A ridiculous and dare I say “epic” Nadal stat

[Nadalgaenger]

In the 2016 season, Nadal broke over 40% of his opponents’ service games.

This is the greatest percentage in recent tennis history.

2011 Djokovic broke an astoundingly high 38%.

Two other interesting takeaways from the article: 1) It has become increasingly hard to break serve (despite all the complaints about courts slowing down) and 2) Nadal, not Djokovic, is the most dominant returner of the past three decades.

Why Rafael Nadal's Return Games Transcends Generations | Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers | ATP Tour | Tennis

Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers takes a look at Rafael Nadal's stats on breaking serve and why he's one of the best returners in history.

www.atptour.com

 

[PeoplesChamp]

Nadal played a grand total of 53 matches in 2016, almost half of them were on clay.

 

[JoshuaPim]

Breaking on clay is no big deal.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Breaking on clay is no big deal.

Then why can’t people do it as well as Rafa?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Lacks the desired amount of Cajun kickass.

 

[JaoSousa]

In the 2016 season, Nadal broke over 40% of his opponents’ service games.

This is the greatest percentage in recent tennis history.

2011 Djokovic broke an astoundingly high 38%.

Two other interesting takeaways from the article: 1) It has become increasingly hard to break serve (despite all the complaints about courts slowing down) and 2) Nadal, not Djokovic, is the most dominant returner of the past three decades.

Why Rafael Nadal's Return Games Transcends Generations | Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers | ATP Tour | Tennis

Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers takes a look at Rafael Nadal's stats on breaking serve and why he's one of the best returners in history.

www.atptour.com

Wonder what federer's highest percentage is... 37.5 % ?

Someone please quote this post if they get the joke...

 

[Subway Tennis]

In the 2016 season, Nadal broke over 40% of his opponents’ service games.

This is the greatest percentage in recent tennis history.

2011 Djokovic broke an astoundingly high 38%.

Two other interesting takeaways from the article: 1) It has become increasingly hard to break serve (despite all the complaints about courts slowing down) and 2) Nadal, not Djokovic, is the most dominant returner of the past three decades.

Why Rafael Nadal's Return Games Transcends Generations | Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers | ATP Tour | Tennis

Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers takes a look at Rafael Nadal's stats on breaking serve and why he's one of the best returners in history.

www.atptour.com

I remember Meles posting something along these lines a while back and it made for very interesting reading.

It's incredible that Nadal does this, and it's even crazier when you think about how much he still insists on neutralising his return position. It's all hard graft... he doesn't get many free points off the first strike, it's more about incredible point construction once he gets the serve back and then gets his teeth into the rally.

 

[Bumbaliceps]

Nadal is an incredible returner, but I believe this stat doesn't mean so much. Was he a better player in 2016 ? If you fail a service game, you have to be more of a conqueror on the return. It can't be a coincidence that Simon and Schwartzman have high stats considering return points and games.

Clay skew the stats, the better stats on the return are the property of Coria. Nadal is an extremely good returner who happen to be a clay court specialist but is also brilliant outside of it, therefore has very high stats. I think if there was only hard court on the tour, Djokovic would be the first, Nadal second.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Nadal is an incredible returner, but I believe this stat doesn't mean so much. Was he a better player in 2016 ? If you fail a service game, you have to be more of a conqueror on the return. It can't be a coincidence that Simon and Schwartzman have high stats considering return points and games.

Clay skew the stats, the better stats on the return are the property of Coria. Nadal is an extremely good returner who happen to be a clay court specialist but is also brilliant outside of it, therefore has very high stats. I think if there was only hard court on the tour, Djokovic would be the first, Nadal second.

You’re almost certainly right that Djokovic returns better than Nadal on HC. He’s the greatest in history. Look who’s number 3!

Leaderboard | ATP Tour | Tennis

Statistical measures of the best-performing players in three key categories in men's professional tennis.

www.atptour.com

 

[Nadalgaenger]

Nadal is an incredible returner, but I believe this stat doesn't mean so much. Was he a better player in 2016 ? If you fail a service game, you have to be more of a conqueror on the return. It can't be a coincidence that Simon and Schwartzman have high stats considering return points and games.

Clay skew the stats, the better stats on the return are the property of Coria. Nadal is an extremely good returner who happen to be a clay court specialist but is also brilliant outside of it, therefore has very high stats. I think if there was only hard court on the tour, Djokovic would be the first, Nadal second.

