Match Stats/Report - Djokovic vs Murray, Doha final, 2017

[Waspsting]

Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the Doha final, 2017 on hard court

It was the first tournament of the year for both players and they had settled the #1 ranking in the final of the Year End Championship the previous year
Djokovic was ranked 2, Murray 1. At the end the year, Djokovic would be ranked 12, Murray 16

Djokovic won 102 points, Murray 92 (including 1 point penalty)

Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (79/110) 72%
- 1st serve points won (54/79) 68%
- 2nd serve points won (19/31) 61%
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (15/110) 14%

Murray...
- 1st serve percentage (49/83) 59%
- 1st serve points won (38/49) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (16/34) 47%
- Aces 8
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (24/83) 29%

Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 59%
- to BH 38%
- to Body 3%

Murray served...
- to FH 44%
- to BH 51%
- to Body 5%

Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 55 (26 FH, 29 BH), including 2 return-approaches
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 9 Unforced (2 FH, 7 BH)
- 7 Forced (3 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (55/79) 70%

Murray made...
- 92 (53 FH, 39 BH)
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (3 FH, 1 BH)
- 9 Forced (6 FH, 3 BH)
- Return Rate (92/107) 86%

Break Points
Djokovic 3/4 (3 games)
Murray 2/7 (5 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 33 (9 FH, 8 BH, 3 FHV, 13 OH)
Murray 21 (6 FH, 7 BH, 3 FHV, 3 BHV, 2 OH)

Djokovic's FHs - 3 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out, 2 inside-out, 2 inside-in, 1 longline
- BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl return, 1 inside-out at net, 1 longline, 3 drop shots, 1 lob

- 1 FHV was a non-net, swinging inside-out
- 1 OH was from just behind service line and 4 were on the bounce (1 at net, 1 from no-man's land, 2 from the baseline)

Murray's FHs - 1 cc, 2 inside-out, 2 drop shots, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net (technically a pass, with opponent on opposite corner at net)
- BHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 2 dtl passes, 2 drop shots (1 at net), 1 net chord dribbler

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 44
- 28 Unforced (9 FH, 14 BH, 1 BHV, 3 OH, 1 Point Penalty)... with 1 OH on the full from near the baseline
- 16 Forced (2 FH, 12 BH, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.5

Murray 50
- 35 Unforced (17 FH, 18 BH)
- 15 Forced (9 FH, 6 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 43.7

(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...
- 24/34 (71%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 2/2 return-approaching
- 2/3 (67%) forced back/retreated

Murray was 16/18 (89%) at net, with...
- 0/1 forced back

Match Report
Djokovic attacking dtl off both wings seemingly at will and Murray’s iron-clad returning are the stand out features of a great match. Djokovic is also aggressor and while his play takes the eye, the control he has of the match is largely the type of illusion that happens when one player is pointedly the aggressor. Court is normal

Getting an unusual incident out of the way first. Early in the match, a frustrated Djoko knocks a ball fairly hard into the ground after a point that goes off in the general direction of his team’s courtside box. It passes them and apparently, harmlessly glances a fan in the front row. He’s given a warning for it - and later in the match, incurs a point penalty for his second offence (breaking a racquet)

Harmless or not, commentators are clear that via strict application of the rules, he should be defaulted on the spot. He’d had similar incident apparently at his last event (the Year End Championship 2016) where his wayward knock-away didn’t strike anybody. And responded hotly afterwards to being questioned about it and dismissive of it being a problem or even an issue

Strict rule application and practical, common sense reality aren’t the same thing. Players would get disqualified for patting an official on the arm or for crossing the net to check on a hurt opponent if they were

They’re not going to disqualify a player in the final in front of a full house at a location which hosts 1 tournament a year. Particularly the world #2, and especially particularly when he’s playing the world #1. Consequences in terms of crowd reaction - and demands of refunds - outweigh the incident in question

So why is the rule there? Only to be brought up if player decapitates someone intentionally?
In hindsight, would probably have done Djoko long term good to get defaulted. Assuming he’d learn his lesson, he’d likely have an extra US Open title today (at cost of a Doha one)

What would happen if a player ‘harmlessly’ struck a fan, who happens to have a driven interest in the outcome of match?

If Djokovic harmlessly struck a fanatic of his opponent in Wimbledon final or semi-final in years to come, would you trust the fanatic to brush it off as harmless? Or go down as if taking a bullet? What if he strikes a fanatic of his seriously?

