Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the Monte Carlo first round, 2006 on clay
It was the first meeting between the two. Federer would go onto advance to the final and lose to Rafael Nadal. Djokovic was an 18 year old qualifier
Federer won 87 points, Djokovic 78
Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (36/71) 51%
- 1st serve points won (26/36) 72%
- 2nd serve points won (22/35) 63%
- Aces 1, Service Winners 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (22/71) 31%
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (61/94) 65%
- 1st serve points won (36/61) 59%
- 2nd serve points won (19/33) 58%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (14/94) 15%
Serve Patterns
Federer served...
- to FH 34%
- to BH 66%
Djokovic served...
- to FH 36%
- to BH 64%
Return Stats
Federer made...
- 76 (27 FH, 49 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (4 FH, 2 BH), including 1 runaround FH attempt
- 7 Forced (4 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (76/90) 84%
Djokovic made...
- 49 (18 FH, 31 BH), including 1 runaround FH and 1 return-approach
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 20 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- 14 Forced (5 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (49/71) 69%
Break Points
Federer 3/11 (6 games)
Djokovic 2/2
Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Federer 25 (11 FH, 8 BH, 4 BHV, 2 OH)
Djokovic 20 (4 FH, 9 BH, 4 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Federer's FHs - 4 cc (1 pass), 2 dtl (1 pass) and 5 inside-out
- BHs - 4 cc (3 passes - 1 not clean, 1 running-down-drop-shot), 2 dtl (1 pass), 1 inside-out and 1 drop shot
- 1 BHV was the first volley off a serve-volley point
Djokovic's FHs - 2 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 running-down-drop-shot at net
- BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 return), 1 inside-out, 3 drop shots and 2 at net (1 net-to-net)
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot and not a net point
- 1 BHV from a return approach and 1 net-to-net
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Federer 44
- 27 Unforced (19 FH, 6 BH, 2 FHV)
- 17 Forced (4 FH, 12 BH, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.2
Djokovic 36
- 28 Unforced (15 FH, 11 BH, 2 BHV)
- 8 Forced (3 FH, 5 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.4
(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...
- 9/19 (47%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a second serve
---
- 0/1 forced back
Djokovic was...
- 19/28 (68%) at net, with...
- 1/1 return-approaching
Match Report
Historic for being the first meeting between the two men, a pretty standard clay court match, with consistency of groundstrokes the staple but livelier due to Djokovic's drop shots and forays to net. Federer comfortably the better player
First set, Djokovic doesn't appear to know exactly what he wants to do. He hangs back behind the baseline, steps in occasionally not necessarily in line with the situation on the ground, goes for drop shots (not necessarily in line with situation on the ground), comes into net (successfully, forcing passing errors)… results aren't bad, but does have the feel of an uncertain mind behind it. Ultimately, both players have 10 UEs off the ground
The difference is Federer's serve - or more accurately, Djokovic's mediocre returning. Its a very slow court and Fed isn't amping up his serve.... Djoko misses a number of makeable returns that allows Fed a cushion going into the rallies
Second set, Fed looks to amp the aggression. He looks to be more assertive with his groundies, which he'd been fairly regular (if not passive) with in the first set. One senses having seen of the teenager in set 1, now he wants to put him in his place. It doesn't work. He concedes the first break early via errors on attacking shots - and its Djokovic who raises his game after that. He cuts back on the return errors, is more consistent off the ground and hits heavier. A couple of FH dtl winners from well behind the baseline (most groundstroke winners are hit from inside the court in the match) serve notice of his power.... and his drop shots force a number of errors.
