Duel Match Stats/Reports - Djokovic vs Nadal, Indian Wells & Miami finals, 2011

[Waspsting]

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the Indian Wells final, 2011 on hard court

Djokovic, ranked 2, had recently won the Australian Open. Nadal ranked 1, was the reigning US Open champion, having beaten Djokovic in the final. This was the first of what would turn out to be 7 straight wins for Djokovic over Nadal - all finals of Slams or Masters events

Djokovic won 85 points, Nadal 73

Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (56/89) 63%
- 1st serve points won (42/56) 75%
- 2nd serve points won (17/33) 52%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (21/89) 24%

Nadal....
- 1st serve percentage (28/69) 41%
- 1st serve points won (20/28) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (23/41) 56%
- Aces 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (23/69) 33%

Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 39%
- to BH 51%
- to Body 11%

Nadal served...
- to FH 28%
- to BH 58%
- to Body 14%

Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 46 (21 FH, 25 BH), including 6 runaround FHs
- 2 Winners (2 FH), including 1 runaround FH
- 21 Errors, comprising...
- 15 Unforced (4 FH, 11 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 6 Forced (4 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (46/69) 67%

Nadal made...
- 64 (29 FH, 35 BH), including 6 runaround FHs
- 17 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (3 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 11 Forced (7 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (64/85) 75%

Break Points
Djokovic 5/8 (5 games)
Nadal 3/9 (4 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 20 (12 FH, 5 BH, 2 FHV, 1 OH)
Nadal 15 (5 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 OH)

Djokovic's FHs - 3 cc, 1 cc/inside-in, 4 dtl (2 returns - 1 a runaround), 1 dtl/inside-out and 3 inside-out
- BHs - 2 cc, 2 dtl and 1 drop shot

- 1 first volley FHV from a serve-volley point, a drop inside-out

Nadal's FHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 2 dtl (1 pass) and 1 lob

- 1 FHV was played net-to-net and 3 BHVs were drops

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 31
- 23 Unforced (5 FH, 18 BH)
- 8 Forced (2 FH, 5 BH, 1 BH1/2V)… with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.1

Nadal 44
- 30 Unforced (12 FH, 17 BH, 1 OH)… with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 14 Forced (7 FH, 7 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46

(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...
- 8/15 (53%) at net, including...
- 2/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
---
- 0/2 forced back/retreated

Nadal was...
- 7/10 (70%) at net, with...
- 0/1 forced back

Match Report
A strange match and not a particularly good one. Nadal's serving, Djokovic's returning and both players' play is poor in parts

First set and a half is characterized by Djokovic's poor returning and play. Last set is characterized by Nadal's poor play, though Djokovic plays well in the latter part of the set

That leaves the small window of second half of second set for the two to duke it out - and even there, play is quite ordinary. Djokovic edges it

Serve & Return
Look at Nadal's serve percentage. When else have you seen Rafael Nadal serve at 41%?
Look at Djokovic's return numbers? How often do you see Novak Djokovic make 15 return UEs? Djokovic misses 12 second serve returns in the match - including 6 in succession at one point

Nadal at one point, wins 16 straight second serve points. I don't know of a longer streak
Nadal misses first serve 12 times in a row too

Nadal is serving meatily of power but very ordinary of placement. Typically, 120-130mph first serves almost always in Djokovic's swing range. And he keeps missing first serves. It doesn't matter for a set and a half because Djokovic keeps missing second serve returns

Nadal's second serve is good, in that its hard to attack. It is not a weapon though and Djoko isn't trying to attack it. Just put it in play in his customary, with authority fashion. And he keeps missing for most of two sets. All the way 'til he doesn't, and then he returns as he usually does

Poor serving from Nadal in his low percentage. Mostly poor returning from Djoko for making so many errors. Djoko eventually comes 'good' (as in, stops missing returns) the quality of his returning is then his norm (i.e. good, put in play firmly). He takes to running around body and body-ish serves to hit FHs, which is unusual for him (normally, he's just as happy returning of BH as FH)

