Duel Match Stats/Reports - Federer vs Djokovic, Monte Carlo semi-finals, 2008 & 2014

Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-2 retired in the Monte Carlo semi-final, 2008 on clay

Federer would go onto lose the final to Rafael Nadal for the third year in a row. Djokovic had won the pair's previous encounter at Australian Open shortly before

Federer won 58 points, Djokovic 46

Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (21/42) 50%
- 1st serve points won (17/21) 81%
- 2nd serve points won (11/21) 52%
- Aces 1, Service Winners 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (9/42) 21%

Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (37/62) 60%
- 1st serve points won (22/37) 59%
- 2nd serve points won (10/25) 40%
- Aces 2 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (7/62) 11%

Serve Patterns
Federer served...
- to FH 33%
- to BH 60%
- to Body 7%

Djokovic served...
- to FH 34%
- to BH 66%

Return Stats
Federer made...
- 52 (19 FH, 33 BH), including 3 runaround FHs & 1 return-approach
- 1 Winner (1 FH), a runaround FH
- 5 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 FH), including 1 runaround FH
- 3 Forced (2 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (52/59) 88%

Djokovic made...
- 33 (12 FH, 21 BH), including 2 return-approaches
- 2 Winners (2 FH)
- 6 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (1 FH, 3 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (33/42) 79%

Break Points
Federer 3/5 (3 games)
Djokovic 1/4 (2 games)

Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Federer 20 (13 FH, 4 BH, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Djokovic 18 (11 FH, 1 BH, 3 FHV, 3 OH)

Federer's FHs - 3 cc, 1 cc/inside-in, 5 dtl (1 pass), 3 inside-in (1 runaround return) and 1 net chord dribbler
- BHs - 3 cc passes and 1 dtl at net

Djokovic's FHs - 2 cc passes, 3 dtl, 1 inside-out, 3 inside-in (2 returns) and 2 longline
- BH - 1 dtl

- 1 FHV from a return-approach point
- 1 OH was on the bounce and not a net point

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Federer 21
- 11 Unforced (5 FH, 6 BH)
- 10 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.4

Djokovic 26
- 20 Unforced (13 FH, 7 BH)
- 6 Forced (3 FH, 3 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.5

(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)

(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
Federer was...
- 6/9 (67%) at net, with...
- 0/1 return-approaching

Djokovic was...
- 11/15 (73%) at net, with...
- 1/2 return-approaching

Match Report
Hard hitting match that's cut short by Djokovic retiring with a sore throat. Whatever's going on with his throat, he doesn't appear to be unduly hampered of play - if at all

There's no holding back from either player in the first set as they trade blows from the back. Even regulation are hit hard - by both men and off both sides - and both are eager to kill points decisively

There are 14 games. Federer has 20 winners, Djoko 18 - winners per game ratio Fed 1.43, Djoko 1.29. It is extremely rare for both players to have higher than 1 winner per game on clay... I can't think of another off the top of my head

Fed's taken to deuce in game 3, but is never in much trouble, having led 40-15 and striking a service winner at deuce. He is in a lot of trouble though in his next service game, where a pair of Djoko FH winners takes him to 15-40. A deep ball draws an error to thwart first break point and on the second, Fed's FH dribbles over net chord for winner. He's still not out of the wood as Djoko return-approaches and puts away a FHV winner to bring up a third break point. Fed saves it with a third ball FH dtl winner

Having told Djoko's parents to 'be quiet' with less than overwhelming politeness at start of next game, Fed return-approaches himself and whacks a decent OH. Djoko slaps it away for a FH cc pass winner. Fed applauds. The game goes 10 points (no break points) and is another FH fest, though its a wild BH winner attempt miss by Fed that ends it

Finally, Djoko is broken in another extended game. A FH cc winner from regulation position from Fed is the pick of the shots in the game, which ends with a ill judged, 3rd ball sharply angled BH cc winner attempt miss from Djoko, who is a bit slow to move to a couple of balls in the game. Nothing concern causing

Second set carries on the same, hard hitting shots way. Fed's taken to deuce in game 2, where Djoko hits a pair of FH inside-in return winners against first serves. A couple of times, Djoko squats to lean on his racquet - again, nothing out of the ordinary

