, despite Djoko not returning as aggressively, which again points to Djoko’s playing advantage. Typical Djoko stuff - clinical, easy hefty returns deep-ish down the middle. By his norm, depth is probably down (as in, number of returns right on the baseline forcing third ball half-volleys) and he returns slightly wide more often than usual. Not wide enough to trouble the very quick Murray unduly, but Djoko’s masterful in making most of getting Murray moving

Cute, 1 point shy of literally identical serving pattern. In raw numbers, direction of serves
- to FH - both 45
- to BH - Djoko 46, Murray 46
- to Body- Djoko 2, Murray 3

Gist - Murray serving more powerfully, returning more regularly and with greater force to come away with 8% lead in freebies, and on whole, better starting point for rallies, particularly with his second return. He needs all that, because once the return is made…

Play - Baseline & Net
Winners - Djoko 31, Murray 27
Errors forced - Djoko 25, Murray 10 (15 FH FEs for Murray)
UEs - Djoko 33, Murray 32

First set breadstick is only half a blow-out, but twists match long stats Djoko’s way. With seemingly every game in second half of the decider poised on knifes edge (with great tennis filling in the content), that first set is a distant memory come the end

 

[Waspsting]

First 3 games takes 25 minutes, with Djoko’s love hold opener being followed by 10 and 16 point break games. Superb action, particularly the 16-pointer - as good as anything in the match. But then Murray is poor to give up rest games in set (Djoko’s also very good)

In a sense, that by-the-end forgotten first set speaks to one of the crucial differences between the two players; the mentality. Maintaining focus and toughness is especially important for a relatively passive player like Murray. Aggressive players with strong serves and on fast courts can afford some slack, but not a counter-puncher who relies on consistency and outlasting opponents on slow surfaces. Measured against a very high bar, Murray’s prone to these bouts of looseness more than he can afford. Its happened in multiple Australian Open finals against Djoko

Numbers are good and action is even better than that. Good lot of UEs to end exciting, long rallies and the UEs that come from stationary rallies (particularly BH-BH) don’t come easily and with excellent hitting from both players

The big difference there are the FEs, with Murray having 25 to Djoko’s 10, and 15 of those are FHs. More are drawn by powerful, wide FH cc’s than by BH line shots. One of Djoko’s greatest strengths is too successfully attack in moderation relatively safely - and its on show here with all the errors he’s forced

Not only are UEs virtually identical, so is there breakdown -
- Neutral - Djoko 15, Murray 17
- Attacking - Djoko 7, Murray 6
- Winner Attempts - Djoko 11, Murray 9

By grounshots (excluding 4 groundstokes at net)
- Murray BH 8
- Djoko FH 14, Djoko BH 15
- Murray FH 18

Typically, having big UE advantage on BH would be very important in this match-up (with typical dynamic being bland). Less so here because dynamic is much more fluid than the norm. There are good lot of BH-BH neutral rallies, with excellent ball striking from both and those rallies tend to go on for awhile. If Murray is slightly better at yanking the ball a little wide, its not too important, but clearly, he’s missing lot less

Both players have 4 BH dtl winners. Djoko goes for the shot more often, and it has hand in some of Murray’s large FH FEs, Murray less so but he also misses less often. With slightly better ability to jerk the BH cc a little wider, BH cc - BH dtl 1-2s suggests itself as a potentially excellent weapon for Murray (here and in general). By that standard, he’s doesn’t indulge too much. Its worth doing since his BH matches up to Djoko’s better than the FH does

FH cc rallies tend not to stay stationary for long, with Djoko in particularly changing directions or going attackingly wide to get Murray moving. Murray’s match high 20 UEs (2 are net shots) isn’t too far from Djoko’s FH, but more importantly, he tends to get outhit and outmanuvered in rallies starting with FH cc exchanges. All credit to Djoko for that - his play is delightful in its command of direction and clinical stock force. Murray’s FH isn’t bad, its just outdone by a better one

To be clear, Murray’s offence is very good too, particularly in the last set, where he hits 14 winners (Djoko has 12). But even there, he’s less often dictating than being dictated to. The moving-opponent-around fluidity of action is almost always led by Djoko and Murray’s movements are tested (thus, allowed to shine) far more than Djoko’s is. Djoko merely seems to be in the right position all the time, as much for controlling action as movement. Not that he doesn’t have to run around when Murray counter-attacks with the angles opened up by fluid rallies, but he’s comfortably up to it

Net play has a hand in things, and net points read
- Djoko 18/27 at 67%, Murray 16/29 at 55%

