Match Stats/Report - Djokovic vs Alcaraz, Olympic Games final, 2024

[Waspsting]

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in the Olympic Games final, 2024 on clay in Paris, France

It was Djokovic’s first title at the event. He had previously won the bronze medal in 2008. Alcaraz, who was playing the event for the first time, had recently won Wimbledon (beating Djokovic in the final) and the French Open at the same venue as this match. Lorenzo Musetti (Italy), who lost to Djokovic in the semi-final, would win the Bronze medal by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada), who lost to Alcaraz

Djokovic won 101 points, Alcaraz 90

(Note: I’ve made confident, educated guesses for serve type for 5 points
Points in question - Set 1, Game 2, Points 8-12 - marked 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st & 2nd serves respectively. All other data for points in question are complete)

Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (69/93) 74%
- 1st serve points won (54/69) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (12/24) 50%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (28/93) 30%

Alcaraz...
- 1st serve percentage (65/98) 66%
- 1st serve points won (47/65) 72%
- 2nd serve points won (16/33) 48%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (21/98) 21%

Serve Pattern
Djokovic served...
- to FH 51%
- to BH 48%
- to Body 1%

Alcaraz served...
- to FH 26%
- to BH 67%
- to Body 7%

Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 76 (22 FH, 54 BH)
- 2 Winners ( FH)
- 20 Errors, comprising...
- 14 Unforced (4 FH, 10 BH)
- 6 Forced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (76/97) 78%

Alcaraz made...
- 63 (38 FH, 25 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 27 Errors, comprising...
- 10 Unforced (5 FH, 5 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 17 Forced (9 FH, 8 BH)
- Return Rate (63/91) 69%

Break Points
Djokovic 0/6 (4 games)
Alcaraz 0/8 (2 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Djokovic 23 (14 FH, 1 BH, 4 FHV, 4 OH)
Alcaraz 40 (25 FH, 8 BH, 5 FHV, 2 OH)

Djokovic's FHs - 4 cc (1 return, 1 pass), 7 dtl (1 return, 2 at net, 1 pass), 1 inside-out, 2 inside-in
- BH pass - 1 cc at net

Alcaraz' FHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 1 cc/inside-in, 2 dtl (1 pass at net), 1 dtl/inside-out, 3 inside-out (1 at net), 7 inside-in, 1 longline, 5 drop shots, 2 running-down-drop-shot cc at net (1 pass), 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl pass at net
- BHs - 2 cc, 4 dtl (2 passes - 1 at net), 1 inside-out/dtl pass, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net

- 2 FHVs were swinging, non-net shots (1 inside-out, 1 inside-in)

Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Djokovic 27
- 17 Unforced (7 FH, 8 BH, 1 BHV, 1 OH)... the OH was on the bounce from no-man's land
- 10 Forced (3 FH, 7 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.8

Alcaraz 49
- 32 Unforced (16 FH, 14 BH, 2 FHV)
- 17 Forced (12 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV)... with 4 FH running-down-drop-shot at net & the FHV was a baseline shot
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.8

(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 are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Djokovic was...
- 24/35 (69%) at net, including...
- 5/5 (100%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 0/3 forced back

Alcaraz was 15/25 (60%) at net, with...
- 0/1 forced back

Match Report
Something out of of a dream; 2 great players playing their very best from first ball to last, no lapses, no lulls. Djokovic wins by floating into the upper territory of his very best in 2 tiebreaks and being clutch in general

Djokovic serves particularly well, his hitting is at its best (clean, changing directions, secure) and when needed, indulges excellent shot-making. His return is a little off at times and his movements are average with a caveat; You wouldn’t want to count on him not reaching any particular ball. 2 counter-attacking running FH winners is what seals the win for him in second tiebreak

Alcaraz’ shot-making is top drawer even by his standards. He’s flaming winners (particularly FHs) all over the place all match. He’s quick as they come and very strong defensively, a pain to finish off. On the imperfect side of things, he can’t get a grip on the return (against an excellent serve), though he experiments with his positions

By a normal standard, Djoko’s shot-making would probably take the eye for the match. And Alcaraz’ stock hitting is good to take down most opponents clinically

This match ain’t a normal standard. Next to Alcs’ shot-making, Djoko’s barely noticable. And next to Djoko’s ball striking, Alcs’ seems pedestrian

No breaks
Both players with more winners than UEs (Djoko 23 and 17, Alcs 40 and 32)
Two things you never see on clay, both on show

