Novak Djokovic beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3 in the Paris final, 2023 on indoor hard court
It was Djokovic’s record extending 7th title at the event and 40th masters title, while the unseeded Dimitrov was playing his first final there
Djokovic won 66 points, Dimitrov 50
Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (32/48) 67%
- 1st serve points won (26/32) 81%
- 2nd serve points won (11/16) 69%
- Aces 6 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (22/48) 46%
Dimitrov...
- 1st serve percentage (35/68) 51%
- 1st serve points won (25/35) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (14/33) 42%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (15/68) 22%
Serve Pattern
Djokovic served...
- to FH 51%
- to BH 43%
- to Body 6%
Dimitrov served...
- to FH 41%
- to BH 53%
- to Body 6%
Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 51 (16 FH, 35 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 9 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (2 FH, 3 BH)
- 4 Forced (4 FH)
- Return Rate (51/66) 77%
Dimitrov made...
- 25 (17 FH, 8 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (2 FH, 5 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 9 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (25/47) 53%
Break Points
Djokovic 3/4 (4 games)
Dimitrov 0
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Djokovic 8 (2 FH, 4 BH, 2 BHV)
Dimitrov 9 (6 FH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Djokovic's FHs - 1 inside-out at net, 1 inside-in
- BHs - 3 dtl (1 pass, 1 at net), 1 inside-out return
Dimitrov's FHs - 4 cc, 1 inside-in/cc, 1 longline
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a second volley BHV
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Djokovic 25
- 16 Unforced (7 FH, 9 BH)
- 9 Forced (2 FH, 7 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.3
Dimitrov 34
- 32 Unforced (17 FH, 15 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 43.4
(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 are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Djokovic was...
- 5/5 (100%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Dimitrov was...
- 7/8 (88%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 1/1 forced back
Match Report
Third gear Djokovic eases past a not up to standard Dimitrov on a quick-ish, low bouncing court. Particularly on the return but also off the ground, Dimitrov is simply, not good enough
Return rate of 53%. And 32 UEs in play
Djokovic has 77% and 16
The return rate is just what it looks like - atrocious. The UEs aren’t as bad as it looks, though plenty bad
Court is skiddy and quick. Djokovic serves fairly well. Not 46% unreturned serves well (the converse of Dimi’s return rate)
Dimi almost literally misses every, not easy return (‘not easy’, as opposed to ‘hard’). And bunch of routines, And a couple of easys
He’s got 7 UEs and 9 FEs on the return, and is aced 6 times. BHs particularly poor. He’s got as many errors as successful returns at 8 apiece (9, counting each, counting runaround FHs). Small mercy Djoko serves there just 43% of the time
As for the 32 UEs, to put in perspective -
- unreturned serves - Djoko 22, Dimi 15
- winners - Djoko 8, Dimi 9
- FEs - Djoko 9, Dimi 2
All that with low UEFI of 43.4. 21/32 of his UEs are neutral shots. Djoko has 11. In plain words, he can’t keep the ball in play, his errors aren’t a product of unsuccessful attacks
Why isn’t it as bad as it looks?