Murray’s figure is deceptive in that considerable lot of what he loses is in dealing with Djoko’s excellent drop shots. He’s got 4 running-down-drop-shot errrors (just 1 UE) and a further 2 groundies at net. When he comes in on his own terms, not necessarily from overwhelming approach shots, he does well in forecourt. Djoko more in control when he comes up and Murray passes well to nick points from the at-net Djoko. He has 4 passing winners and forces 2 volleying errors (Djoko has 3 winners and doesn’t force any volleying errors)

Match Progression
Djokovic stamps his intentions from the first point and game, which he holds to love with 4 winners (ace, FH inside-out, third ball BH dtl and another FH inside-out). And then breaks in game with lively rallies. Murray responds by breaking back in a 16 point game that’s even livelier. As starts go, it doesn’t get much better

Then Murray does a Murray and folds to lose next 4 games in quick times. Djoko maintains high level, but Murray’s FH lets him down badly, and gives up 6 UEs in the run, including 2 simple shots at net

Murray’s got his head back in the game for second set and his first serve becomes more potent (partially helped by Djoko slipping from virtually perfect in his returning). Sizable 25% unreturneds for Murray in the set, including 4 aces and a service winner

But Djoko continues to control rallies more. His putting away the drop shot, that had been highly effective in first set, is sign that Murray’s hitting better

Murray holds deuce game for 3-2, with his serve getting him past Djoko’s attacking vigour. And then breaks 30 to move ahead. The BH dtl winner he strikes to open the game comes as a surprise as he’d hardly gone for such point ending stuff earlier

14/23 points left in the set end with winners (2 aces) to 7 UEs (including an easy OH and swinging FHV from no-man’s land) as action heats up. Djoko’s at net for good lot of it. The two trade tough holds - Murray saving a break point in 10 point game to move to 5-2, Djoko saving 2 in an 8 pointer right after, before Murray serves out to 15, finishing with a flourishing BH cc winner from routine position

The third set carries on in the same high quality of the last sets ending, with barely a blip and tensions of the finishing line drawing closer

Two trade breaks starting at 2-1. Djoko goes to 3-1 in game with points ending in errors, but after good rallies. Murray hits back with some great shot-making to break back - FH dtl sets up winning an early point with a FH cc at net winner and from 30-30, he hits consecutive, step-in inside-in return winners (1 of each wing)

There are 5 winners in 8 point game next, including a rune of 6 in a row starting from last game. Djoko starts with a superb BH drop shot winner, but its Murray who finishes with a FH1/2V and third ball FH inside-out to end the game

At 3-3, Djoko’s made exactly 1 UE for the set. He makes 4 quickly to be broken to love (including a double fault) and fall behind 3-4

Next 3 games are all breaks, all with great action. Powerful game by Djoko to level at 4-4, with a BH cc winner beautifully built up standing out, before ending with a FHV winner after overpowering Murray from the back

Good rallies, ending with UEs in the break after. A return to the baseline near the end of the 12 point game brings up second break point where Murray is on defensive, before drawing a BH error to leave himself ready to serve for the match

He reaches 30-15, with the point he lost coming from a net chord dribbling winner, but double faults. Excellent tennis for rest of game, though it does ultimately ends with another double fault

2 difficult holds take things to tiebreak. Djoko’s down 0-30 before holding, and Murray’s down 15-30 and taken to deuce in the final game, where he ends to take net, including with a serve-volley, to hold

The only thing the set lacks is a competitive tiebreak. Murray defends superbly in the opening point, but misses a routine FHV to lose it. He hits back with a perfect BH dtl, but misses a repeat rigth after to stay behind 3-1

From there, Djoko simply outplays him, aggressively winning points with FH cc, BH dtl pass winner and 2 drop shot points - the first bringing Murray in only to perfectly lob him for a winner and the second good enough to force the error by itself and end the match

Summing up, one of the best clay court matches in recent years. And as Djokovic would go onto win the final by beating Rafael Nadal in the final, not dampened by the after-thought that “yes, well, Nadal would have thrashed both of them”

The clean ball striking alone would make for good tennis, particularly Djokovic’s, but he also puts the ball wherever he wants off either wing, including with drop shots in a top class demonstration of moving-opponent-around play. Murray moves as required, and hits back with some of his own offence, while serving more powerfully and returning better (more regularly and more pressuringly)

All that, with the two neck and neck as final set nears its end and breaks coming thick and fast from both players makes for a fantastic spectacle. At the very end, Djokovic playing his best to take the tie-break and the match

Picking the best Djokovic-Murray match is a lot easier than picking the worst. This one, along with the 2015 Canada final, is up there

Stats for the final between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal - Duel Match Stats/Reports - Djokovic vs Nadal, Madrid & Rome finals, 2011 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)