Djoko wins 52.9% of the points, while serving 48.7% of them
Sans the tiebreaks, points he leads points won 87-85, and trails points served 84-88 (in percentages, winning 50.6% while serving 48.8%)

He has slightly better of second set, with serve doing a lot of damage. First set is even more even

In first set, to hold 6 times -
Djoko serves 53 points, Alcs 45
Break points - Djoko 0/5 (3 games), Alcs 0/8 (2 games)

That includes Alcs holding from 0-40 down early on and saving a break/set point at 6-5
Djoko’s put through the hoop little before the end at 4-4, when he has to save 5 break points in an 18 point game

In second set, to hold 6 times -
Djoko serves 31 points, Alcs 43
Break points - Djoko 0/1
4/6 of Alcs’ games to to deuce, just 1 of Djoko’s

Overall, break points - Djoko 0/6 (4 games), Alcs 0/8 (2 games)

Djoko delivering first serves on all break points
4 don’t come. He’s at net to to save 3 more. Alcs misses a BH dtl winner attempt from normal position on other point

Alcs delivers them on 3/6 break points. Just 1 unreturned serve (a good second serve, still marked UE for Djoko), and Alcs delivers some dazzling shots to save break points - 4 FH winners, couple of them products of shot-making, i.e. ball not obviously there for the shot, 1 of them right after missing the identical shot point before, and a powerfully constructed approach

That high end stuff… is tip of iceberg, ‘big points’ stuff. What passes for staple isn’t too far behind

Putting all of the above together, Djoko does edge the non-tiebreak bulk of match (and obviously, dominates the ‘breakers). ‘Edge’ means edge, a slight, indecisive advantage. And both players are clutch as can be in saving break points. One would tend to favour Djoko’s way (strong serving) holding up better than Alcs’ (firing ground winners) long term, but it’d take a brave or foolish man to bet big on the matter in either direction

In nutshell, Djoko having better of things. Different roads taken by the two players to reach destination tie-breaks - Djoko’s spear tip is excellent serving, Alcs’ is shot-making
Very long spears beyond the tip for both of them too

Serve & Return
Serve is crucial, as you’d expect in a match with no breaks. Djoko has better serve (higher in count and more damaging). Who has better return is up in the air, but Djoko’s advantage on the serve shot gives him advantage in serve-return complex

Alcs starts match returning from well back against both serves. He’s not too successful - returns shorts and Djoko commands points, while still missing (challenging) returns. In time, he moves up to normal position couple paces behind baseline
Struggles with the pace from there, and moves back. Struggles with the wide placement, which is excellent

Djoko is usually in half-back position to return first serves. His position for seconds vary - occasionally taking it early from on baseline, usually couple steps behind. Once in awhile, steps up to hit the first return earlier too. He doesn’t move well for returns, but does randomly thump the odd return down the middle to baseline

Unreturned serves - Djoko 30%, Alcs 21%, broken down (from servers point of view) as -
- aces - both 1
- Return FEs drawn - Djoko 17, Alcs 6
- Return UEs drawn - Djoko 10, Alcs 14

30% freebies excellent for Djoko. He’s earned it with high quality - pace, placement and bounce

Reason he has so few aces is Alcs being quick to move sideways and able to get racquet on ball. Square racquet even, so not service winners. Typical clay court bounce has a hand in effectiveness too. Alcs has returned Djoko superbly on skimming, lower bouncing courts (particulalry Wimbledon), but struggled as ball gets up around his chest and shoulders (here, Madrid and even Cincinnati)

Djoko’s best serving is in second set, where he not only makes 29/35 first serves, but with improved quality. Moving to return early, pace stumps Alcs. Moving back, width does it

For clay, 17 FEs and 10 UEs is an FE heavy yield, against a very capable and quick returner

Djoko distributing serves evenly (serves 46 to FH, 44 to BH and 1 to body). No difference in Alcs’ returning strenght across wings. If anything, he hits the BHs better

Djoko’s 14 UEs/6 FEs return error breakdown is more typical of the surface. Alcs’ serve not as powerful or well placed, but he also gets the ball to lift. Djoko’s movements not good enough to get into position too well

Alcs with relatively better second serves than firsts. If firsts are decent of power, seconds kick well. Not easy to attack and persistent attempts to likely to lead to errors