He’s only out-and-out sloppy in middle of second set. First set, he’s not out of the match. Lot of neutral rallies, close to 50-50 outcome in terms of who coughs up the error. As freebie figures indicate, majority are on Dimi’s serve, so he’s getting shorter end of stick, but at least he looks like he belongs on the same court as his opponent
Rallies aren’t short - on the whole, and particularly in the first set. Dimi slices most BHs and ball stays very low. Doesn’t bother Djoko, who alternatively hits his usual drive/top spin BH or slices back in kind
He gets a bit rattled in middle of second set, especially after going down a break, and then gets bona fida sloppy. Starts driving BHs more, and gives up the UEs more quickly
Its not hard hitting tennis. With low bounce, both players keep their power in check and ease or top spin the ball over the net. And all the slicing. Just who-blinks-first stuff. Djoko’s no wall (his being one would be one possible reason for Dimi’s figures), Dimi’s no error-machine… its decent, if not inspired tennis. Not hard hitting, but not soft either - clinically easy is good description
With freebie cushion, 50-50 who-blinks-first rallies favour Djoko on the whole, of course
Second set, Djoko doesn’t turn into a wall but Dimi does turn into an error machine in second half of a short set. He’s also more aggressive at that time, and gets off a few good FHs. FH has match high 6 winners - 2 less than Djoko’s total
And Djokovic? The converse of Dimi. Serves fairly well. I’d estimate his serve showing to be good for 25-35% freebies against standard-to-good returning. 67% in count is very good. Good lot of in-swing zone first serves (which usually draws error)
Does what Dimi can’t on the return and returns a few tough serves. Dimi only serves at 51%, which is another blackmark against him but his serve is a little stronger (pacier and wider placed) than Djoko’s. They have to be - Djoko’s not one to regularly miss regulation returns
Unlike Dimi, Djoko does make a few tough returns (1 reason for Dimi having more winners). Nothing to write home about, but a beacon next to Dimi’s inept showing
Rallies along neutral, doesn’t try to force the pace, un-flustered by good, low slices
‘Not being a wall’ is no blackmark as long as Dimi’s keeping up his end in neutral rallies. His movements are average, is a significant step down
8 winners, forcing 2 errors… and Dimi with 32 UEs is a strange breakdown of points won. An example of Djoko’s general mentality. If his opponent is doing Djoko’s job, he’s happy to sit back and let him. Doesn’t even hurry him along. Few longline change-ups, nothing out of ordinary of depth or angles
No break points faced by Djoko and a perfect 5/5 at net. Dimi for that matter is 7/8 in forecourt
Lovely, on the ball Chair umpire, who makes calls and overrules and clearly has his eyes open. Watching other Chair’s wearing sunglasses, one wonders what exactly they’re paid for, other than calling out the score. 1 of many calls he makes is a Djoko return just long, that Djoko challenges. Ball was indeed out, and Djoko gives him a genuinely appreciative gesture. He calls balls out just before the lines people do a number of times
It was Djokovic’s record extending 7th title at the event and 40th masters title, while the unseeded Dimitrov was playing his first final there
Djokovic won 66 points, Dimitrov 50
Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (32/48) 67%
- 1st serve points won (26/32) 81%
- 2nd serve points won (11/16) 69%
- Aces 6 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (22/48) 46%
Dimitrov...
- 1st serve percentage (35/68) 51%
- 1st serve points won (25/35) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (14/33) 42%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (15/68) 22%
Serve Pattern
Djokovic served...
- to FH 51%
- to BH 43%
- to Body 6%
Dimitrov served...
- to FH 41%
- to BH 53%
- to Body 6%
Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 51 (16 FH, 35 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 9 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (2 FH, 3 BH)
- 4 Forced (4 FH)
- Return Rate (51/66) 77%
Dimitrov made...
- 25 (17 FH, 8 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (2 FH, 5 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 9 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (25/47) 53%
Break Points
Djokovic 3/4 (4 games)
Dimitrov 0
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Djokovic 8 (2 FH, 4 BH, 2 BHV)
Dimitrov 9 (6 FH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Djokovic's FHs - 1 inside-out at net, 1 inside-in
- BHs - 3 dtl (1 pass, 1 at net), 1 inside-out return
Dimitrov's FHs - 4 cc, 1 inside-in/cc, 1 longline
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a second volley BHV
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Djokovic 25
- 16 Unforced (7 FH, 9 BH)
- 9 Forced (2 FH, 7 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.3
Dimitrov 34
- 32 Unforced (17 FH, 15 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 43.4
(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 are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Djokovic was...
- 5/5 (100%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Dimitrov was...