Very strange all around

The Djoko serve vs Nadal return is more normal. Djoko also doesn't place serves well - almost everything is in Nadal's swing range and Nadal returns normally

Play - Baseline & Net
Nadal plays orthodox positions - as opposed to leaning on BH side of court and running around to play FHs whenever possible, as he often does. This shapes play to the tune of double winged, classic dynamic of cc rallies with occasional longline changes ups

Both players hit heavy groundstrokes of both sides, without being particularly aggressive of placement. The resulting dynamic is a hybrid of outlasting and beating down type play... but the outlasting part doesn't take long. Both make errors fairly early in rallies by their standards - and probably even a normal one

BH is the key to match. And neither are very good off that side. UEs - Djoko 18, Nadal 17 (on FH, Djoko has just 5, Nadal 12)
Good change up BH dtl's from Djoko... but its usually not enough to win points or unduly trouble Nadal (other than when his game goes to piece in set 3). Initially, Nadal is fluently strong with FH dtl - with his court position, this becomes his main weapon rather than the FH inside-out he tends to use otherwise - but that doesn't last beyond first set

There's no uniformity to quality, so match long stats are deceptive. The star of the show looks to be Djoko's FH - with a very impressive 12 winners to 5 UEs + 2 FEs.... those are first class figures

Watching action, I barely noticed his FH. His missing returns and BHs and Nadal missing BHs took the eye. I'd cite all of those as bigger factors in the result, but its fair to say Djoko's FH held steady to outduke Nadal's BH. Credit to Djoko for this, but a bit more discredit to Nadal

Net play isn't much of a factor. Nadal hits some lovely drop BHVs, but doesn't seem to consider coming in more to damage control when his groundgame falls apart

Match Progression
Good game from Nadal to break in 5th game - though its a Djoko double and error that wrap up the game. Djoko breaks right back in another well played game - wrapping up a tremendous BH cc winner and a FH dtl that forces an error. Nadal makes it 3 breaks on the trot - the game ending with a bunch of Djoko errors after Nadal hit 3 winners early on

Then, Djoko starts missing returns. Nadal holds to love twice to wrap up the set and wins first 10 service points of second set - despite missing all but 2 first serves. When he gets it together, its the toughest tennis of the match

3 more break games in a row leave Djoko serving for the set. There's an odd point as Djoko breaks for the first time. His FH dtl return is called out. He challenges, ball turns out to be on the line and its called a winner. The ball would very likely have won him the point, but by no means certainly; Nadal was there - rushed and in defensive position - but there. No protests from Nadal oddly... the point should have been replayed

Very tough hold for Djoko to serve out the set that lasts 16 points. While Nadal is solid in the game, its Djoko who seems to tense up and misses not difficult balls every other point. For all that, he faces just one break point before sending match into decider

Nadal is terrible in the set, as he goes down 0-4, missing routine groundstrokes. His BH had let him down in second set, but even the FH starts failing now. And he continues missing first serves, but Djoko's found his return well enough to neutralize servers advantage, though not snatch it. the points Nadal loses are 50-50 deals... bad play for him

Icing on the cake is Djokovic ups his game too. Last half of final set is cleanest tennis of the match from Djoko - he fires of both sides, attacking moderately from neutral positions and aggressively from advantageous ones. Djoko's showing in this final phase is the highlight of the match, though it's scope for shining is capped by Nadal being off

Summing up, not a good encounter with plenty of odd patches of poor play - whether its Djokovic's return, Nadal's serve or either players consistency of the ground. You could say Djoko hanging in to take the second set is the key to the outcome - he'd been poor in the first, Nadal was poor in the last and neither were great in between. Djoko being less bad in the middle decides it

Stats for pair's '10 US Open final - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-nadal-vs-djokovic-us-open-final-2010.633553/
Stats for Djokovic's semi with Roger Federer - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-federer-indian-wells-semi-final-2011.650196/

 

[Bender]

Good thread, made for an interesting read. Interesting choice of match too. I have to wonder what would've happened for the rest of 2011 had Nadal won this match of the Miami match. IIRC that Miami match was a lot better and was super close.