Fed breaks in game 3, passing Djoko BH cc after forcing an awkward BHOH. Next point, Djoko drop shots Fed to net - and a couple of shots later, wishes he hadn't as an OH goes by him. Djoko double faults on break point

Only to break back to love, moving to 0-40 with 3 winners before a Fed FH error

Fed makes it 3 breaks on the trot, in the worst game of the match. There are 8 UEs in 12 points - including the last 6 points. Djoko makes 6 of them, including the last 3 points
At the changeover, he walks over to Federer and concedes the match

Serve & Return
Strong serving by Federer. He hammers balls down with more power than acute placement (by his standards). Curiously, Djoko tends to make the tougher returns and miss the easier ones. Note 4/6 return errors being unforced

He can't make them with much authority though and Fed's in killer mood on third ball (more later)

Djoko serves hard too, and places it well (by his standard). Comparing the two players' serves, Fed's are still better placed... his personal below par of placement is still wider than Djoko's personal above par
Fed's returning is the outstanding feature of serve-return complex, and he makes a huge 88% returns, with reasonable authority though he's prone to blocking back the BH.

On third ball, Djoko plays similarly to Fed but...

Play - Baseline & Net
... he's not as good at for two reasons

a) his serve isn't as strong... the third balls that Fed attacks are weaker and shorter than the ones Djoko does
b) his shot making is a good ways bellow Fed's, which is outstanding

While Fed leads with FH and is lethal with it (13 winners... more than his total 11 UEs, 5 of which are FHs), he hits BHs hard and firm too. Often longline. Despite 0 baseline-to-baseline winners of BH (all his winners are passes or at net), Fed's BH is strongly hit all match. It would be very difficult to beat it down BH-BH even if Djoko could have initiated such rallies (which he can't). Just 6 BH UEs is a good outcome for Fed too - 1 less than Djoko

Djoko doesn't take a step back though. He's not pushed into playing the same attacking game as Fed, he seems to relish it. Action was similar - with slightly lower quality play - in the pair's last match in Australian Open, which Djoko won

He too leads with FH and he too looks for dtl point killers. He's very good at too - though trailing winners by 2, he forces 4 extra errors and thus, actually leads points ended forcefully 28-26. And that's with Fed being better defensively... Djoko's movement is a bit suspect, Fed's is silky and fast. Djoko forcing more errors is also partially due to his attacks not being as decisive. Where Fed hits winners, Djoko can 'only' force errors

Djoko doesn't have Fed's efficiency in attack. 4/11 Fed's UEs are attacking shots or winner attempts or 36%. For Djoko, the figure is 11/20 or 55%

Djoko supplements his attacking groundgame with net play. He's not pushed into it - he starts approaching on his own initiative right from the start. Its a good move and pays off - Djoko wins 73% of 15 approaches, compared to Fed's 67% of 9

Summing up, a very good, fast paced attacking clay match. Cliché though it is, the two players look like two fighters both eager to go for the knockout right out the gate. Federer is better at it before match is cut short by Djokovic's killer sore throat

Stats for final between Federer and Rafael Nadal - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...dal-vs-federer-monte-carlo-final-2008.645189/
Stats for pair's preceding match, '08 Australian Open semi - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...derer-australian-open-semi-final-2008.661180/

In 2014, Federer beat Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 in the Monte Carlo semi-final, on clay

Federer would go onto lose the final to Stan Wawrinka, his fourth runner-up finish at the event which he has to date not won. Djokovic was the defending champion and would win again the next year. The pair would go onto contest the Wimbledon final shortly afterwards, with Djokovic winning

Federer won 66 points, Djokovic 50

Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (40/57) 70%
- 1st serve points won (33/40) 83%
- 2nd serve points won (10/17) 59%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (15/57) 26%

Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (40/59) 68%
- 1st serve points won (24/40) 60%
- 2nd serve points won (12/19) 63%
- Aces 2 (1 second serve)
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (15/59) 25%

Serve Patterns
Federer served...
- to FH 46%
- to BH 52%
- to Body 2%

Djokovic served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 56%
- to Body 2%

Return Stats
Federer made...
- 44 (20 FH, 24 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (4 FH, 4 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 5 Forced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (44/59) 75%

