Novak Djokovic beat Borna Coric 6-3, 6-4 in the Shanghai final, 2018 on hard court
It was Djokovic's record breaking 4th title at the event and he had recently completed the 'Golden Masters' by winning his first title in Cincinnati. He would go onto finish the year ranked #1. To date, this is Coric's only Masters final. He'd beaten Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin del Potro and Roger Federer among others to reach it and would shortly reach a to date career high ranking of 12
Djokovic won 72 points, Coric 52
Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (32/52) 62%
- 1st serve points won (29/32) 91%
- 2nd serve points won (14/20) 70%
- Aces 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/52) 33%
Coric...
- 1st serve percentage (56/72) 78%
- 1st serve points won (34/56) 61%
- 2nd serve points won (9/16) 56%
- Aces 3
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (13/72) 18%
Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 58%
- to BH 42%
Coric served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 55%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 58 (27 FH, 31 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 BH)
- 9 Forced (3 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (58/71) 82%
Coric made...
- 35 (23 FH, 12 BH)
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (2 FH, 3 BH)
- 5 Forced (2 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (35/52) 67%
Break Points
Djokovic 2/9 (4 games)
Coric 0/1
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 10 (3 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 2 OH)
Coric 17 (7 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Djokovic's FHs - 1 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net
- BHs - 2 dtl and 1 drop shot at net
Coric's FHs - 2 cc, 3 inside-out and 2 inside-in (1 slice at net)
- BHs - 3 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 lob
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first volley OH
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 22
- 18 Unforced (6 FH, 10 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
- 4 Forced (2 FH, 1 BH, 1 BHV)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.3
Coric 44
- 34 Unforced (14 FH, 19 BH, 1 FHV)... the FHV can reasonably be called an OH
- 10 Forced (6 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.1
(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...
- 10/15 (67%) at net, with...
- 1/1 forced back
Coric was...
- 7/12 (58%) at net, including...
- 2/3 (67%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
Match Report
Good match of solid baseline play on a fast court. The two play similarly of style - hitting firmly and deep. Djokovic is considerably better at it and a complete wall on the return
This match is a quintessential example of Djokovic's efficiency of play. Superficially, he doesn't do much but keep the ball in play. But he keeps it in play firmly, off both sides and deep. From defensive positions or otherwise. Barely misses a return. Its a quick court where anything slightly wide and even just a hefty, routinely placed serve are likely to draw errors. Coric does both, but Djoko walls up
According to commentary, Djokovic won the tournament without losing serve. And Coric had won his semi with Roger Federer for loss of 9 service points in 10 games. Good indicators of the speed of the court and context to the numbers coming out of the match
The numbers are deceptively not good. Djoko 10 winners, forcing 10 errors to 18 UEs. Coric 17 winners, forcing 4 errors to 34 UEs. Coric's UEs are thus accounts by far the biggest chunk of points
Coric hits firmly and deep, and leads play more often than not (since he serves 72 points to Djoko's 52, most rallies are on his serve). He hits well enough that he should be drawing errors or at least, short/weak balls he can attack more aggressively. Only the short/weak balls don't come, let alone the errors. Djokovic isn't just a wall against a very good, probing examination, but he hits back near as deep and firm from well behind baseline, where he falls with Coric stepping up. And its left for Coric to blink in these rallies
Baseline UEs read -
- Djoko FH 6
- Djoko BH 10
- Coric FH 14
- Coric BH 19
Rallies go on awhile before the errors come, the hitting is firm and deep from Coric, and also testingly wide when that doesn't cut it. He goes dtl attackingly when even that doesn't cut it (and it usually doesn't). He's the one stepping in, trying to force the issue. Flat out going for winners would be difficult against Djokovic's deep hits. Its good, sound play from Coric, despite the poor numbers
In this match, 'deep' means deep. Ball after ball lands close to the baseline. Balls closer to service line than baseline are as short as it gets. From both players
Djokovic's service games go more like play should on a court like this. Healthy serve, not trying to do too much with it, with 62% in (Coric has much larger 78% in, not serving as wide, but about same pace). 33% unreturned rate, which is about standard for this court. I'd estimate a strong server could aim for 40% to over 50%. Coric can only manage 18% unreturned... tremendous job by Djokovic returning without strain, firmly and deep, just like his groundies
Note both players with healthy 2nd serve points won too - Djoko 70%, Coric 56%. So that's step 1 in difference between the 2 - Djoko getting his freebies with the serve, Coric not - full credit Djoko's return. Getting freebies should be the norm in these conditions
And step two are the rallies as described earlier. Nothing easy to attack, and one would expect, not overly vigorous attacking required to draw errors or that failing, weak balls that can be attacked more freely. That's how Djoko plays on his service games too and he ends up getting the errors (Coric has 8 groundstroke FEs, to Djoko's 2). Coric does not. Not much difference in attacking vigour or style - both hit hard and deep. In fact, Coric does so more and goes dtl more... but Djoko resists making the errors
Coric's BH is the loosest shot on show with 19 UEs. Its the one shot that tends to miss regulation shots to a degree warranting a blackmark.
