Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 6-2, 7-5 in the Indian Wells final, 2007 on hard court
This was the pairs second match. It was Nadal's first title since the 2006 French Open (where he had beaten Djokovic in quarter-final), first at the venue and he did not drop a set all tournament. Djokovic was 19, playing his first Masters final, did not drop a set in reaching the final and the result saw him enter the top 10 for the first time
Nadal won 66 points, Djokovic 50
Serve Stats
Nadal...
- 1st serve percentage (44/65) 68%
- 1st serve points won (32/44) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (14/21) 67%
- Aces 2, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (14/65) 22%
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (26/51) 51%
- 1st serve points won (20/26) 77%
- 2nd serve points won (11/25) 44%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (12/51) 24%
Serve Pattern
Nadal served...
- to FH 33%
- to BH 66%
- to Body 2%
Djokovic served...
- to FH 27%
- to BH 71%
- to Body 2%
Return Stats
Nadal made...
- 37 (13 FH, 24 BH), including 7 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (2 FH, 1 BH)
- 5 Forced (2 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (37/49) 76%
Djokovic made...
- 50 (19 FH, 31 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 8 Forced (3 FH, 5 BH)
- Return Rate (50/64) 78%
Break Points
Nadal 3/4 (3 games)
Djokovic 0/3 (1 game)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Nadal 14 (10 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV)
Djokovic 14 (9 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV)
Nadal's FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 5 inside-out and 2 drop shots
- BHs (all passes) - 2 cc and 1 dtl return
- the FHV was a drop
Djokovic's FHs - 2 dtl, 5 inside-out (1 at net), 1 inside-out/dtl and 1 net chord dribbler return
- BHs - 2 drop shots
- 1 BHV was a drop
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Nadal 23
- 15 Unforced (7 FH, 7 BH, 1 OH)
- 8 Forced (7 FH, 1 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.3
Djokovic 36
- 22 Unforced (11 FH, 9 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)… including 1 FH at net
- 14 Forced (9 FH, 5 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.5
(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
Nadal was...
- 3/4 (75%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Djokovic was...
- 9/15 (60%) at net, including...
- 1/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
--
- 1/1 forced back
Match Report
Fast start from Nadal coupled with poor serving from Djoko makes the first set a crushing, while the second is competitive with Djokovic swinging aggressively with FHs and raising his first serve in count to raise his level on a slow-ish court
In the blink of an eye, its 4-0 Nadal, with Djoko winning just 2 points. Strong FH hitting from Nadal allows him to command play and end points. Meanwhile, Djoko can't buy a first serve. He makes 2/9 in his first two games, and continues in that vein for the rest of the set though he manages to hold his remaining 2 service games. 5/19 first serves in for the set from Djoko. From 4-0, rest of set is all comfortable holds. Nadal lost just 3 points in his 4 service games in winning it 6-2
Second set though is tough. If anything, Djokovic edges play. Nadal is pushed to deuce 3 times - including an extended 14 point game where he has to save 3 break points. Djokovic is not taken to deuce but is broken at the end
In addition to raising his first serve in count - he's 21/32 for the set - Djoko plays more aggressively. Probably a bit too aggressively... he's swinging passionately if not quite wildly off the FH, and its unlikely that wouldn't sooner or later lead to his making a bunch of errors. Nadal meanwhile, is typically strong in defence and even Djoko's full blooded FHs tend to come back and force the teen to hit another similar shot
The extra attacking play is necessary though, because playing neutrally, Djoko was being taken apart by the Nadal FH
Djoko has 3 break points in game 4 in a choppy game. He's got his return going and hits some strong shots off it to neutralize Nadal's initiative or grab it for himself. Baseline action is tough, if somewhat choppy. Djoko's best chance to break is the last of his break points. The two get into a tough rally, centered around Djokovic FH - Nadal BH. It goes on for awhile, Nadal not giving an inch but Djoko the more powerful... Djoko goes for a drop shot to finish the point, but nets it
Djoko swings harder with FH from thereon and reaches deuce in his next two return games too. Nadal gets break in game 11 with Djoko missing attacking groundstrokes after meaty rallies to go down 0-30. An attempted big second serve leads to double fault and then Djoko starts taking net. He's successful on first break point, but is passed BH cc to give up the break. And Nadal serves out the match comfortably
