Comparing Federer and Nadal Grand Slam Sets % Won

McEnroeisanartist

Hall of Fame
I thought it would be interesting to compare the % of sets won in Grand Slams between Nadal and Federer. Of course, this would show dominance in a grand slam.

After the 2012 Australian Open, Federer has won 79.88% of all grand slam sets played. This is the currently the highest winning percentage of any male player for their career. Nadal has won79.68% of all grand slam sets played. This is the currently the 2nd highest winning percentage of any male player for their career.

Federer has the highest % of sets won at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. Nadal has the highest % of sets won at the French Open. Federer's "worst" slam is the French Open, where he is 5th all time for highest % of sets won. Nadal is 7th highest at the Australian Open, 5th highest at Wimbledon, and 6th highest at the U.S. Open. So, how is Nadal 2nd all time? He has a 91.2% of sets won at the French Open. Amazingly, only one other player, Bjorn Borg, is above even 85% of sets won at a grand slam (85.1% at the French Open). Hell, only Federer at Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, as well as, Agassi at Australian Open have over 80% of sets won at a grand slam.

Federer has won one grand slam without losing a set. Nadal has won two grand slams without losing a set. Federer has reached 3 grand slam finals without losing a set. Nadal has reached 4 grand slam finals without losing a set. Federer has reached 8 grand slam semifinals without losing a set. Nadal has reached 7 grand slam semifinals without losing a set.

From the 2003-2009 Wimbledon, Federer only lost 5 sets before the semifinals.

From the 2005-2011 French Open (not including 2009), Nadal only lost 5 sets before the semifinals.
 

pvaudio

Legend
Are your stats valid? sets won/sets played doesn't s how dominance. It shows dominance given other information. Example: a player who wins round 1 in straight sets, and then loses in 5 the next round has won 5/8 sets. A player who wins in round one in 5 and wins round 2 in 5 has 6/10, or 3/5. The player who lost has a 62.5% sets % won stat versus the player who advanced further has a 60% stat. You could continue this pattern to the finals. A player wins in straights until the final and then loses in 5, versus a player who wins in straights, 4 and 5 inter mixed and then wins the same final. The former player, the one who lost, would have a greater % won statistic than the player who won the grand slam. Winning the tournament is far more important than winning sets.
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
I thought it would be interesting to compare the % of sets won in Grand Slams between Nadal and Federer. Of course, this would show dominance in a grand slam.

After the 2012 Australian Open, Federer has won 79.88% of all grand slam sets played. This is the currently the highest winning percentage of any male player for their career. Nadal has won79.68% of all grand slam sets played. This is the currently the 2nd highest winning percentage of any male player for their career.

Federer has the highest % of sets won at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. Nadal has the highest % of sets won at the French Open. Federer's "worst" slam is the French Open, where he is 5th all time for highest % of sets won. Nadal is 7th highest at the Australian Open, 5th highest at Wimbledon, and 6th highest at the U.S. Open. So, how is Nadal 2nd all time? He has a 91.2% of sets won at the French Open. Amazingly, only one other player, Bjorn Borg, is above even 85% of sets won at a grand slam (85.1% at the French Open). Hell, only Federer at Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, as well as, Agassi at Australian Open have over 80% of sets won at a grand slam.

Federer has won one grand slam without losing a set. Nadal has won two grand slams without losing a set. Federer has reached 3 grand slam finals without losing a set. Nadal has reached 4 grand slam finals without losing a set. Federer has reached 8 grand slam semifinals without losing a set. Nadal has reached 7 grand slam semifinals without losing a set.

From the 2003-2009 Wimbledon, Federer only lost 5 sets before the semifinals.

From the 2005-2011 French Open (not including 2009), Nadal only lost 5 sets before the semifinals.


Yeah, that's why his knee cracks just sitting on a chair. That's what happens when you play each point like a match point.
What does those stat really tell you?
 
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