12 UEs for Fed in the set, 3 for Djoko... top stuff from the latter - consistent but heavy of shot, with variety in drop shots and approaches thrown in
Third set is mirror image of the second. Its Djoko who opens the door for Fed - he makes 11 errors in the first 4 games to Fed's 4 - and Fed crashes through. This is Fed at his best. His serve starts licking lines (previously, he'd served powerfully but with safe placement), returns more surely (previously, he'd been prone to odd errors... on this court, Djoko's serve shouldn't have been a problem to get back) and is able to raise his aggression from the back without raising his errors (in fact, they go down). This is Federer at his best
Djoko trims down the errors after the first four games, but its too late by then. And even so playing, Fed is the better player. The Swiss cruises on serve (loses 6 points in 5 games), while every Djo serve game goes to deuce and only on 1 does he not face break point
Statistical Points of Interest
Some interesting results here. Note -
- Djokovic winning 68% at net, Federer 47% (and that excludes a couple of points where I deemed the approach shot would have drawn an error even without Djoko taking the net). A significant chunk of this is due to Djoko's drop shots (which he followed to net) forcing Federer there... but a surprise nonetheless
- Fed with 19 FH UEs (Djoko had 15) to just 6 on the BH. This isn't all that uncommon and belies the simplified account of Federer's as a FH killer with BH as a support shot.
Generally, the FH is lethal... but also goes error haywire not infrequently. The BH is (and looks) delicate, but holds steady quite frequently
- Djoko forcing 17 errors, Fed just 8... large chunk of the former were attempted passes, but still surprising
- second serve points won 63% for Fed, 58% for Djoko.... high numbers for clay. Djoko's about the same off both serves (59% on first serve points won)
- Play even, sans unreturned serves. Adding up winners and opponents errors in play, Djoko wins 63 points, Federer 61.... again, surprising
- Break points in 6 games for Fed to 2 for Djoko the biggest indicator of Fed's superiority
---
Fed would go onto ravage his way to the final - losing 16 games in 4 matches - and in the final, he'd give Nadal a run for his money (he hit 59 winners there). So he must have been playing well. A performance to be proud of for the 18 year old qualifier Djokovic
Summing up, a good and lively clay match, with consistency of shot the heart but both players tip-toing around to be decently aggressive. Fine net play and use of the drop shot by Djokovic, but his return is found wanting at times. Federer's serve being a buffer and effective head start - and the rest of his game more than enough to see him over. The day is Fed, but a great showing from the green Djokovic, a sign of things to come
Stats for the final between Federer and Rafael Nadal - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...dal-vs-federer-monte-carlo-final-2006.644745/
It was the first meeting between the two. Federer would go onto advance to the final and lose to Rafael Nadal. Djokovic was an 18 year old qualifier
Federer won 87 points, Djokovic 78
Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (36/71) 51%
- 1st serve points won (26/36) 72%
- 2nd serve points won (22/35) 63%
- Aces 1, Service Winners 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (22/71) 31%
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (61/94) 65%
- 1st serve points won (36/61) 59%
- 2nd serve points won (19/33) 58%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (14/94) 15%
Serve Patterns
Federer served...
- to FH 34%
- to BH 66%
Djokovic served...
- to FH 36%
- to BH 64%
Return Stats
Federer made...
- 76 (27 FH, 49 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (4 FH, 2 BH), including 1 runaround FH attempt
- 7 Forced (4 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (76/90) 84%
Djokovic made...
- 49 (18 FH, 31 BH), including 1 runaround FH and 1 return-approach
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 20 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- 14 Forced (5 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (49/71) 69%
Break Points
Federer 3/11 (6 games)
Djokovic 2/2
Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Federer 25 (11 FH, 8 BH, 4 BHV, 2 OH)
Djokovic 20 (4 FH, 9 BH, 4 FHV, 2 BHV, 1 OH)
Federer's FHs - 4 cc (1 pass), 2 dtl (1 pass) and 5 inside-out
- BHs - 4 cc (3 passes - 1 not clean, 1 running-down-drop-shot), 2 dtl (1 pass), 1 inside-out and 1 drop shot
- 1 BHV was the first volley off a serve-volley point
Djokovic's FHs - 2 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 running-down-drop-shot at net
- BHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 return), 1 inside-out, 3 drop shots and 2 at net (1 net-to-net)
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot and not a net point
- 1 BHV from a return approach and 1 net-to-net
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Federer 44
- 27 Unforced (19 FH, 6 BH, 2 FHV)
- 17 Forced (4 FH, 12 BH, 1 BH1/2V)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.2
Djokovic 36
- 28 Unforced (15 FH, 11 BH, 2 BHV)
- 8 Forced (3 FH, 5 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45.4
(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...