- 7/8 (88%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 1/1 forced back
Match Report
Third gear Djokovic eases past a not up to standard Dimitrov on a quick-ish, low bouncing court. Particularly on the return but also off the ground, Dimitrov is simply, not good enough
Return rate of 53%. And 32 UEs in play
Djokovic has 77% and 16
The return rate is just what it looks like - atrocious. The UEs aren’t as bad as it looks, though plenty bad
Court is skiddy and quick. Djokovic serves fairly well. Not 46% unreturned serves well (the converse of Dimi’s return rate)
Dimi almost literally misses every, not easy return (‘not easy’, as opposed to ‘hard’). And bunch of routines, And a couple of easys
He’s got 7 UEs and 9 FEs on the return, and is aced 6 times. BHs particularly poor. He’s got as many errors as successful returns at 8 apiece (9, counting each, counting runaround FHs). Small mercy Djoko serves there just 43% of the time
As for the 32 UEs, to put in perspective -
- unreturned serves - Djoko 22, Dimi 15
- winners - Djoko 8, Dimi 9
- FEs - Djoko 9, Dimi 2
All that with low UEFI of 43.4. 21/32 of his UEs are neutral shots. Djoko has 11. In plain words, he can’t keep the ball in play, his errors aren’t a product of unsuccessful attacks
Why isn’t it as bad as it looks?
He’s only out-and-out sloppy in middle of second set. First set, he’s not out of the match. Lot of neutral rallies, close to 50-50 outcome in terms of who coughs up the error. As freebie figures indicate, majority are on Dimi’s serve, so he’s getting shorter end of stick, but at least he looks like he belongs on the same court as his opponent
Rallies aren’t short - on the whole, and particularly in the first set. Dimi slices most BHs and ball stays very low. Doesn’t bother Djoko, who alternatively hits his usual drive/top spin BH or slices back in kind
He gets a bit rattled in middle of second set, especially after going down a break, and then gets bona fida sloppy. Starts driving BHs more, and gives up the UEs more quickly
Its not hard hitting tennis. With low bounce, both players keep their power in check and ease or top spin the ball over the net. And all the slicing. Just who-blinks-first stuff. Djoko’s no wall (his being one would be one possible reason for Dimi’s figures), Dimi’s no error-machine… its decent, if not inspired tennis. Not hard hitting, but not soft either - clinically easy is good description
With freebie cushion, 50-50 who-blinks-first rallies favour Djoko on the whole, of course
Second set, Djoko doesn’t turn into a wall but Dimi does turn into an error machine in second half of a short set. He’s also more aggressive at that time, and gets off a few good FHs. FH has match high 6 winners - 2 less than Djoko’s total
And Djokovic? The converse of Dimi. Serves fairly well. I’d estimate his serve showing to be good for 25-35% freebies against standard-to-good returning. 67% in count is very good. Good lot of in-swing zone first serves (which usually draws error)
Does what Dimi can’t on the return and returns a few tough serves. Dimi only serves at 51%, which is another blackmark against him but his serve is a little stronger (pacier and wider placed) than Djoko’s. They have to be - Djoko’s not one to regularly miss regulation returns
Unlike Dimi, Djoko does make a few tough returns (1 reason for Dimi having more winners). Nothing to write home about, but a beacon next to Dimi’s inept showing
Rallies along neutral, doesn’t try to force the pace, un-flustered by good, low slices
‘Not being a wall’ is no blackmark as long as Dimi’s keeping up his end in neutral rallies. His movements are average, is a significant step down
8 winners, forcing 2 errors… and Dimi with 32 UEs is a strange breakdown of points won. An example of Djoko’s general mentality. If his opponent is doing Djoko’s job, he’s happy to sit back and let him. Doesn’t even hurry him along. Few longline change-ups, nothing out of ordinary of depth or angles
No break points faced by Djoko and a perfect 5/5 at net. Dimi for that matter is 7/8 in forecourt
Lovely, on the ball Chair umpire, who makes calls and overrules and clearly has his eyes open. Watching other Chair’s wearing sunglasses, one wonders what exactly they’re paid for, other than calling out the score. 1 of many calls he makes is a Djoko return just long, that Djoko challenges. Ball was indeed out, and Djoko gives him a genuinely appreciative gesture. He calls balls out just before the lines people do a number of times