Djoko does not ‘persistently attempt to attack’. Picks and chooses when. Couple of perfect, inside baseline taken return winners. Few spanked deep down the middle. Mostly, looking to return firmly with average returns (not too deep, not powerful though not blocked)

 

[Waspsting]

Good move from Alcs to serve 67% to Djoko’s BH. Generally, his more secure but less damaging side. Here’s he’s giving up fair few return errors off the BH and good for Alcs to draw that yield without risking dangers of more punishing FHs. Both Djoko’s reutrn winners are FHs

Alcs’ backward position leaves serve-volley option for Djoko. He’s 5/5 so doing. Alcs doesn’t serve-volley at all

Gist - excellent serving from Djoko - high in count, power, placement, bounce. Good from Alcs, trailing Djoko some in all those qualities
On the return, Djoko little slow to handle what he’s tasked with. Returns firmly, but not damagingly too often, which brings home how high his norm of regular instant neutralizing and initiative grabbing returning has been over the years. Alcs struggling on the return wherever he takes it from - well back, the pace width bites him, from normal or early position, the pace does
Djoko getting better of serve-return contest

Play - Baseline & Net
Winners - Djoko 23, Alcs 40
Errors Forced - Djoko 17, Alcs 10
UEs - Djoko 17, Alcs 32

Top drawer stuff
Winner/UE differntial - Djoko +6, Alcs +8
Aggressively ended points/UE differential - Djoko +23, Alcs +18

All that amidst staple very hard hitting play, especially Djoko, whose at his very best for ball striking. Every ball right out the middle of the racquet, both wings, while barely missing anything. And Alcs hits well too

Of movement, Alcs quick as can be, Djoko average. Takes visible special effort for Djoko to run full tilt on particular points, which makes him even more dangerous. 2 running, counter-attacking FH winners in the final tiebreak is one result of it

Alcs has 25 FH winners - more than all of Djoko’s shot put together. He’s got 2 swinging, non-net FHV winners too, which realistically align more with FH than FHVs. 8 BH winners isn’t small either (Djoko has 1, a pass at net from a drop shot play)

As indicated earlier, it’s a serve-shot shaped match. Both players draw weak or at least, not-strong returns and go on the attack from there. With excellent staple hitting, both players have to stay on the attack vigorously. Any let up in force, and defender is liable to neutralize advantage with powerful stock shot

Good few third ball FH winners from Alcs (few BHs too). Not necessarily off weak returns. He takes on shots from normal positions or slighlty advantageous ones where going for clean winner isn’t high percentage choice. And keeps making them. Including when in tight spots. Or he pounds down big groundstrokes to keept Djoko pegged back, before unleashing FH winner. Djoko’s shot resistance from defensive position is good enough not to give up weak, puaway balls, but again, its not often Alcs can draw a weak enough ball to have a putaway ball to smack away

Djoko’s more apt to pound soft return and come to net and finish with authority. Doesn’t take the eye like Alcs’ pyrotechnic 40 winners, but works just as well. And against first rate footspeed and defence, unlike what Alcs’ up against

Neutral UEs - Djoko 6, Alcs 14
Djoko more stable, both players hitting excellently. Djoko more. BH longline change-ups are effective for him though Alcs is too quick to be too bothered by it. A match filled with nothing but 2 players engaging in staple, hard hitting rallies of this kind on its own would be a good match. Here, its just springboard for brighter things

Attacking UEs - Djoko 7, Alcs 11
Errors forced in baseline rallies - both 7 (including a FHV by Djoko)
(2 players have total 3 UEs at net)

Neither player doing too well here. Djoko because Alcs is quick as a rabbit and difficult to force errors from. Plenty more attacking shots from Djoko that he’d expect to win points with that come back. Alcs’ ratio is poor, especially in light of Djoko not being too tough to force errors from. Its just not his way to attack in moderation, and he likes to go for the finishing winner instead. He’s not a move-opponent-around type player. Alcs’ play is better than that ratio would suggest because his attacking shots do set up follow-up winners aplenty. And at crunch time, Djoko’s grits out being as tough to finish off as Alcs himself

Winner attempt UEs - Djoko 4, Alcs 7
Winners - Djoko 23, Alcs 40

Speaks for itself. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a baseline match where both players are that successful with the ultimate finisher. Much of it set by serve as mentioned earlier, neither players winners are rarely putaway balls. Top drawer stuff from both players. These ratios are kinds you see in celebrated showings in one-sided matches