Despite Djoko's clear superiority, its still a 1-break-is-enough match as befits the conditions.
Play isn't unifrom. First set is more about Coric attacking and Djoko defending. 1 break and easy holds otherwise. Djoko serves 25 points, Coric 24
Second set is more about deep, neutral rallies with Djoko the more consistent. Coric still 'leads' play more so than not, but there's less clear attacker-defender roles on show. And Djoko gets comfortably better of action, holding easily while threatening to break. Djoko serves 27 points, Coric 48
Match Progression
Little in the first set. Both players have all but 1 easy hold. Coric is broken in 10 point game, with Djoko's defending superbly in an error filled game. Couple of aggressive points for Djoko too - a net point and error forcing FH inside-out. He breaks to move ahead 4-2
Coric takes him to deuce the game after in another game of deep baseline rallies. Djoko snatching a couple of net points - both ending with winners - pushes things his way
Second set is different, with Coric easing up a bit on stepping in to attack and play more neutral. With Djoko continuing to wall on the return, Coric's service games become tussles. He's broken to start. On break point, he makes a terrible error, slapping a putaway FHV/OH wide
He survives 20 and 8 point service games to follow up. Constantly under the cosh and has his only break point in game 6. Misses a chancey attacking FH dtl on it. Djokovic wins a first class net point in the game where he hits 2 difficult, low volleys to gain the winner - a point Stefan Edberg would be proud of. Coric with a very nice BH inside-out winner in the game too
Djoko has 3 break and match points in game 9 at 0-40. 2 are saved with outstanding shots from Coric. The third is one of those comedic Djokovic smashes gone wrong and Coric goes on to hold. Djoko serves out to love after
Summing up, good, solid baseline match on a fast court with both players hitting firmly and deeply. Coric is the one to step up more and Djokovic's defence and resistance to being forced into error is not only excellent, but he hits back deep and firm while doing so too. That, and Djoko returning with clinical, deep consistency gives him considerable advantage
Very good and efficient from Djokovic. Pretty good from Coric too, despite unflattering numbers, but he's up against a wall who's just better at him at these hit-deep-'til-errors-come type of play
It was Djokovic's record breaking 4th title at the event and he had recently completed the 'Golden Masters' by winning his first title in Cincinnati. He would go onto finish the year ranked #1. To date, this is Coric's only Masters final. He'd beaten Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin del Potro and Roger Federer among others to reach it and would shortly reach a to date career high ranking of 12
Djokovic won 72 points, Coric 52
Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (32/52) 62%
- 1st serve points won (29/32) 91%
- 2nd serve points won (14/20) 70%
- Aces 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/52) 33%
Coric...
- 1st serve percentage (56/72) 78%
- 1st serve points won (34/56) 61%
- 2nd serve points won (9/16) 56%
- Aces 3
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (13/72) 18%
Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 58%
- to BH 42%
Coric served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 55%
- to Body 3%
Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 58 (27 FH, 31 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 1 Unforced (1 BH)
- 9 Forced (3 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (58/71) 82%
Coric made...
- 35 (23 FH, 12 BH)
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (2 FH, 3 BH)
- 5 Forced (2 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (35/52) 67%
Break Points
Djokovic 2/9 (4 games)
Coric 0/1
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 10 (3 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 2 OH)
Coric 17 (7 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Djokovic's FHs - 1 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net
- BHs - 2 dtl and 1 drop shot at net
Coric's FHs - 2 cc, 3 inside-out and 2 inside-in (1 slice at net)
- BHs - 3 dtl, 1 inside-out and 1 lob
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first volley OH
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 22
- 18 Unforced (6 FH, 10 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
- 4 Forced (2 FH, 1 BH, 1 BHV)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.3
Coric 44
- 34 Unforced (14 FH, 19 BH, 1 FHV)... the FHV can reasonably be called an OH
- 10 Forced (6 FH, 2 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.1
(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...
- 10/15 (67%) at net, with...
- 1/1 forced back
Coric was...
- 7/12 (58%) at net, including...