Djokovic made...
- 41 (19 FH, 22 BH)
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (3 FH, 3 BH)
- 5 Forced (3 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (41/56) 73%

Break Points
Federer 3/5 (4 games)
Djokovic 0/2 (1 game)

Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Federer 14 (7 FH, 2 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Djokovic 12 (6 FH, 1 BH, 3 FHV, 2 OH)

Federer's FHs - 2 cc, 3 dtl, 1 inside-in and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 1 cc pass and 1 dtl

- 2 FHVs were swinging shots (1 not a net point)

Djokovic's FHs - 2 cc, 1 inside-out and 3 inside-in
- BH - 1 dtl

- 1 OH was on the bounce from the baseline

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Federer 22
- 16 Unforced (11 FH, 4 BH, 1 BHV)
- 6 Forced (6 FH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.6

Djokovic 37
- 21 Unforced (9 FH, 21 BH)
- 16 Forced (4 FH, 11 BH, 1 FHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 43.3

(Note 1: all half-volleys refer to such shots played at net. Half -volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke counts)

(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
Federer was...
- 13/14 (93%) at net, including...
- 2/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves

Djokovic was 4/7 (57%) at net

Match Report
If Djoko quit early in '08, he plays on late here. Somethings obviously wrong with his right arm and his play from end of first set to the end is feeble, but he sticks it out to the inglorious end. Its a pity, because match was shaping up nicely to that point

Djokovic's Injury
Lets get this out of the way first. Djoko's right arm is taped from elbow to wrist and according to commentators, he's had a wrist injury all tournament that he's been evasive in answering questions about. Play is normal enough for the first set, but towards the end, Djoko starts showing signs of discomfort, often grimacing after shots and very quick to switch the racquet to his left hand as soon as points are finished

By early first set, his play is flimsy enough that retirement seems a good option. He's serving, returning and hitting groundstrokes mildly. He plays a small number of 1-handed BHs... which is odd. I'd think if his right wrist was hurting, the last thing he'd want to do is take the left off. He's particularly gentle in hitting FHs

Serve & Return
Nothing special going on here. High first serves in count for both (Fed 70%, Djoko 68%) and for clay, high unreturned rates (Fed 26%, Djoko 25%)

Fed doesn't serve particularly strongly, and his high unreturned rate is due to Djoko's returning going off mid-match. Prior to that, Djoko does well to get back in play some strong wide serves. Fed also relaxes with the serve after Djoko's injury problems manifest. High proportion of unforceful first serves from Federer in second half of match by his standard

Djoko's high unreturned serves is due to relative inconsistency on the return by Fed. Even pre-injury, most of Djoko's serves aren't forceful... just regulation returns needed. Fed tends to miss a few. Post injury, Djoko rolls serves in. Fed's in no trouble on the return than... he throws away a couple of returns when up 5-1

Still, 75% return rate against Djoko's serve in this match is a below par number - some scope for Fed to do better. This seems to just be a weakness in his play during this period, a relatively high rate of missing regulation returns

Play - Baseline & Net
Action is very different from '08, more elegant and artful, less power based

Federer plays a beautiful, balanced game. From neutral positions, he hits mild to moderately attacking shots via placement, moves Djokovic around a bit and looks to come to net to finish points. Still, Djoko retains an advantage from of power and slightly more often than otherwise, dictates play

Fed has to do more of the running, but he does it well. Very good court coverage from Fed - and he needs it, with Djoko running him from side to side. Fed hits a number of well placed shots on the run that turn play from defensive positions

This is one of those matches where a major key is a quiet one. Note Fed with match-low 4 BH UEs... that's 3 times fewer than Djoko and less than half the next lowest (9 FHs from Djoko). Not just that. 0 BH FEs too

Does Djoko err in not targetting it more? A favourite Djoko strategy is to relentlessly pound BH cc's to Fed. Here, he's more focused on moving Fed around. Also, control for points are near 50-50 so its not in Djoko's hands all the time. Fed usually hits well angled BHs to keep court at least open-ish and playing dynamics lively rather than outlasting or beat-down dynamics that would have favoured Djoko. That's good strategy. Djoko seems to come along for the ride and largely plays the same way - just like '08 - and during competitive part of match, he's a bit better at it than Fed (unlike '08). Probably not good strategy... outlasting or beat-down type play would likely suit his strengths better