All weird possible scenarios that are easily avoided by simply, not striking dead balls heatedly or in a direction close to anyone

Ivan Lendl used to unleash his frustrations on the ball. He would hit it hard but straight up in the air, where its not going to hit anyone

Few years later, Djoko would get himself defaulted from the US Open, when a dead ball he’d carelessly hit back after a game struck a line judge painfully in the throat. That was careless, negligent but not hot. Here, there is some frustrated heat, though the ‘hit’ is completely harmless

This is possibly the best match the two have played against each other. Murray’s returning is top notch, though it’s a quiet thing. And Djoko plays superbly. Hitting neutral longline change-ups in simple rallies, to the extent Djoko rams attacking dtl shots off both wings, would be difficult. He seems to be hitting attacking dtl shots as often as just playing cc. Murray excellent in defending against it too

Djoko wins cozy 10 points more, but has to serve 27 more to do it (he serves the extra game). In percentages, Djoko wins 53% of points, serving 57% of them (excluding the point penalty)

Break points - Djoko 3/4 (3 games), Murray 2/7 (5 games)
That looks like a ‘who-played-big-points’ type of deal

First serve in - Djoko 72%, Murray 59%
First serve won - Djoko 68%, Murray 78%
Second serve won - Djoko 61%, Murray 47%

That looks like a Murray much better server, Djoko better court player type thing
Its actually more that Murray’s returning is top class to effectively turn Djoko into a 2 ‘second’ serves showing, which comes to same thing of Murray’s first serving doing a lot more damage
But Djoko is much better court player. To be clear, he’s most definitely not serving 2 ‘second’ serves. May as well be the way Murray returns. And doesn’t matter much as well as Djoko plays

Djoko with large lead in winners 33-21. Much of it from net play springing from dtl attacks. Murray chooses to test him on the OH rather than volley and it’s a lively contest
Djoko with trailing in UEs 28-35. He’s more solid, while being lot more aggressive, and Murray’s solid too
FEs virtually same (Djoko 16, Murray 15)

To be clear, while Djoko’s show takes eye, Murray’s played extremely well too. And not just defending though that’s pushed to his forefront, with Djoko seizing action. He’s very good at using net, and its not easy to find

Murray chokes away first set, getting himself broken from 40-15 up with 4 UEs in row in short rallies

Djoko loses 4 games in a row from 5-3 up in second set. He doesn’t choke, he’s outplayed by an excellent Murray. He has 3 match points serving for the match at 5-4. Is drive to more frustration by it all and gives up a close return game with a point penalty in the period

Murray gets quite passive in decider, but its still competitive. Break points in it - Djoko 1/1, Murray 0/1 (Djoko would have had 2 more if Murray had saved the first)

 

[Waspsting]

Serve & Return
Djoko, contrary to stats, serves better. But Murray’s superiority on the return is greater than Djoko’s on the serve and Murray has overall serve-return advantage

First serve in - Djoko 72%, Murray 59%
First serve ace rate - Djoko 3%, Murray 16%
Unreturned rate - Djoko 14%, Murray 29%

Most obvious reading of Djoko’s high in count but very, very low aces and freebies is Djoko with a weak, harmless serve
In fact, he serves strongly. Of power and placement. Above his good norm for the period. Another opponent, this could be a start serve showing from him

Against this one, 2 aces and 14% unreturned serves
That is top drawer, fantastic returning consistency showing from Murray. Against a good serve (power and placement), at high in count and all credit to him for Djoko tiny freebies. It could easily be 30-35% against a normal, solid return showing

High return rates tend to go with weak returning force, but not that either. Murray returns with normal strength, leaving server mild or moderate initiative for third ball. Top marks on the return for Murray

Murray serves at most, slightly more damagingly than Djoko. At good in count too, but far lower than Djoko’s, overall not serving as well as Djoko
Comes away with double the freebies and quadruple the aces. That’s all on his return. Djoko returns normally of both consistency and force, similar in style to Murray

Not much damaging returns from either player. Just their norms involve some amount of pegging-back returns. Djoko with rare big second return, including couple winning return-approaches (the return does most of the work, wide and powerful)

Return UEs - Djoko 9, Murray 4
Return FEs - Djoko 7, Murray 9
… with Djoko facing 79 serves, Murray 107

In line with Murray being uber consistent returning

Gist - Murray slightly more potent first serve, but Djoko making good lot more. Djoko with better serve overall. Murray returning superbly, seemingly incapable of missing tough returns or routine ones, Djoko with normal standard returning

Murray’s stellar returning netting him double the freebies. With negligible cost in quality of returns made. Murray winning serve-return contest

Play - Baseline & Net
Dual winged, hard hitting baseline stuff as base, and springing into all-court from there
A far cry from the who-blinks-first push fest of the their last match in ‘16 YEC