UEs are evenly distributed by wings for both players -
- Djoko 7 FH, 8 BHs
- Alcs 16 FHs, 14 BHs

With Alcs FHs committing higher lot of attacking and winner attempt UEs, its BHs where Djoko’s got more better of him neutrally. A staple of Djoko’s game but not one he can count on against Alcs

Rallying to net points - Djoko 19/30 or 63%, Alcs 15/25 or 60%
(Djoko also wins 5/5 serve-volleying)

Djoko 8 volley winners (all from rallies), just 1 error (a UE)
Alcs 5 net voley winners (+ 2 non-net ones), 2 errors (both UEs)
Both coming in from good positions. Djoko often set up by strong serve, both doing very well at net
Those net numbers are complicated by drop-shot play that both indulge successfully. Not so much for Alcs’ drop shots, which simply go for winners (5 of them), but Djoko’s which forces Alcs to net and leads to net-to-net situations

 

[Waspsting]

Djoko’s forced 4 running-down-drop-shot at net errors. Alcs has 4 running-down-drop-shot winners at net, plus other more firmly played shots there. Alcs’ footspeed doesn’t invite drop-shotting, Djoko’s does (and Alcs needs no invitation to play drop shots, for him it’s a stock finisher). Good job by Djoko on the drop shot. For him, not making bunch of errors trying isn’t a given, let alone actually winning fair share of points against such a quick, alert opponent

Gist - amazing stuff
Djokovic hitting superbly while barely misisng, with sprinkles of drop shots thrown in, utilizing net and darn good when going for the winner from the back. His movements are average
Alcaraz hitting isn’t too far behind, he’s not as consistent (but never sloppy) and his shot-making especially off the FH is first rate. And he’s quick as can be and very strong defensively

Match Progression
Alcs starts the match returning from well-back position. Djoko’s half-back against first serves and varies some against second serves

Early on Alcs’ misses a few FHs. He has 7 FH UEs after first point of Game 4 (also 4 winners), so rest of match, 21 winners, 9 UEs. As is his way, he looks for point ending shots, power based and droppers. Djoko’s rarely upto defending against it

Djoko is hard hitting off both sides, and very secure off the ground. Combines power hits with approaches for most effective offence. Moderate attacks from the back are thwarted by Alcs’ quickness, which is young Nadal-like

Couple of BH blinks gives Djoko break point in game 2. Alcs erases with a stunning FH drop shot from routine position and adds a third ball BH cc winner and a winning FH dtl to hold

Alcs is down 0-40 next go around, with Djoko dispathcing a bad drop shot at net and spanking a FH dtl return winner against a first serve. Not obvious third ball FH inside-in winner (as in, ball isn’t obviously asking to be so treated), good third ball BH cc approach and a good second serve that draws error (not easy, but marked UE) get him to deuce. Flames down 3 more winners, including his sole ace as he goes on to hold

Its Djoko’s turn next. High end game, with pick of it being Alcs at full speed making a BH running-down-drop-shot dtl winner at net to reach 30-30 before a BH dtl sets up another FH winner to raise his first break point

He has 3 in all in the game and all are erased by unreturned first serves (first one a very good wide serve, second one a serve-volley, the third one good enough), before Djoko goes on to hold with a smash winner set up by another strong serve

Its not just the winners that make the special. Alcs holds game 8 to love, where he volleys third ball from the baseline and on last point, defends like a maniac to eventually draw a FH UE

Next game lasts 18 points, Alcs has 5 break points in it, Djoko’s at net 9 times. 3 UEs in the game (excluding a double fault and a return error drawn by first serve). Djoko’s at net 4/5 break points - once serve-volleying, 3 times commandingly coming in from baseline - and does the needful there. Tough rally develops on the remaining BP, with Alcs taking on a challenging BH dtl winner and missing. Next point, he hits a BH dtl winner, though this one is well set up

No let up in intensity on cusp of tiebreak. Alcs makes a remarkable, stretched out BH dtl pass winner early on, reminiscient of Djoko himself. Easy missed FHV leaves him down break/set point, bu he matter-of-factly disposes of third ball FH cc winner before going on to hold

Tiebreak. Nothing but exciting points to reach 3-3, when Djoko steps up and short angles an early taken FH cc return for winner. After holding his 2 service points, Djoko’s on 6-3 with 2 return points to come
Alcs third ball drop shots and a scampering Djoko’s upto poking the ball over, and stretch drop volleying the wide follow-up pass for a winner