Serve & Return
Nadal's serve looks fairly strong and the court is such that it rises as high as Djokovic's head at times. Djoko struggles some to return with authority. He makes a few errors of the kind one didn't see from him in years to come, but also wades into a few, sending them back. Not consistently though
There's a very interesting discussion between the commentators about the best way to tackle Nadal's serve, particularly the second. Darren Cahill and Pat McEnroe on one side thinks its best to fall back and let the heavy spin take its course before striking. Cahill claims that in his 2005 match with Nadal in Canada, Andre Agassi, who he was coaching at the time, found it difficult to cope with the spin taking it early and had more success when he fell back. On the other side, Pam Shriver opines that its best to take it early before the spin lifts the ball too high for comfort
Not sure who's right. In this match at any rate, Djoko seems to do better falling back a bit. Generally, he'd come to be more successful taking it early. Nadal's serve has undergone more changes over the years than just about anybodys… its an interesting to keep track of. In this match, Djokovic is a bit uncomfortable with it
Terrible serving by Djokovic in first set to tune of 26% first serves in is ably and consistently returned by Nadal. Returns are fairly deep and popping up high, making third ball awkward. In second set, Djoko finds his range on the serve. Taking something off the first but hitting relatively big second serves, the first shot is effective
Nadal continues to return consistently. Notable is the comfort with which he handles shoulder to head high balls. When Djoko throws in a surprise serve-volley, Nadal passes him with the return without trouble
Play - Baseline & Net
Initially, Nadal takes charge with FHs. crosscourt or inside-out are both effective - the cc's bullying and the inside-outs often point finishing. Typical speedy footwork allows him to play FHs as and when he wants. The BH though is relatively prone to error (by his standard, anyway). In this part of the match, Djoko is just bossed about from the back
After Djoko finds his first serve, he has more success. He starts swinging hard with his groudies, almost exclusively with FHs. You wouldn't notice the BH at all if you weren't looking for it... he looks a typical, attack-with-FH-hold-steady-with-BH type player
However, even straining to be aggressive, he's just about even with Nadal, who is playing his natural intense game without undue effort to be commanding. And Nadal's foot speed is as impressive as his footwork and he's able to reach many a very hard hit ball placed away from him. The defensive retrieving is down from his best though (meaning not many near impossible gets), though very good by normal standards
Straining so, it seems likely the attacking errors will come from Djoko eventually. And they do but at a trickle. Note very high 49.5 UEFI. 15/22 of his UEs were at least attacking shots. He did well to be as consistent as he was taking such big cuts
The key difference in play would be the FEs. Djoko can only force 8 errors out of Nadal, despite going near all out to. Nadal gets 14 out of Djoko, playing within himself. Coupled with Djoko being less consistent off the ground, it gives Nadal a fairly comfortable cushion of superiority
Djoko also takes to net a bit to enhance his attacks. He does not volley well and can't finish points that were there to be finished. And Nadal hits heavy passing shots when given chance
Two biggest differences in play -
- Nadal playing naturally but intensely, while Djokovic strains for aggression... damage done by aggression about the same but errors made trying higher for Djoko
- Defensive ability. Nadal's is excellent. Djoko's is ordinary in the match
Summing up, competitive second set after a bad show from Djokovic in the first. With Djoko being attacking about on par with Nadal being normal of offense, but trailing significantly defensively, Nadal comfortably the better player
stats for '05 Canada final between Nadal and Agassi - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...al-vs-agassi-canadian-open-final-2005.649725/
This was the pairs second match. It was Nadal's first title since the 2006 French Open (where he had beaten Djokovic in quarter-final), first at the venue and he did not drop a set all tournament. Djokovic was 19, playing his first Masters final, did not drop a set in reaching the final and the result saw him enter the top 10 for the first time
Nadal won 66 points, Djokovic 50
Serve Stats
Nadal...