Its the Fed FH that's the vulnerable side with 11 UEs. Most are neutral shots and many are on the edgy side of being unforced, as tends to happen in moving-other-guy around type play. But he proves surprisingly secure on the running BH, reaching them in good time and playing them at angles to keep up the fluent dynamic

Fed's the better mover. I'd attribute this to Djoko being down from his norm as much as Fed being up from his. Djoko's slow to reach odd balls not far from him and has to rely more than usual (or necessary) on stretching for balls. Makes a good number of errors doing so too... some credit to Fed for the lively angles, but more discredit to Djoko on defense and movement

With Fed locking down the BH side, Djoko has to find other ways to win points. Generally, bleeding errors out of the Fed BH plays a big role in how Djoko approaches action. Here, he neither does so, nor can come up with something to replace it with: He's not aggressive enough to finish points with winners (7 from the baseline. Fed has 9), doesn't come to net much (7 times. Fed double that) and Fed proves consistent off the ground

In a nutshell, Djoko can't move Fed around too much because Fed's moving him around regularly too and when he can, Fed does well on the run. And is liable to turn defence into offence at a stroke

Match Progression
There's some beautiful points and rallies in the first set. The shot of the match is a Fed who'd been run side to side finishing with a run-past slice FH inside-out drop shot winner.
Strange incident when Fed 'challenges'. He stops playing, thinking Djoko's ball had been out although there are no challenges on clay. Djoko lightly puts away OH winner after Fed stops playing and umpire finds the ball did hit the line... would have been interesting if ball had been out. Per rules, its not up to the players to stop play

Players trade tough holds, both having to save at least 1 break point to move to 5-5. Fed is particularly bold in saving 2 - coping with power returns and finding his way to net to end the game

Game 11 sees Djoko move to 40-0. And that's the last bit of good news for him in the match. He makes 4 errors, split by a Federer BHV winner to get broken and Federer serves out the set

Djoko does hold to love to open the second set, but all aspects of his game gets more and more feeble by game. Some credit to Fed - he's not at all distracted by it and continues to play as he has - anything other than an easy Fed romp to victory seems unlikely the way Djoko plays

Summing up, good and lively first set centered around both players moving each other around, Fed showing good movement and steadiness of the BH but Djoko a bit better. Djoko's injury makes the second a formality

Stats for pair's Wimbledon final shortly after - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...kovic-vs-federer-wimbledon-final-2014.654578/
Stats for pair's first ever match, '06 Monte Carlo - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...okovic-french-open-quarter-final-2006.650310/

The 2014 MC match had a very very good first set. Djokovic tried as well as he could with the injury.


Both Federer and Djokovic really didn't want to let the other win around that time, would go the extra mile to beat the other. 2014 showed they still had bad blood.

Interesting. Where do you get all detailed stats like that? Thanks.

RafaelNadal77 said:

Interesting. Where do you get all detailed stats like that? Thanks.

Click to expand...

He/she watches the entire match and keeps track

RafaelNadal77 said:

Interesting. Where do you get all detailed stats like that? Thanks.

Click to expand...

I take them myself from scratch, as @JaoSousa says

Its fun - and educational to boot

ForehandCross said:

Djokovic tried as well as he could with the injury....Both Federer and Djokovic really didn't want to let the other win around that time, would go the extra mile to beat the other. 2014 showed they still had bad blood.

Click to expand...

I think the bad blood stuff is exaggerated. They're both ferocious competitors... naturally they always want to win. And its common to particularly want to do so against your biggest rivals. Sampras was the same... late in his career, he'd still get fired up for even minor clashes with his old rivals but phoned it in a bit against the up and comers of the same calibre

Does it matter if they like each other or not? Even if they don't - I imagine its just a minor matter, the kind we all have with our co-workers who we find aren't quite our cup of tea or a little annoying

Their post-match handshakes tend to be formal and restrained, which stands out by comparison with Djokovic's warm ones with many players. That I think is Fed taking the lead... its about his norm