Tennis might be even better in the second set, though less competitive with Djoko holding fairly comfily, Alcs less so. But just 1 break point in the set, that Alcs saves
Djoko serves 31 points for his 6 holds or 5.2 per game. 1 deuce game
Alcs serves 43 or 7.2, with 4/6 games going to deuce

Djoko’s lands 83% first serves (up from already very good 69% in first set) and draws 34% unreturend serves (up from 28% set before). His back court offence becomes more potent and so he’s at net less. Alcs experiments with his return position but nothing proves effective. Standing close, pace gets him. Falling back, width. Djoko continues to miss makeable returns too, though getting a few more thumped deep ones off

Only break point comes in game 3, brought up by Alcs missing a FH inside-out winner attempt. He responds with an action replay of the same shot, this time nailing the winner

Still plenty of good tennis going on. Game 9 is particularly stellar, with all kind of fun things going on - first point involves low drop volleys, running-down-drop-volleys, lob volleys, behind-back gets and ends with Alcs putting away easy FHV to point he’s always in command of. Penultimate point is even better, an even rally with all kinds of things happening, ending with Alcs deftly touching away a FH dtl at net winner against a strained running-down-drop-shot get

Tiebreak 2 is filled with hard hitting attacking play from both players and has no unreturned serves in it. Djokovic comes away with the first point with a counter-attacking, running FH cc winner against a big FH inside-in. Defends like dickens to force Alcs back from net and consolidate and defends like dickens again before giving up a corner FH error

Alcs levels at 2-2 with a back-away FH inside-in winner. And that’s the last point he wins

Djoko moves ahead again, with an even better running counter-attacking FH cc winner. The first one was against a FH inside-in, so cc Alcs would have been ready for cc counter. This one is against a big FH cc, and Alcs is caught out by the shot choice that sneaks through for a winner

Djoko with a big third ball FH inside-in off his own, to set up a putaway smash to follow and couple basline blinks from Alcs later, reachs 6-2 with a return point to follow
Thumped first serve return to baseline to draw a weak ball, that he muscles away FH inside-in for one last winner to bring down the curtain

Summing up, as close to a perfect match as there's been; 2 great players in top form, from first ball to last, to blips, no dips, no lulls. Both showings could be the winning half of a 3 & 3 masterpiece performance

Instead, a masterpiece match. Djokovic serve particularly well (high in count, force, placement) and back its up with secure, hard hitting, dual winged play, with perfect use of net to finish. When he really needs to, ups it to higher gear of top class shot-making

Alcaraz serves and hits well too, just not as well as opponent. On his side to compensate, fantastic shot-making (especially, but not exclusively off the FH) and he’s very quick and tough to finish off

On imperfect side is Djokovic’s movements, which are average, including on the return. Good shot tolerance against power though and again, cometh the hour, not easy to finish off. His not-strong returns (as opposed to weak) being dipatched or commanded by opponent more to opponents credit though
And Alcaraz’ inability to get a grip returning. He tries different positions, but is unable to return with much authority regardless. Against an excellent serve, but could do better

Djokovic with slightly better of things to indecisive degree and 2 flawless tiebreaks to gain the result

Stats for Djokovic’s second round match with Rafael Nadal (Spain) - Match Stats/Report - Djokovic vs Nadal, Olympic Games second round, 2024 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)

 

[Biotic]

Very good match.

It was a rarity for Djoko even in his best years not to blink at least once per match when on serve. It's just that his superb return game allowed him to claw his way back into the set/match against (almost) anyone anywhere. Nowdays, he doesn't have such luxury. Considering age/form handicap and what was at stake (for him personally first and foremost), clutching out this one must've been one of the finest moments of his career.

 

[Mainad]

I was furious I couldn't find anywhere to watch it. Bloody Sky!

 

[nolefam_2024]

I was furious I couldn't find anywhere to watch it. Bloody Sky!

Pure edge of the seat stuff.

 

[Hitman]

This match will forever be known for those God tier crosscourt forehands that Djokovic unleashed, to which Alcaraz had no answer that day.

One of the most iconic moments in tennis history, the day Djokovic won it all.

 

[Third Serve]

I think you have too high an opinion of this match but it was indeed good, especially for Djokovic's age. Some of the best tennis we've seen from someone 35 and older, IMO.

 

[objection_]

VK.com | VK

vk.com

Shame it wasn't a BO5, could have been the best match of the year.