It's been a while since I saw the match or even its highlights, although one particular volley from Nadal in this match is burned into my memory.

 

[ForehandRF]

Good thread, made for an interesting read. Interesting choice of match too. I have to wonder what would've happened for the rest of 2011 had Nadal won this match of the Miami match. IIRC that Miami match was a lot better and was super close.

It's been a while since I saw the match or even its highlights, although one particular volley from Nadal in this match is burned into my memory.

In 2011 Nadal learned how Fed felt after their 2008-2009 matches

 

[Bender]

In 2011 Nadal learned how Fed felt after their 2008-2009 matches

Yeah but at least Fedr had a few good years without having to deal with Nadal, at least off clay.

Nadal had one year.

NO FAIR!

 

[ForehandRF]

Yeah but at least Fedr had a few good years without having to deal with Nadal, at least off clay.

Nadal had one year.

NO FAIR!

Fed was hurt much more by Djokovic starting with 2014, so looking in perspective, it was better to be in Rafa's shoes.

 

[Bender]

Fed was hurt much more by Djokovic starting with 2014, so looking in perspective, it was better to be in Rafa's shoes.

 

[vanioMan]

That was a weird match. Rafa was playing great for a set and a half and then Djokovic upped his level and won the 2nd set. So a deciding set was the most logical conclusion. However, for some reason Rafa's serve went missing around set 2. IIRC he his first serve % was 25 during sets 2 and 3. It was reported that he had some shoulder issues (thus changing his serve motion at the start of the clay court season). Still, Novak played brilliantly and deserved the victory.

 

[ChrisRF]

That was a weird match. Rafa was playing great for a set and a half and then Djokovic upped his level and won the 2nd set. So a deciding set was the most logical conclusion. However, for some reason Rafa's serve went missing around set 2. IIRC he his first serve % was 25 during sets 2 and 3. It was reported that he had some shoulder issues (thus changing his serve motion at the start of the clay court season). Still, Novak played brilliantly and deserved the victory.

What I really find weird about all those 2011 matches: Why was it easier for Djokovic to beat Nadal on clay than ANYWHERE else? It was the only time in Nadal’s career that such an anomaly existed.

 

[Waspsting]

Djokovic beat Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in the Miami final, 2011 on hard court

The win gave Djokovic his first 'Sunshine Double' of winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back. He would repeat the feat 3 times 2014-2016

Djokovic won 109 points, Nadal 96

Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (54/95) 57%
- 1st serve points won (36/54) 67%
- 2nd serve points won (29/41) 71%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/95) 19%

Nadal....
- 1st serve percentage (66/110) 60%
- 1st serve points won (46/66) 70%
- 2nd serve points won (20/44) 45%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 6
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (35/110) 32%

Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 33%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 8%

Nadal served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 2%

Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 69 (25 FH, 44 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 29 Errors, comprising...
- 14 Unforced (6 FH, 8 BH)
- 15 Forced (1 FH, 14 BH)
- Return Rate (69/104) 66%

Nadal made...
- 77 (37 FH, 40 BH), including 9 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 14 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (1 FH, 6 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 7 Forced (2 FH, 5 BH)
- Return Rate (77/95) 81%

Break Points
Djokovic 2/9 (5 games)
Nadal 2/4 (3 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 36 (17 FH, 11 BH, 5 FHV, 1 BHV)
Nadal 19 (7 FH, 5 BH, 3 FHV, 4 OH)

Djokovic's FHs - 4 cc, 6 dtl (1 return, 1 pass), 5 inside-out, 1 inside-in and 1 net chord dribbler
- BHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 2 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out, 1 inside-in return, 1 drop shot, 1 running-down-drop-shot cc at net and 1 net chord dribbler

