Match Stats/Report - Djokovic vs Kyrgios, Wimbledon final, 2022

[Waspsting]

Novak Djokovic beat Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) in the Wimbledon final, 2022 on grass

It was Djokovic’s 21st Slam title and 4th Wimbledon title in a row. Kyrgios was unseeded and playing in his first Slam final. The event did not grant any ATP ranking points

Djokovic won 132 points, Kyrgios 112

Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (75/119) 63%
- 1st serve points won (62/75) 83%
- 2nd serve points won (27/44) 61%
- Aces 15, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (42/119) 35%

Kyrgios...
- 1st serve percentage (91/125) 73%
- 1st serve points won (64/91) 70%
- 2nd serve points won (18/34) 53%
- Aces 30 (1 second serve), Service Winners 4
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (52/125) 42%

Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 49%
- to BH 42%
- to Body 9%

Kyrgios served...
- to FH 45%
- to BH 55%

Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 66 (31 FH, 35 BH), including 1 BH running-down-drop-underarm-serve at net
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH)
- 16 Forced (4 FH, 12 BH)
- Return Rate (66/118) 56%

Kyrgios made...
- 70 (36 FH, 34 BH), including 1 runaround FH & 1 return-approach
- 3 Winners (2 FH, 1 BH)
- 26 Errors, comprising...
- 11 Unforced (8 FH, 3 BH)
- 15 Forced (8 FH, 7 BH)
- Return Rate (70/112) 63%

Break Points
Djokovic 2/4 (3 games)
Kyrgios 1/6 (2 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 29 (12 FH, 12 BH, 4 FHV, 1 BHV)
Kyrgios 26 (10 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 9 BHV, 2 OH)

Djokovic's FHs - 3 cc, 1 cc/inside-in, 2 dtl (1 pass), 2 inside-out, 2 inside-in, 1 inside-in/longline and 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net
- BHs - 2 cc (1 at net), 4 dtl, 1 inside-in return, 3 drop shots, 1 running-down-drop-shot cc pass at net and 1 net chord dribbler

- 1 from a serve-volley point, a second volley FHV

Kyrgios' FHs - 1 cc/longline, 3 dtl (1 return), 4 inside-out (1 return, 1 at net), 1 longline and 1 running-down-drop-shot cc at net pass
- BHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl pass and 1 inside-in return

- 3 from serve-volley points
- 2 first volleys (2 BHV)
- 1 second volley (1 BHV), that can reasonably be called a BHOH

- 1 from a return-approach point, a FHV

- 1 other BHV was a blocked pass dtl from the baseline

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 27
- 15 Unforced (6 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)... with 1 BH pass at net
- 12 Forced (5 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV)... with 2 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 52

Kyrgios 54
- 26 Unforced (11 FH, 14 BH, 1 BHV)... with 2 FH running-down-drop-shot at net
- 28 Forced (14 FH, 1 Left-Handed FH, 8 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 2 BH1/2V, 1 Tweener)... with 1 FH at net (a pass attempt), 3 FH running-down-drop-shot at net & the Left-Handed FH was at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.1

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

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Djokovic was...
- 16/27 (59%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve

Kyrgios was...
- 20/37 (54%) at net, including...
- 6/13 (46%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 4/7 (57%) off 1st serve and...
- 2/6 (33%) off 2nd serve
---
- 1/1 return-approaching
- 2/5 (40%) forced back

Match Report
Great all-round player versus great server has been a classic Wimbledon match over many years and this one is a worthy addition to long list of such played. Djokovic’s at his best in all areas and its the return that’s most tested. Kyrgios serves at his very best. It doesn’t leave the returner much chance

Within context of heavy server domination, lapses in concentration and the odd mini let down or ‘chokes’ by Kyrgios pushes odds of Djokovic coming out ahead. Which he does, but even those aren’t decisive. As tends to be on grass - especially where big servers are involved - margin between victory and defeat are very thin and trends in play don’t necessarily count for much. Djoko though does have better of the match and result is most appropriate one