- 2/3 (67%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
Match Report
Good match of solid baseline play on a fast court. The two play similarly of style - hitting firmly and deep. Djokovic is considerably better at it and a complete wall on the return
This match is a quintessential example of Djokovic's efficiency of play. Superficially, he doesn't do much but keep the ball in play. But he keeps it in play firmly, off both sides and deep. From defensive positions or otherwise. Barely misses a return. Its a quick court where anything slightly wide and even just a hefty, routinely placed serve are likely to draw errors. Coric does both, but Djoko walls up
According to commentary, Djokovic won the tournament without losing serve. And Coric had won his semi with Roger Federer for loss of 9 service points in 10 games. Good indicators of the speed of the court and context to the numbers coming out of the match
The numbers are deceptively not good. Djoko 10 winners, forcing 10 errors to 18 UEs. Coric 17 winners, forcing 4 errors to 34 UEs. Coric's UEs are thus accounts by far the biggest chunk of points
Coric hits firmly and deep, and leads play more often than not (since he serves 72 points to Djoko's 52, most rallies are on his serve). He hits well enough that he should be drawing errors or at least, short/weak balls he can attack more aggressively. Only the short/weak balls don't come, let alone the errors. Djokovic isn't just a wall against a very good, probing examination, but he hits back near as deep and firm from well behind baseline, where he falls with Coric stepping up. And its left for Coric to blink in these rallies
Baseline UEs read -
- Djoko FH 6
- Djoko BH 10
- Coric FH 14
- Coric BH 19
Rallies go on awhile before the errors come, the hitting is firm and deep from Coric, and also testingly wide when that doesn't cut it. He goes dtl attackingly when even that doesn't cut it (and it usually doesn't). He's the one stepping in, trying to force the issue. Flat out going for winners would be difficult against Djokovic's deep hits. Its good, sound play from Coric, despite the poor numbers
In this match, 'deep' means deep. Ball after ball lands close to the baseline. Balls closer to service line than baseline are as short as it gets. From both players
Djokovic's service games go more like play should on a court like this. Healthy serve, not trying to do too much with it, with 62% in (Coric has much larger 78% in, not serving as wide, but about same pace). 33% unreturned rate, which is about standard for this court. I'd estimate a strong server could aim for 40% to over 50%. Coric can only manage 18% unreturned... tremendous job by Djokovic returning without strain, firmly and deep, just like his groundies
Note both players with healthy 2nd serve points won too - Djoko 70%, Coric 56%. So that's step 1 in difference between the 2 - Djoko getting his freebies with the serve, Coric not - full credit Djoko's return. Getting freebies should be the norm in these conditions
And step two are the rallies as described earlier. Nothing easy to attack, and one would expect, not overly vigorous attacking required to draw errors or that failing, weak balls that can be attacked more freely. That's how Djoko plays on his service games too and he ends up getting the errors (Coric has 8 groundstroke FEs, to Djoko's 2). Coric does not. Not much difference in attacking vigour or style - both hit hard and deep. In fact, Coric does so more and goes dtl more... but Djoko resists making the errors
Coric's BH is the loosest shot on show with 19 UEs. Its the one shot that tends to miss regulation shots to a degree warranting a blackmark.
Despite Djoko's clear superiority, its still a 1-break-is-enough match as befits the conditions.
Play isn't unifrom. First set is more about Coric attacking and Djoko defending. 1 break and easy holds otherwise. Djoko serves 25 points, Coric 24
Second set is more about deep, neutral rallies with Djoko the more consistent. Coric still 'leads' play more so than not, but there's less clear attacker-defender roles on show. And Djoko gets comfortably better of action, holding easily while threatening to break. Djoko serves 27 points, Coric 48
Match Progression
Little in the first set. Both players have all but 1 easy hold. Coric is broken in 10 point game, with Djoko's defending superbly in an error filled game. Couple of aggressive points for Djoko too - a net point and error forcing FH inside-out. He breaks to move ahead 4-2
Coric takes him to deuce the game after in another game of deep baseline rallies. Djoko snatching a couple of net points - both ending with winners - pushes things his way
Second set is different, with Coric easing up a bit on stepping in to attack and play more neutral. With Djoko continuing to wall on the return, Coric's service games become tussles. He's broken to start. On break point, he makes a terrible error, slapping a putaway FHV/OH wide
He survives 20 and 8 point service games to follow up. Constantly under the cosh and has his only break point in game 6. Misses a chancey attacking FH dtl on it. Djokovic wins a first class net point in the game where he hits 2 difficult, low volleys to gain the winner - a point Stefan Edberg would be proud of. Coric with a very nice BH inside-out winner in the game too
Djoko has 3 break and match points in game 9 at 0-40. 2 are saved with outstanding shots from Coric. The third is one of those comedic Djokovic smashes gone wrong and Coric goes on to hold. Djoko serves out to love after
Summing up, good, solid baseline match on a fast court with both players hitting firmly and deeply. Coric is the one to step up more and Djokovic's defence and resistance to being forced into error is not only excellent, but he hits back deep and firm while doing so too. That, and Djoko returning with clinical, deep consistency gives him considerable advantage
Very good and efficient from Djokovic. Pretty good from Coric too, despite unflattering numbers, but he's up against a wall who's just better at him at these hit-deep-'til-errors-come type of play