- 1 FHV was a particularly good drop inside-out

Nadal's FHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 3 dtl (1 return) and 2 inside-out
- BHs - 2 cc (1 at net), 2 dtl (1 pass) and 1 drop shot running-down-drop-shot at net

- 1 FHV was played net-to-net
- 2 OHs were hit on the bounce (1 from no-man's land)

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 42
- 33 Unforced (19 FH, 14 BH)
- 9 Forced (4 FH, 4 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.1

Nadal 49
- 26 Unforced (13 FH, 13 BH)… with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 23 Forced (14 FH, 9 BH)… with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 43.8

(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...
- 16/21 (76%) at net, including...
- 3/3 (100%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves

Nadal was...
- 13/23 (57%) at net, with...
- 1/1 forced back

Match Report
A much better match. Djokovic being more proactive and Nadal reactive is the norm for this match-up, but this is the most extreme I've seen. Djoko is almost entirely attacking and Nadal near the same counter-punching. Not much Nadal attacking and Djoko defending goes on at all

Djoko is by far the better in play. The match is competitive despite this due to Djoko's continued returning woes

Conditions appear a bit slower than previous match, which I'll use as a frame of reference to describe action

Serve & Return
Both players serve at about the same level. Strong-ish serves, mostly directed in returners swing zone. Percentage in similar (Djoko 57%, Nadal 60%). Its Nadal who has more well placed wide serves, but he also double faults 6 times (Djoko has 0)

Djoko's return rate remaining all but identical to the previous match is a good step up, considering Nadal's much larger serve percentage, but its still not good. 67% return rate against Nadal in these slow conditions is low. Again, he returns normally - with authority but shy of aggressively. Note again the large number of UEs - 14 to 15 FEs. Plenty of scope for greater consistency on return for Djokovic

On flip side, Nadal returns with great consistency, a full 15% better than Djoko, but his returns aren't as strong (which is normal). Fair few short returns and in final set, he takes to safely pushing first serves back in play so passively that Djoko might have considered serve-volleying. His normal return is loopy, giving Djoko plenty of time to set himself for third ball

Nadal's returning style is normal for him (prioritizing consistency over being damaging) and particularly in line with his play in this match but its not smart. Consistency priority returning is good idea when one is coming up ahead in play. With Djoko winning a huge 71% second serve points.... that's clearly not the case here. Djoko's second serves aren't particularly strong - Nadal's are stronger - and given how action was going, Nadal would have been much better of going for more on returns. Starting point neutrally, he gets clobbered

 

[Waspsting]

Play - Baseline
Nadal starts the match in leaning-on-BH-side-of-court position and looks to hit FH cc or inside-in to Djokovic BH as often as he can. For first set, it more or less works. the Djoko BH cracks a bit to yield a number of cc UEs and more attacking dtl ones, but its not all one way traffic

Leaving the FH side open, Djoko is also able to force errors from that side with BH cc's and occasionally back-away FH inside-outs

Beyond that, Djoko plays with hectic aggression of both sides, and sprays errors somewhat off the FH. He forces enough errors out of Nadal to hang about even with the UEs he's making - which tend to come in short rallies

In second set, Djoko turns to more measured attack - and plays superbly. Nadal largely abandons FH cc'ing and settles to all out counter-punching. Dynamics are pure Djokovic attacking/Nadal counter-punching and directions of play are completely dictated by Djoko.

Djoko's BH is the key to play - especially cc. While slightly less consistent in cc battles with the Nadal FH, he hits a lot more, error-forcingly strong shots through some combo of power, depth or extra sharp angle (primarily angle, then power... depth isn't bad but not outstanding)

This is the potential drawback of Nadal's leaning-on-BH-court style of play; If opponent can biff BHs strongly, the FH cc'ing ceases to be a safe shot for him. Biffing BHs even near as consistently as Nadal does FHs isn't on the card for most players. It is for Djoko in this match

UEs in the battle - Nadal 13 FHs, Djoko 14 BH. FEs are Nadal 14, Djoko just 4. At least half of those don't come out Nadal FH - Djoko BH rallies... but it is indicating that Nadal's FH cc'ing isn't working