Djoko wins 55% of the points, while serving 49% of them
Djoko breaking twice, Kyrgios once. Djoko having break points in 3 games, Kyrgios 2
Games with break points aside, Djoko reaching deuce 3 times in return games, Kyrgios once

Very little in the breaks and games with break points in them, but very little is usually the margins when great serving on grass is involved. In context of such action, that’s reasonably comfortable from Djoko’s point of view. Kyrgios would have to pull a substantial playing-big-points-better thing to off set it

If anything, Kyrgios plays the big points badly

Particularly important and/or impressive stats

Djokovic 29 winners, 27 total errors (15 UEs, 12 FEs). Staggering. He’s just shy of having double winners to UEs off both wings and also just shy of having more winners than total errors off both wings

- Winners - 12 FH, 12 BH, 5 volleys
- UEs - 6 FH, 7 BH, 2 volleys
- FEs - 5 FH, 6 BH, 1 volley

Having more winners than total errors used to happen regularly in 100% serve-volley matches at the event, with high unreturned rates. The high unreturned rates part holds good here (Kyrgios has 42%), but this is mainly a baseline match. Just 3 passing winners from Djoko and the small 5 volleying ones (+ 1 groundstroke at net). All the rest are baseline-to-baseline shots

These are mind-blowing figures from Djokovic. Near unique for a showing involving so little net play

Serve & Return
Djokovic’s aced 30 times
Service Winner’d 4 times
And just 18 return errors (of which just 2 are UEs)

Of the top of my head, I can’t think of so ace/service winner heavy a yield of unreturned serves. High ratio of aces to return errors tend to happen to returners who take the return very early - sacrificing consistency of being damaging. Andre Agassi being the best example

That’s not Djoko’s way though. He thumps returns, but not with eye to end points with the stroke or taking it unduly early. He returns from his usual position. He doesn’t let aces go - as many players tend to when up against this kind of a bombardment, and prospects of breaking small regardless of being aced or making a soft return

All credit to Kyrgios for the huge 34 aces/service winners - virtually all perfect serves, with nothing anybody could do about it. Just a lot of perfect serves

Just how well does Kyrgios serve? Its up there as well as anybody has ever served in a Wimbledon final - statistically and otherwise

Comparing with 39 other Wimbledon finals - including 6 with Boris Becker, 6 with Pete Sampras, 3 with Goran Ivanisevic, 12 with Roger Federer - among other renowned servers -

- Kyrgios serves an ace 32% off time off first serves. There are 5 higher figures, led by Federer with 40% in 2009

- throwing in service winners, Kyrgios serves one 37% off the time off first serves. There are 6 higher figures, with Federer’s 2009 showing being joined by Sampras’ 1997 showing at 40%

- Kyrgios though has exceptionally high 73% first serves in, which means he serves an ace 24% of all serves. Second only to the 2009 showing at 25.9%

- Throw in service winners and Kyrgios moves to top of the bunch, serving an unreturnable 27.4% of the time

Virtually all of the other showings that are in same statistical ball park as Kyrgios’ here are against readily ace-able returners and/or involve significant bouts of tanking returns/letting aces through with no effort - showings by the likes of Andy Roddick, Mark Philippoussis, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi

Novak Djokovic is a categorically different and superior calibre of returning fish. A particularly difficult guy to get an ace by (unlike Agassi or Roddick) and one who makes an effort on all returns (unlike most everyone faced with this calibre serving). And Kyrgios serves huge, including regularly with second serve, when he’s not sending down aces too

There are 2 points coming out of all this -

Kyrgios serves about as well as possible. Top most of the top drawer stuff - as evidenced by where his numbers stand against history

Djokovic returns about as well as possible against it. Nothing to be done against the stream of aces and service winners, but anything short of that - and what’s short of that is still very, very powerful - almost all come back. And not gently either