- 1st serve percentage (44/65) 68%
- 1st serve points won (32/44) 73%
- 2nd serve points won (14/21) 67%
- Aces 2, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (14/65) 22%
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (26/51) 51%
- 1st serve points won (20/26) 77%
- 2nd serve points won (11/25) 44%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (12/51) 24%
Serve Pattern
Nadal served...
- to FH 33%
- to BH 66%
- to Body 2%
Djokovic served...
- to FH 27%
- to BH 71%
- to Body 2%
Return Stats
Nadal made...
- 37 (13 FH, 24 BH), including 7 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (2 FH, 1 BH)
- 5 Forced (2 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (37/49) 76%
Djokovic made...
- 50 (19 FH, 31 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 8 Forced (3 FH, 5 BH)
- Return Rate (50/64) 78%
Break Points
Nadal 3/4 (3 games)
Djokovic 0/3 (1 game)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Nadal 14 (10 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV)
Djokovic 14 (9 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV)
Nadal's FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 5 inside-out and 2 drop shots
- BHs (all passes) - 2 cc and 1 dtl return
- the FHV was a drop
Djokovic's FHs - 2 dtl, 5 inside-out (1 at net), 1 inside-out/dtl and 1 net chord dribbler return
- BHs - 2 drop shots
- 1 BHV was a drop
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Nadal 23
- 15 Unforced (7 FH, 7 BH, 1 OH)
- 8 Forced (7 FH, 1 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.3
Djokovic 36
- 22 Unforced (11 FH, 9 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)… including 1 FH at net
- 14 Forced (9 FH, 5 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.5
(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
Nadal was...
- 3/4 (75%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Djokovic was...
- 9/15 (60%) at net, including...
- 1/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
--
- 1/1 forced back
Match Report
Fast start from Nadal coupled with poor serving from Djoko makes the first set a crushing, while the second is competitive with Djokovic swinging aggressively with FHs and raising his first serve in count to raise his level on a slow-ish court
In the blink of an eye, its 4-0 Nadal, with Djoko winning just 2 points. Strong FH hitting from Nadal allows him to command play and end points. Meanwhile, Djoko can't buy a first serve. He makes 2/9 in his first two games, and continues in that vein for the rest of the set though he manages to hold his remaining 2 service games. 5/19 first serves in for the set from Djoko. From 4-0, rest of set is all comfortable holds. Nadal lost just 3 points in his 4 service games in winning it 6-2
Second set though is tough. If anything, Djokovic edges play. Nadal is pushed to deuce 3 times - including an extended 14 point game where he has to save 3 break points. Djokovic is not taken to deuce but is broken at the end
In addition to raising his first serve in count - he's 21/32 for the set - Djoko plays more aggressively. Probably a bit too aggressively... he's swinging passionately if not quite wildly off the FH, and its unlikely that wouldn't sooner or later lead to his making a bunch of errors. Nadal meanwhile, is typically strong in defence and even Djoko's full blooded FHs tend to come back and force the teen to hit another similar shot
The extra attacking play is necessary though, because playing neutrally, Djoko was being taken apart by the Nadal FH
Djoko has 3 break points in game 4 in a choppy game. He's got his return going and hits some strong shots off it to neutralize Nadal's initiative or grab it for himself. Baseline action is tough, if somewhat choppy. Djoko's best chance to break is the last of his break points. The two get into a tough rally, centered around Djokovic FH - Nadal BH. It goes on for awhile, Nadal not giving an inch but Djoko the more powerful... Djoko goes for a drop shot to finish the point, but nets it
Djoko swings harder with FH from thereon and reaches deuce in his next two return games too. Nadal gets break in game 11 with Djoko missing attacking groundstrokes after meaty rallies to go down 0-30. An attempted big second serve leads to double fault and then Djoko starts taking net. He's successful on first break point, but is passed BH cc to give up the break. And Nadal serves out the match comfortably