- 9/19 (47%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a second serve
---
- 0/1 forced back
Djokovic was...
- 19/28 (68%) at net, with...
- 1/1 return-approaching
Match Report
Historic for being the first meeting between the two men, a pretty standard clay court match, with consistency of groundstrokes the staple but livelier due to Djokovic's drop shots and forays to net. Federer comfortably the better player
First set, Djokovic doesn't appear to know exactly what he wants to do. He hangs back behind the baseline, steps in occasionally not necessarily in line with the situation on the ground, goes for drop shots (not necessarily in line with situation on the ground), comes into net (successfully, forcing passing errors)… results aren't bad, but does have the feel of an uncertain mind behind it. Ultimately, both players have 10 UEs off the ground
The difference is Federer's serve - or more accurately, Djokovic's mediocre returning. Its a very slow court and Fed isn't amping up his serve.... Djoko misses a number of makeable returns that allows Fed a cushion going into the rallies
Second set, Fed looks to amp the aggression. He looks to be more assertive with his groundies, which he'd been fairly regular (if not passive) with in the first set. One senses having seen of the teenager in set 1, now he wants to put him in his place. It doesn't work. He concedes the first break early via errors on attacking shots - and its Djokovic who raises his game after that. He cuts back on the return errors, is more consistent off the ground and hits heavier. A couple of FH dtl winners from well behind the baseline (most groundstroke winners are hit from inside the court in the match) serve notice of his power.... and his drop shots force a number of errors.
12 UEs for Fed in the set, 3 for Djoko... top stuff from the latter - consistent but heavy of shot, with variety in drop shots and approaches thrown in
Third set is mirror image of the second. Its Djoko who opens the door for Fed - he makes 11 errors in the first 4 games to Fed's 4 - and Fed crashes through. This is Fed at his best. His serve starts licking lines (previously, he'd served powerfully but with safe placement), returns more surely (previously, he'd been prone to odd errors... on this court, Djoko's serve shouldn't have been a problem to get back) and is able to raise his aggression from the back without raising his errors (in fact, they go down). This is Federer at his best
Djoko trims down the errors after the first four games, but its too late by then. And even so playing, Fed is the better player. The Swiss cruises on serve (loses 6 points in 5 games), while every Djo serve game goes to deuce and only on 1 does he not face break point
Statistical Points of Interest
Some interesting results here. Note -
- Djokovic winning 68% at net, Federer 47% (and that excludes a couple of points where I deemed the approach shot would have drawn an error even without Djoko taking the net). A significant chunk of this is due to Djoko's drop shots (which he followed to net) forcing Federer there... but a surprise nonetheless
- Fed with 19 FH UEs (Djoko had 15) to just 6 on the BH. This isn't all that uncommon and belies the simplified account of Federer's as a FH killer with BH as a support shot.
Generally, the FH is lethal... but also goes error haywire not infrequently. The BH is (and looks) delicate, but holds steady quite frequently
- Djoko forcing 17 errors, Fed just 8... large chunk of the former were attempted passes, but still surprising
- second serve points won 63% for Fed, 58% for Djoko.... high numbers for clay. Djoko's about the same off both serves (59% on first serve points won)
- Play even, sans unreturned serves. Adding up winners and opponents errors in play, Djoko wins 63 points, Federer 61.... again, surprising
- Break points in 6 games for Fed to 2 for Djoko the biggest indicator of Fed's superiority
---
Fed would go onto ravage his way to the final - losing 16 games in 4 matches - and in the final, he'd give Nadal a run for his money (he hit 59 winners there). So he must have been playing well. A performance to be proud of for the 18 year old qualifier Djokovic
Summing up, a good and lively clay match, with consistency of shot the heart but both players tip-toing around to be decently aggressive. Fine net play and use of the drop shot by Djokovic, but his return is found wanting at times. Federer's serve being a buffer and effective head start - and the rest of his game more than enough to see him over. The day is Fed, but a great showing from the green Djokovic, a sign of things to come
Stats for the final between Federer and Rafael Nadal - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...dal-vs-federer-monte-carlo-final-2006.644745/
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