18 return errors. Aced/service winner’d 34 times. With no waning efforts or strategically aggressive returning strategy to account for either figure

I’d estimate Kyrgios’ service showing to be good for 50% unreturned and with luck, pushing 55%. Djoko keeps it down to ‘just’ 42%. Not just keeping it down to 42%, but somehow, Djoko manages to return with authority. Stretched out wide against very powerful serves, he somehow times the ball well enough to get return in deep and firmly. Not many weak soft returns coming out of him - and virtually every serve has potential to draw soft returns. Even the ones he can reach with a step are fast enough to be challenging. Lots and lots of big second serves - the bulk of them qualify as forceful

 

[Waspsting]

Kyrgios wins ‘just’ 70% first serve points. Behind his serving, that could easily be up pushing 90%. In fact, he wins just 41% of points when return is made (including double faults, excluding its 45%)

Full marks to both players - Kyrgios on the serve, Djoko on the return. You won’t see a better contest between serve and return

Which leaves us with Djoko’s serve vs Kyrgios return

Very good serving from Djoko too. 21.3% of first serves are aces/service winners. Rest of his Wimbledon finals range from 16% (2014 and 2015) to 6% (2013)

Djoko unusually serves majority 49% to Kyrg’s FH (and 42% to BH)

Kyrgios isn’t bad on the return. For him, a not strong (as opposed to weak) return against Djoko’s first serve is a good outcome. Which is largely what he manages. While Kyrg’s second serve is a weapon, bulk Djoko’s are best described as not readily attackable, with a few testing ones thrown in

There’s potential for attacking the second serve. For it to be successful requires both risk and excellent execution. Kyrg tries in wise amount but isn’t successful. A ‘could-do-better’ note, short of a black-mark on Kyrg’s returning

Few powerfully struck and/or deep returns by Kyrg (including 3 winners), but he misses the attacking ones slightly less often than he makes them, and Djoko’s up to handling defensive third balls. Anything Kyrg returns with average force (first of second serves) usually leads to Djoko getting into his groove, which as mentioned earlier, is top notch

'Chokey', ill-timed missed makeable returns from Kyrg too

Play - Baseline & Net
In numbers -
- Winners - Djoko 29, Kyrg 26
- Errors Forced - Djoko 28, Kyrg 12
- UEs - Djoko 15, Kyrg 26

Winners roughly same, big differences in both UEs and FEs

UE difference have to do with both Djoko being more consistent (as would be expected) and some careless, throwaway tennis by Kyrg when he gets frustrated. Mostly on return games - so it doesn’t matter too much - but not solely. As the small number of games he faces break points in indicate, it doesn’t get him into too much trouble

Shots ordered by consistency -
- Djoko FH 6
- Djoko BH 7
- Kyrg FH 11
- Kyrg BH 14

… and UE types -
- Defensive - Kyrg 1
- Neutral - Djoko 4, Kyrg 10
- Attacking - Djoko 4, Kyrg 7
- Winner Attempts - Djoko 7, Kyrg 8

Tactically (as opposed to temperamentally), if there’s an area Kyrg errs its in how he uses his BH. He slices regularly in first set. Excellent stuff, keeping the ball low and forcing Djoko to either slice back (which he doesn’t mind doing) or curb his hitting - while barely missing. Sure touch on the shot too, to draw Djoko forward

The ‘not missing’ part is the big one there. For whatever reason, he ceases slicing after first set and Djoko gets in groove hitting his stock, firm and deep BHs - and has both hitting and consistency advantage

14 UEs is deceptively high in that BH is the side Kyrg goes off on during a couple of throwaway return games, but still, gist is clear. Trading drive BHs, Djoko’s much better off. Typically good depth from Djoko would if anything, encourage Kyrg to slice, which from his point of view, would be a better way to go