I'm writing Nadal FH cc as short hand for Nadal cc/inside-in. He's usually hitting into the side of the court he's on... thus leaving his FH court open to be counter-attacked as Djoko does with genuine BH cc's

With Nadal's preferred smothering dynamic dealt with, Djoko is free to set his own. And that turns out to be very attacking play

Note UEFI of Djoko 49.1, Nadal 43.8. Djoko's is very high for not having any volley errors, Nadal's is low
12 of Djoko's 33 UEs or 36% are neutral shots (he doesn't have a defensive one) - all the rest are attacking shots or winner attempts. By contrast, 16 of 26 or 62% of Nadal's are neutral or defensive (2 defensive, which is rare. most matches have 0 for both players). Good indicator of how attackingly each player was playing

While BH does its job, Djoko attacks still more with the FH. Off that side, he's lashing out full on attack. Very well, too. Note the wide distribution of winners - 4 apiece cc and dtl and 5 inside-out. In previous matches, he tended to predominantly go inside-out, mostly without winner-degree force to attack Nadal FH. Here, he's in no compromise, all over attack. The showing is on par with Roger Federer's more aggressive FH matches

Good use of drop shot from Djoko. Generally, this shot is a dud for him against Nadal, but here he wins bulk of points with it
Not good use of the slice from Nadal. Rarely, he uses the shot, but more often than his almost 0 norm. Balls float, not skim through the air and don't stay low. Djoko can and does treat them almost like weak top spin shots

Third set is quite different. Both players, particularly Djoko, appear a bit tired. He tones down aggression some while Nadal moves slightly to BH side position as his starting point, looking to hit FHs when possible but not unduly. Play is more normal, Djoko attacking slightly more but not overly and its largely a battle of consistency of heavy groundstrokes. Djoko demonstrates that he's about as consistent of shot neutrally as Nadal

A word on defence. Overshadow though it is by his offence, Djoko's is very good. Mild to moderately attacking stuff from Nadal, particularly FH inside-outs and inside-ins are reached and put back in play with reasonable authority. He's only been forced into 8 baseline errors (he forces 23 out of Nadal)… easy to overlook, but high quality stuff from Djoko on the run

Nadal's is also good, and he's up against much, much more. That it isn't of the almost super-human quality of his defensive play in earlier years is noteworthy. To compensate for the natural loss of movement, he'd need to boost other parts of his game. The serve is a lot better than it had been, but I don't see that his ground shots are noticeably different from the pair's '07-'08 matches

Play - Net
Not much of it going on. In older matches, Djoko was apt to mix in approaches to augment his baseline attacks. He doesn't seem to feel the need to. He comes in most in third set when tired, and even then, doesn't come in much. Particularly with Nadal block-looping a number of first serve returns, there was scope to effectively use approaches. With 76% net points won and 3/3 serve-volleying, he's done well up front and could probably utilize it more. He's pushing Nadal back and around the baseline so often that coming to finish at net wouldn't require particularly great volleying. As is, he volleys well too

a drop, inside-out FHV from under net is possibly the best shot of the match. John McEnroe would have been proud to have played it

Nadal with just 57% net points won. This is a bit deceptive in that a good chunk of those are forced approaches to Djoko's drop shots. Some very good passing from Djoko accounts for the rest of Nadal's under-par showing up front. Couple of good lob winners from Djoko.... which like his drop shots, usually don't come off

Match Progression
In first set, Djokovic is on the uncontrolled side of aggressive, and makes more errors than end points forcefully. At least, he's able to put a wrench in Nadal's regulation plan of FH cc'ing his way to success; the Djoko BH is a bit too strong for that to be a guaranteed point winner

Good play from Nadal here. He's up 2 breaks at 5-2 before Djoko pulls one back, but its not plain sailing. Nadal break in game 3 - a net to net FHV winner and BH dtl pass are his contributions and there are a pair of Djoko errors too. He has to save 3 break points to consolidate, with Djoko making errors to lose the game. Djoko carries on in teh same vein to get broken again and again, Nadal struggles to consolidate in a 10 point game, but manages

Nadal tanks the next game. Just puts return in play and doesn't bother fighting as Djoko smacks third ball. 4 straight winners for Djoko in the game

Djoko breaks to start the third and plays wonderfully all set. High risk, high reward attacking groundies throughout. Play is almost completely on his racquet and the pressure of it gets to Nadal, who starts uncharacteristically missing some balls. Odd return errors from Djoko largely keep Nadal in the set...

