Comparing the games of Djokovic and Murray?

[Tennis_Maestro]

I thought the thread was based on styles as opposed to a comparison between how good each player's individual strokes were.

Anyhow....

First serve: Murray.
Second serve: Djokovic by a million miles, no contest, Murray's second serve has always been his kryptonite.
Forehand: Murray.
Backhand. Ever so close, but for variation and control, Djoker has got to this one here.
Lob: Muzza, country mile.
Net play: Muzza
Defence: Djoker
Return of serve: Djoker
Movement: Same as defence more or less, Djoker by a mile.

[tank_job]

Originally Posted by kragster

I agree with the overall result but would like to make some corrections.

a) I think Djoker's FH (based on past history at least) has been a far far bigger weapon than Murray's. In 2007-2008 Djokers FH was considered the 3rd best in the sport by many commentators (after Fed/nadal). Even now, I would put Djoker's FH well ahead of Murray's.

b) Murray has way better touch than Djoker. That should be included as a category. This includes not just volleys but drop shots and the like.

So overall

BH: Equal
FH : Djokovic
Serve: Equal
Movement: Equal
Touch: Murray
Mental: Djokovic (based on their past results not just these last 3 months)

Basically not much to choose between the two, both are very complete players. I think Murray has room to improve on his 1st serve % and Djoker has room to improve on his touch game.

Touch is widely regarded as innate, though.

Murray scores highly on some of those 'innate' skills, such as anticipation, volleys, touch, point-construction...etc... You'd almost think he has more potential than Djokovic (who, by comparison is more workmanlike) as a result.

[TennisBatman]

Murray has better smarts and discipline...

Djokovic has better raw power and aggressiveness...

[Tennis_Maestro]

Originally Posted by TennisBatman

Murray has better smarts and discipline...

Djokovic has better raw power and aggressiveness...

Funny that. I actually feel the opposite. For me Djokovic has always been the smartest player on a tennis court and Murray has always possessed an ability to be effective whilst being more aggressive. Don't jus base it on yesterday's match.

[sonicare]

Murrays's FH better than djokovic?

WTF am I reading

Murray's FH is 2nd or 3rd worst in the top 10. some of you guys are frankly ridiculous and jumping on the bandwagon yet again. pathetic

oh and djokovic's return is also in a different league to murrays and his bh is better too because he changes direction much better.

Murray does have better touch and volleys though.

[TheF1Bob]

Don't be fooled by Noles lack of power, he has plenty of it but...

Never showcases it unless match points down.

[mellowyellow]

Originally Posted by Cesc Fabregas

Serve- Djokovic. Better first serve percentage and a better 2nd serve
Forehand- Clearly Djokovic here
Backhand- Slight edge to Murray
Return- Slight edge to Murray
Net- Murray but Djokovic braver and more willing to come foward
Movement- Djokovic slightly

This probably the best and most realistic. Murray net/touch is good, but against the best and in the important matches he overuses it to his own detriment so I would say equal. I would also say the return is splitting hairs. In the week in and week out this is clearly where Djoko is dominant over AM. With all of the "fake" pains I wonder if he actually is a durable enough player to get multiple slams and have a great career when all said and done. I would also point out that Murray has had mostly opportunist wins in his career from the first Fed win in cincy to the 2012 USO. That merely being a realist, he has yet to really take the 2 of top 4 players in any one big tourney or be the one to buck the scheduling to win with the Sat night Semi Sun Final in a Masters.

[PhrygianDominant]

Originally Posted by sonicare

Murrays's FH better than djokovic?

WTF am I reading

Murray's FH is 2nd or 3rd worst in the top 10. some of you guys are frankly ridiculous and jumping on the bandwagon yet again. pathetic

oh and djokovic's return is also in a different league to murrays and his bh is better too because he changes direction much better.

Murray does have better touch and volleys though.

First, there is no bandwagon, I have always been a fan.

Second, I made my post about the differences in their forehands quite clear.

Yes I agree that Murray has one of the worst forehands in the top ten, but it is also the joke's weaker wing. Djokovic doesn't generate pace on his own very well on that wing, unless the ball is quite high in his strike zone. He can't flatten it out. He also has an exaggerated back swing that allows him to get jammed pretty often.

Murray has an incosistent forehand, but in the USO final and also the semifinal at the AO Murray has shown a much improved forehand that allows him to step in and dictate, and I think it looks great. His problems on that wing are more mental than anything else at this point.

I would say Djokovic is better at teeing off on second serves, but Murray neutralizes first serves a bit better.

Murray has touch to spare, and much better volleys, shame he doesn't get into net more to finish points.

[PhrygianDominant]

Here is my edited breakdown to encompass the discussion so far

1st Serve: Murray
2nd Serve: Djokovic

1st serve return: Murray
2nd serve return: Djokovic

Forehand: Djokovic, even though Murray is gaining on him in this department. Djokovic has a better hit in general, but Murray can flatten his out, djokovic can't, and murray can supplay pace on his own, Djokovic has trouble here, we'll see how Murray develops his offensive game.

Backhand: Equal. Djokovic is better up the line, but Murray has that instant offense backhand, noone can hurt him there, and he has a better slice.

Volleys: Murray, should com to to the net more but he doesn't.

Overhead: Equal

Movement: Djokovic, but only because he uses it more offensively. Also Djokovic has better balance and slides. Murray is faster in raw foot speed, kids got some wheels.

Touch Shots: Murray, very natural sublte hands.

Mental: Djokovic, but 2011 proved that. He had three years from 2008 to get into multiple slams. I bet Murray wins something a LOT sooner than that, then we'll see what the score is.


All said and done, Murray is right there, but that mental edge Djokovic had all last year goes a long way. That's my 2 cents.

[syc23]

They are very similar but the only stat that matters is who gets more Ws and post Olympics, it's 2-0 Murray.

Murray will gain more in the mental department from the USO win so let's see how Murray 2.0 v Nole 2.0 will match up going forward.

[Paul Murphy]

Forehand - Djokovic (Murray needs to hit down the line more often - he's very reluctant to do so).

Backhand - Djokovic but it's close.

Return - tie.

Serve - Djokovic (mainly due to second delivery).

Variety - Murray by considerable margin.

Movement - tie.

[DeShaun]

Originally Posted by sonicare

Murrays's FH better than djokovic?

WTF am I reading

Murray's FH is 2nd or 3rd worst in the top 10. some of you guys are frankly ridiculous and jumping on the bandwagon yet again. pathetic

oh and djokovic's return is also in a different league to murrays and his bh is better too because he changes direction much better.

Murray does have better touch and volleys though.

You still would have to explain why Murray got the better of Nole in forehand-to-forehand exchanges in the USO final which he did.