Similar winners and winner attempt figures. From the back, Djoko’s showing is much more impressive, since 83% of his winners are groundies, as opposed to 54% for Kyrg. In other words, about half of Kyrg’s winners are from volleys/OHs - where winners are easier to make

Despite the high proportion of net winner for Kyrg, he wins just 54% net points and an even lower 46% serve-volleying behind that huge serve. Even behind the mammoth first serve, just 4/7 points won

Disappointing winning rate at net, with just 1 UE on the volley (+ a couple not easy running-down-drop-shots at net) speaks to Djoko passing (including with the return) well, but the net numbers aren’t just about volleying; Djoko’s drop shotting accounts for large part of it. He’s got 3 winner (which don’t count in Kyrg’s net points) but also draws 7 errors with drop shot related or net-to-net situations

Still, good move by Kyrg to look to come to net, given he's outplayed from the back. He takes his chances to, and there aren't many readily available ones against Djoko's depth.

Djoko’s 29 winners, 28 errors forced ratio of ending points aggressively is superb. Its helped by Kyrg getting particularly lax defensively in his riled up patches. Still, plenty of credit to Djoko for the measured attacking play. He’s not one to go overboard trying to hit the perfect shot, when a more moderate one will do

Big difference in defensive capabilities of two players. Kyrg’s about average at handling tough balls and not difficult to force errors out off. Djoko, quite the opposite. Kyr has 28 FEs, Djoko just 12 - the biggest difference in play, more so than the UE gap of 11

 

[Waspsting]

Neutrally, excellent depth from Djoko shapes action and keeps Kyr pinned back. No easy opening for Kyrg to step in and look to dictate. For a player doing so many crazy things - left-handed shots and between-the-legs-shots and tweeners and underarm serves - its a bit surprising he doesn’t go nuts with low percentage winner attempts to deep-ish balls (he gets next to 0 short ones). Better way to go down than trading BH cc’s with the best at that type of thing

The only time he does is in the final set tiebreak - and he misses 3 winner attempts in a row (with an attacking shot just before) and an attempted 2nd serve ace awhile before that

Finally, Djoko’s very high UEFI of 52 reflects all kinds of good things about his showing

Just 4 neutral UEs. All the while hitting deep and at least firmly. Outstanding. Kyrg has 10 (+1 defensive UE)

Just 4 attacking UEs, while forcing high 28 errors. Aided by Kyrg not being too tough to get an error out off - but that’s normal on grass. The abnormal thing is Djoko’s ability to defend, though with the depth he gets, Kyrg isn’t allowed to do much attacking, and when he does, Djoko’s defensive shot usually neutralizes the attack at a stroke. Beautifully measured attacks from Djoko, stout defence and a stock shot that keeps Kyrg from attacking to begin with

Leaving 7 winner attempt UEs for 29 winners. When that’s the worst thing you’ve done, your having a special day. Kyrg with similar efficiency - 8 errors, 26 winners

Gist - a good showing from Kyrgios - 26 winners, 26 UEs, with not inconsiderable number of UEs in throwaway games. Waning concentration doesn’t get him broken, which is the important thing, but it does give Djoko easier than need be holds at times

An outstanding showing from Djokovic on all fronts - fine depth to keep opponent moving forward while barely missing anything and top notch, measured attacking play while again, barely missing anything and excellent defense thrown in as needed. And he’s keyed in - no lapses of mind or play

Match Progression
Djokovic opens the match with a double fault but holds with 4 unreturned serves. Kyrgios opens his ace count with a second serve, his only unreturned in his opening hold, where he also throws in an underarm first serve that Djoko runs down and ends up FHV a winner to win the point

The sole break comes in game 5. A drop shot play Kyrg wins him a point, an unusual inside-out slice error by Djoko loses him another and on second break point, Djoko double faults