Momentum is all on Djoko's side starting the third, and he moves to 0-30. He can't break, largely due to missing 4 returns in the remaining 8 points (2 of them second serves, and 3 marked unforced error). After that game, server isn't seriously pushed and there are no break points or even deuces

In tiebreak, first 5 points go against the serve. Nadal starts by missing an attacking FH, but wins the next two points with strong groundies to Djoko's FH

The rot stops with Djoko winning both service points to move ahead 5-2, and he continues on to victory. In the tiebreak, Nadal has a double fault, a missed routine second serve return and an attacking FH error. Djoko makes no UEs. He wins Nadal's second last service point of the match with a FH dtl winner and on match point, whips away a FH cc winner

Summing up, very good match of Djokovic attacking off both sides versus Nadal counter-punching. Djoko comfortably comes out ahead - so much so he's even near as consistent as Nadal while being far more damaging. Nadal's sure returning and Djoko's spotty ones reduces the gap, but Djoko well ahead overall

Stats for Djoko's semi with Roger Federer - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-federer-indian-wells-semi-final-2011.650196/
Stats for pair's '07 Sunshine Double matches - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-wells-final-miami-quarter-final-2007.663644/

 

[Waspsting]

It's been a while since I saw the match or even its highlights, although one particular volley from Nadal in this match is burned into my memory.

the running to the side, pick-off drop BHV? Bit of luck (or great anticipation involved), but yeah great shot and touch

...for some reason Rafa's serve went missing around set 2. IIRC he his first serve % was 25 during sets 2 and 3. It was reported that he had some shoulder issues (thus changing his serve motion at the start of the clay court season). Still, Novak played brilliantly and deserved the victory.

Before second set. He was 2/8 first serves in his last two games of first set

It didn't matter because he kept winning his second serve points from that game when his percentage dropped - 16 straight (10 unreturned serves)

So starting from his 4th service game in the match, Nadal serving at 17/54 @ 31%. Just last two sets, its 15/46 @ 33%

Remarkable - in more ways than one

Commentators mentioned he was coming off illness and hadn't played since Australian Open. Since he reached back to back finals, don't think its a huge factor. His court skills are so far ahead of most that that + a power serve and sure returning should see him through most of the time

What I really find weird about all those 2011 matches: Why was it easier for Djokovic to beat Nadal on clay than ANYWHERE else? It was the only time in Nadal’s career that such an anomaly existed.

Will get to that soon

Couple of take-aways from this pair of matches -

- Nadal's defensive retrieving is down from earlier years. Its not bad by any means, but not of the super-human quality of '08 and prior - and that was a big factor in his ruling clay. To maintain same level, he'd have to compensate - probably with more commanding groundies, which he didn't in these two matches

- When he's not attacking, Djoko is near equal to Nadal of consistency of the ground

Based on these two matches, immediate future prospects on clay look like -
- Nadal edges groundstroke consistency
- Djoko the more attacking - which is significnat in light of Nadal's defences not being what they used to be. Defensive abilities between the two roughly equal

Nadal would need to work out some stuff on what he's doing from baseline. The FH cc'ng thing isn't a sure bet and he can't even impose it surely with Djoko very capable of going BH dtl with force

Does he stay on BH side of court, looking for FHs? or move central and play even-sidedly? If latter, will BH hold up against Djoko's FH cc and BH dtl's? Can he pull of attacking FH dtl's as well as he does FH inside-outs?