Actually just did a quick search on the last 52 weeks. Nadal has better HC return stats than even Djokovic!

Leaderboard | ATP Tour | Tennis

www.atptour.com

 

[Bumbaliceps]

You’re almost certainly right that Djokovic returns better than Nadal on HC. He’s the greatest in history. Look who’s number 3!

Leaderboard | ATP Tour | Tennis

Statistical measures of the best-performing players in three key categories in men's professional tennis.

www.atptour.com

I am very impressed ! Would have never guessed it.

Actually just did a quick search on the last 52 weeks. Nadal has better HC return stats than even Djokovic!

Leaderboard | ATP Tour | Tennis

www.atptour.com

It must have a lot to do with the inconsistency of Djokovic's mental game throughout the year though. And Nadal has been particularly consistent since 2018 ! I believe his average level has never been this good.

 

[Sport]

Nadal played a grand total of 53 matches in 2016

53 matches is a big enough number to analyze the data and clay is a valid surface like any other.

 

[PeoplesChamp]

53 matches is a big enough number to analyze the data and clay is a valid surface like any other.

Clay return stats are almost always higher for most players.

Nadal didn't SET FOOT on a single grass or indoor HC the whole season to boot.

When a stat doesn't fit, there's always an explanation.

 

[The Blond Blur]

The only thing "epic" about RAFA's 2016 season is that I no longer have to watch him live in that form again

 

[MichaelNadal]

Actually just did a quick search on the last 52 weeks. Nadal has better HC return stats than even Djokovic!

Leaderboard | ATP Tour | Tennis

www.atptour.com

Come through and slay

 

[Bender]

The only thing "epic" about RAFA's 2016 season is that I no longer have to watch him live in that form again

Would you rather watch 2015? Because MC 2016 was fun.

 

[Breakpointerer]

Nadal peaked in 2016 but the tour had passed him by.

 

[Lew II]

On UTS it says that Nadal won 36.2% of return games in 2016. Anyway clay is the surface where serve/return, arguably Nadal's worst shots, have the smallest influence.

Djokovic is the only player who is top-15 in percentage of return games won (since the '90s) on all the three main surfaces: #4 on hard, #13 on clay, #14 on grass.

 

[JackSockIsTheBest]

Then why can’t people do it as well as Rafa?

cuz they are trash compared to him!

 

[junior74]

Nadal 2016 peak confirmed!

Titles: 2
Calendar year end ranking: 9

Slam results:

Australian Open	1R
French Open	3R
Wimbledon	A
US Open	4R

 

[Deleted member 770948]

After Roland Garros, 2016 Rafa was playing with an injured wrist, and his forehand was therefore lacking power.

 

[malbaker86]

After Roland Garros, 2016 Rafa was playing with an injured wrist, and his forehand was therefore lacking power.

Yep but his Olympic run was fun as hell to watch. Soooooo close to beat Delpo

 

[Deleted member 770948]

Yep but his Olympic run was fun as hell to watch. Soooooo close to beat Delpo

Yeah his patriotism defied his physical limitation.

 

[The Blond Blur]

Would you rather watch 2015? Because MC 2016 was fun.

Oh God no The only thing worse than 2016 was 2015. MC was a good tournament for him, and he did make the F of Madrid which gave me some hope for RG. But then he hurt his wrist and had to stop playing until the NA swing. 2015-2016 was just a dark period overall for the game imo.

 

[Nadalgaenger]

On UTS it says that Nadal won 36.2% of return games in 2016. Anyway clay is the surface where serve/return, arguably Nadal's worst shots, have the smallest influence.

Djokovic is the only player who is top-15 in percentage of return games won (since the '90s) on all the three main surfaces: #4 on hard, #13 on clay, #14 on grass.

Nadal had higher break rate than Nole on HC in 2019.
Is Nole a better HC returner? Yes. Is Nadal a formidable HC returner? He has to be if he broke more often than Nole.

 

[MichaelNadal]

He was painful to watch in 2015/16 imo

 

[Lew II]

Nadal had higher break rate than Nole on HC in 2019.
Is Nole a better HC returner? Yes. Is Nadal a formidable HC returner? He has to be if he broke more often than Nole.

In 2019 yes.

 

[DSH]

"Epically" disappointing, that 2016 for Nadal.
A great missed opportunity to have achieved something especially important for the Spanish player.