Server doesn’t lose a point in next 4 games, til Kyrg steps up to serve for the set. Slightly nervy serve out. Misses a slice - a shot he’d played extremely well all set and an easy BHV. From deuce, he bangs down a service winner and an ace

Good set of grass court tennis. Excellent serving from Kyrg in particular and great use of the slice. He’s also been showy with the underarm serve, a left-handed shot, a between-the-legs shot, second serve-volleying. Later in match, he hits multiple tweeners, even winning a point with one

From last game of the set, Kyrg goes on a run of making 13 straight first serves (a run that ends with a double fault), including hitting 3 aces in a row in his first hold. Djoko breaks him anyway to love for 3-1 - a return to the baseline forcing error, a superb BH cc winner and on break point, a lucky net chord dribbling winner. Some excellent BH play from Djoko around this part of the match

There’s a drop in Kyrg’s level - more of composure than game, but some of the latter too. He starts yapping with the crowd and appearing distracted. Movement drops a bit, including for returns and he misses a few makeable returns (that he hadn’t earlier). Also drops the slicing that had served him well in first set, which has hand in Djoko being able to take control off the BH with depth and easy, clean ball striking. Still, Kyr barely misses a BH, though its not a strong shot

Djoko’s taken to deuce to consolidate and set goes on with serve til Djoko steps up to serve for it

He falls to 0-40 after opening with another double fault. Much of rest of game is chokey from Kyrg. Misses 2 not difficult first serve returns on first two break points and nets a routine BH after that. Doesn’t do a lot for his sense of humour and his yapping more than even before. He gains another break point that ends with a drop shot play and finally, misses a routine first serve return on Djoko’s first set point. 1 set all

Balance of play shifts Djoko’s way in the third set, with only 1 Kyrg serve game not going to deuce (and in that game, score was 30-30), while Djoko holds without trouble

Kyrg’s composure has gotten worse and on top of getting into it with the crowd, he starts complaining to his box regularly. He seems to be admonishing them for not cheering him more loudly. Djoko meanwhile is cucumber cool, hitting particularly cleanly and continues returning anything shy of untouchable with firm authority

Some throwaway tennis from Kyrg in return games but its Djoko’s returns and hitting that keeps Kyrg on is toes serving. Kyrg with still high 73% first serves in and 38% unreturneds for the set, but he has to serve 8 points a game for 4 holds and getting broken once

The break comes in game 9 and happens from 40-0 up. A not well-placed volley serve-volleying enables Djoko to make FH dtl pass, Djoko smacks a powerful, low pass to force error and hits a corner to corner FH inside-in winner to make it deuce. Kyrg double faults and misses routine third ball BH cc to give up the break

Frustrated, swinging-for-hills return game by Kyrg as Djoko serves out the set

Fourth set is server dominated. For 6 holds, Djoko loses 5 points (2 to double faults),Kyrg 9 with no deuces. Just 1 sloppy return game from Kyrg where he misses 3 BHs, but he doesn’t return particularly well. Meanwhile, the big serving still see him through to hold. Djoko makes both his return UEs in the set

A touch of tension in game 11, Djoko serving to take set in tie-break. Missed BH dtl winner attempt brings things to 30-30, Kyrg 2 points away from taking match into 5th set. He takes a big cut at second serve to FH, but misses and Djoko finishes with a neat, error forcing inside-out ground clinging slice

Tiebreak time. Kyrg opens with a double fault, looking for a point ending second serve. Gains the mini-break back when Djoko misses a regulation third ball FH inside-out attacking shot. And then, Kyrg goes on a trigger happy, missing winner attempts spree to fall behind 1-6. Djoko wraps up with by coming to net to force passing error

Summing up, excellent match and a great showing from Djokovic. The highlight contest is Kyrgios' serve vs Djokovic's and both sides of that are as good as it gets. Huge, powerful, well placed serves from Kyrgios at high in rate leads to a mountain of untouchables and anything less than that is still powerful, including second serves. Djokovic though misses very little that isn't an ace and somehow manages to do it firmly and deep anyway