 

[jackson vile]

Why did Carlos serve to Novak’s backhand that much? Seems like he’s asking to be punished

 

[RaulRamirez]

VK.com | VK

vk.com

Shame it wasn't a BO5, could have been the best match of the year.

As it was, though, even though one can debate the importance of Olympics tennis, I'd still rank it (disclaimer: my memory's not great for such things) very high for this year.

 

[objection_]

As it was, though, even though one can debate the importance of Olympics tennis, I'd still rank it (disclaimer: my memory's not great for such things) very high for this year.

Yeah, although I don't recall too many thrillers happening this year...
Medvedev Zverev AO
Sinner Zverev AO
Sinner Alcaraz RG
Alcaraz Zverev RG
Tiafoe Alcaraz WB
Medvedev Sinner WB
Tiafoe Shelton USO
Tiafoe Fritz USO

Those are the big 5 setters I can name off the top of my head, none really struck me as extremely high quality, although part of that might have to do with the Wimby and RG channels being atrocious at producing extended highlights, and then copyrighting to hell any half decent highlights independently produced...

 

[Waspsting]

Why did Carlos serve to Novak’s backhand that much? Seems like he’s asking to be punished

The pattern with Djokovic is FH return more damaging, BH return more consistent
Minor differences, with both sides being both damaging and consistent

Here, I think Alcaraz gets it right. He's getting fair few errors from BH. Probably wouldn't get any more out of FH, and higher chances of Djoko throws out damaging returns off that side
Both Djoko's return winners being FHs supports this (granted, he doesn't look to hit return winners much in general, but he's more apt to take it on with FH)

Alcs' gone through match unbroken, so he's done swimmginly with his serve and he fancies himself (rightly) to collar action and attack after not-strong return (which he'll get more out of BH than FH)

 

[nolefam_2024]

Alcaraz will always go for Djokovic backhand on ad court. His +1 Inside in is devastating. What are you gonna do?
He went 80% on ad wide and won 66% of them, which is his average on clay. No harm done.

 

[Lauren_Girl']

VK.com | VK

vk.com

Shame it wasn't a BO5, could have been the best match of the year.

Thanks... For those who don't know it, this site is gold mine for tennis. They literally post everything since mid-2022. Even 250 1st round matches. I don't speak the language but with some translators and tricks, you'll find any match you want in 1 minute. I watched and downloaded all of Djokovic's 6 Olympics full matches there.

OP, thanks for the stats. This will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best 2 sets matches ever. Another one that comes to my mind is Nadal/Thiem RR match London 2020, also 7-6 7-6.

 

[objection_]

Thanks... For those who don't know it, this site is gold mine for tennis. They literally post everything since mid-2022. Even 250 1st round matches. I don't speak the language but with some translators and tricks, you'll find any match you want in 1 minute. I watched and downloaded all of Djokovic's 6 Olympics full matches there.

OP, thanks for the stats. This will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best 2 sets matches ever. Another one that comes to my mind is Nadal/Thiem RR match London 2020, also 7-6 7-6.

Yep, https://vk.com/tennisprimesport?from=search seems to have free livestreams, although some people in the comments are complaining about the crap commentary. I got no problem with copyright if these tennis channels will produce decent highlights, but when they aren't even going to put up full matches after broadcast restrictions have already expired then people are going to resort to whatever means they have to. Clearly the slams also have vaults of old matches in full HD even since 2005 and haven't put any of them up, preferring to stick with the old aspect ratio too - absolutely ridiculous.

Another contender for one of the great 2 set matches was ATP Finals 2012 Djoko-Fed, that one had no business being straight sets, and had we BO5 masters finals that could have been an absolute classic.

 

[GRASScaraz]

Alcaraz's biggest choke

 

[jackson vile]

The pattern with Djokovic is FH return more damaging, BH return more consistent
Minor differences, with both sides being both damaging and consistent

Here, I think Alcaraz gets it right. He's getting fair few errors from BH. Probably wouldn't get any more out of FH, and higher chances of Djoko throws out damaging returns off that side
Both Djoko's return winners being FHs supports this (granted, he doesn't look to hit return winners much in general, but he's more apt to take it on with FH)

Alcs' gone through match unbroken, so he's done swimmginly with his serve and he fancies himself (rightly) to collar action and attack after not-strong return (which he'll get more out of BH than FH)

Well, it didn’t work…