Serve & Return
Nadal's serve looks fairly strong and the court is such that it rises as high as Djokovic's head at times. Djoko struggles some to return with authority. He makes a few errors of the kind one didn't see from him in years to come, but also wades into a few, sending them back. Not consistently though
There's a very interesting discussion between the commentators about the best way to tackle Nadal's serve, particularly the second. Darren Cahill and Pat McEnroe on one side thinks its best to fall back and let the heavy spin take its course before striking. Cahill claims that in his 2005 match with Nadal in Canada, Andre Agassi, who he was coaching at the time, found it difficult to cope with the spin taking it early and had more success when he fell back. On the other side, Pam Shriver opines that its best to take it early before the spin lifts the ball too high for comfort
Not sure who's right. In this match at any rate, Djoko seems to do better falling back a bit. Generally, he'd come to be more successful taking it early. Nadal's serve has undergone more changes over the years than just about anybodys… its an interesting to keep track of. In this match, Djokovic is a bit uncomfortable with it
Terrible serving by Djokovic in first set to tune of 26% first serves in is ably and consistently returned by Nadal. Returns are fairly deep and popping up high, making third ball awkward. In second set, Djoko finds his range on the serve. Taking something off the first but hitting relatively big second serves, the first shot is effective
Nadal continues to return consistently. Notable is the comfort with which he handles shoulder to head high balls. When Djoko throws in a surprise serve-volley, Nadal passes him with the return without trouble
Play - Baseline & Net
Initially, Nadal takes charge with FHs. crosscourt or inside-out are both effective - the cc's bullying and the inside-outs often point finishing. Typical speedy footwork allows him to play FHs as and when he wants. The BH though is relatively prone to error (by his standard, anyway). In this part of the match, Djoko is just bossed about from the back
After Djoko finds his first serve, he has more success. He starts swinging hard with his groudies, almost exclusively with FHs. You wouldn't notice the BH at all if you weren't looking for it... he looks a typical, attack-with-FH-hold-steady-with-BH type player
However, even straining to be aggressive, he's just about even with Nadal, who is playing his natural intense game without undue effort to be commanding. And Nadal's foot speed is as impressive as his footwork and he's able to reach many a very hard hit ball placed away from him. The defensive retrieving is down from his best though (meaning not many near impossible gets), though very good by normal standards
Straining so, it seems likely the attacking errors will come from Djoko eventually. And they do but at a trickle. Note very high 49.5 UEFI. 15/22 of his UEs were at least attacking shots. He did well to be as consistent as he was taking such big cuts
The key difference in play would be the FEs. Djoko can only force 8 errors out of Nadal, despite going near all out to. Nadal gets 14 out of Djoko, playing within himself. Coupled with Djoko being less consistent off the ground, it gives Nadal a fairly comfortable cushion of superiority
Djoko also takes to net a bit to enhance his attacks. He does not volley well and can't finish points that were there to be finished. And Nadal hits heavy passing shots when given chance
Two biggest differences in play -
- Nadal playing naturally but intensely, while Djokovic strains for aggression... damage done by aggression about the same but errors made trying higher for Djoko
- Defensive ability. Nadal's is excellent. Djoko's is ordinary in the match
Summing up, competitive second set after a bad show from Djokovic in the first. With Djoko being attacking about on par with Nadal being normal of offense, but trailing significantly defensively, Nadal comfortably the better player
stats for '05 Canada final between Nadal and Agassi - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...al-vs-agassi-canadian-open-final-2005.649725/
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at least Fed and Nadal actually look cool when they celebrate lol