Of court action, Djokovic's again at his best - strong off both sides, barely missing anything, pinning opponent back with depth, escalating to attacking off both sides with great judgement and when needed, defending with neutralizing force. From the back, Kyrgios is relegated to reactive role, with few opening to attack and when he can, has a tough job finishing points

Djokovic remains composed and focused, including when aces rain down on him as they do most match, and maintains very steady and high standard of play. Kyrgios plays well too, though getting shorter end of playing stick, but goes off the mental boil and has bouts of carelessness on the return and off the ground, including at crucial times to push things Djokoviç's way

 

[accidental]

Sometimes in exhibition matches the stronger player will allow the weaker player to win the first set in order to give the crowd more of a show

 

[The Guru]

Great write up the numbers really show how solid Novak was from the back in this match and how unbelievable Nick was serving. The main thing that holds Nick's performance back is his poor play on big points. If you're going to play the way he does you have to win on the margins. He didn't do that and that's why he lost. Fun match and Novak's best performance of his last 3 Wimbledon finals.

 

[Third Serve]

I thought this was definitely Novak’s best performance of his last three Wimbledon finals (the other two were mediocre). Surprisingly good stuff from him, especially on the return. I still wouldn’t put it up there with 2011 or 2015 because of the gulf in movement and defense but I could see this being possibly the next best finals performance after those two.

Nick put in one of the all time great serving performances but the rest of his game was at best average. He did play the big points badly. About what I expected from his game overall, except he served even better than I thought he would (and I had high expectations in the first place).

I’m the first to criticize Djokovic’s Slam final performances since 2019 (as they’ve almost invariably been pretty bang average) but this would have to be an exception to that rule. Now things get uglier if we start talking about the QF/SF but I won’t do that here.

 

[The Guru]

I thought this was definitely Novak’s best performance of his last three Wimbledon finals (the other two were mediocre). Surprisingly good stuff from him, especially on the return. I still wouldn’t put it up there with 2011 or 2015 because of the gulf in movement and defense but I could see this being possibly the next best finals performance after those two.

Nick put in one of the all time great serving performances but the rest of his game was at best average. He did play the big points badly. About what I expected from his game overall, except he served even better than I thought he would (and I had high expectations in the first place).

I’m the first to criticize Djokovic’s Slam final performances since 2019 (as they’ve almost invariably been pretty bang average) but this would have to be an exception to that rule. Now things get uglier if we start talking about the QF/SF but I won’t do that here.

Man what would Novak had to have done to be above average in the 21 AO F? He dominated.

 

[Third Serve]

Man what would Novak had to have done to be above average in the 21 AO F? He dominated.

Whoops forgot about that one

 

[NoleFam]

Good write up and analysis. We need more of that around here: actual tennis analysis. Superb serving performance from Nick. Based on your stats, it's among the best with 1997 and 2009 at the top. When you consider the opponents that were returning in all 3 matches, it makes him numbers even more impressive. And of course great returning from Djokovic. Superb actually. Just a great controlled match from him on all points while maintaining aggression. This wasn't his best returning match of the tournament though in my opinion. It was that match against Van Rijthoven who also has a montrous serve and served great.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

ATG, possibly GOAT tier serving from Kyrgios in a slam final. The rest of his game was pretty pedestrian for the occasion though, and of course he faltered like a good yob at the end of each of the last three sets, which was ultimately NID so Djokovic was assured victory as long as he played half-decently. At least he had the decency to do more than that and I might say he played well. Better than 2019/21, sure. As for Nick the Thick, I guess he's finally fulfilling his potential as budget Philippoussis with lesser athleticism and greater chokery.

 

[Sport]

Djokovic's service game: A.
Djokovic's return game: A.

Kyrgios' service game: A+.
Kyrgios' return game: F.

Overall quality of the match: B+.