Just trading hard-hitting groundies would make for good tennis. Moderately wide hit shots from there are potentially troubling. They don’t overly trouble either player because both move so well, and the rallies go on as though such a ball was just routine, neutral shot requiring little movement. If rallies go on for awhile, Djoko almost bound to find very deep ball near baseline. Murray about as comfy as can be expected against those, but does give up slightly weaker ball that Djoko attacks harder

Its Djoko who leads, and Murray who responds by matching his harder-hitting
From there, Djoko ramming dtl attacking shots off both wings to get on attack. More FHs than BHs, but both. Often coming to net behind it

‘Attacking’ means ‘attacking’ - not pressuring, and not winner attempts. Shots near the side of the court and likely to force an error from a running or at least on the move Murray. Murray still runs most down with both defensive and counter-attacking shots. Occasionally Djoko going harder still for the winner, but he largely keeps it in fourth gear and takes to coming to net

FH-FH exchanges tend to shift when Djoko pounds a dtl
Murray hits wider and better in the BH-BH ones, with Djoko still going dtl quite often. In time, Murray turns to doing so too

In baseline rallies -
- Winners - Djoko 18 (9 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV, 2 OH), Murray 8 (5 FH, 3 BH)
- Errors forced - Djoko 7, Murray 9
- UEs - Djoko 24 (9 FH, 14 BH, 1 OH), Murray 35 (17 FH, 18 BH)

Or Djoko with more than double the winners, about 2/3rds the UEs. Almost looks like mismatch
With Murray’s 29% - 14% freebie advantage, most of these points are taking place on Djoko’s serve, and his serve does give him at least slightly initiative to start rallies. Still, its clear he’s much better court player

Second serve points won - Djoko 61%, Murray 47% is normal indicator of Djoko’s in court superiority. Djoko’s first serve points of 68% isn’t a bad one either because Murray’s iron returning effectively turns those points into ‘second serve’ ones (as in, where rally starts from even position of server with just mild advantage). Murray’s higher 78% first serve points more typically pointing to his serve strength

Neutral UEs - Djoko 12, Murray 25
… with Djoko having total 9 FH and 14 BH UEs, Murray 17 FH, 18 BH

Good base for Djoko to just outlast or pressure his way to winning from baseline. With half the freebies, still probably not enough to come out on top overall. This is all in hard hitting rallies with exemplary movement, and very little sloppiness from both players

Attacking UEs - Djoko 5, Murray 7
Errors forced - Djoko 7, Murray 9
About the same. Flip pattern of errors forced. 5/7 Djoko forces are FHs, 7/9 of Murray’s are BH

BH dtl from Djoko, though fewer in number than FH, do their job. As do Murray’s wider, biffed BH cc’s. Those FEs take some drawing, with both players excellent of movement and shot resistance. Murray getting to showcase it more and forcing Djoko to finish still more aggressively

Winner attempt UEs - Djoko 7, Murray 3
Winners - Djoko 18, Murray 8

Good ratios for both. Djoko succeeding in upping attack force as needed against tough defence. Very good from Murray, given he’s pushed into reactor role

To be clear, Murray does compete for lead position and resists being pushed into reactive (as opposed to calmly accepting it and playing a ‘come-at-me,-then’ game, which he generally isn’t averse to). It takes proactive, dtl attacking shots from Djoko to get on attack. Powerful cc shots don’t do it, even wider ones that Murray’s able to reset to neutral

All the above are just baseline figures, but its not a baseline match

Rallying to net - Djoko 21/31, Murray 16/18
Djoko also 1/1 serve-volleying and 2/2 return-approaching

Murray almost perfect at net and could do with a bit more of it. He comes in quite artfully. Stuff like pushing the ball dtl against less strong ball (as opposed to only coming in from easy, overwhelming approach - which his winning rate would suggest)
Its type of approaching that he could do more off, were he inclined. He eases off on it in last set
Not faced with too tough a time at net, but he’s very neat with drop volleys to finish. 0 volley errors

 

[Waspsting]

Djoko more proactive still, and smart in using strong dtl shots to come in. Probably better than looking for winner from back or persisting with back court offence against outstanding defence. And balanced - as his large lot of winners from back speak to, he both finishes from there and comes in

Murray prefers to lob than pass and Djoko’s OH is under microscope

Djoko on OH has 13 winners, 3 UEs, 1 FE
On the volley, he has 3 winners, 1 UE, 1 FE
… figures which gets to just how much Murray prefers lobbing to passing

Murray on the pass (including lob) has 5 winners (the only FH is a running-down-drop-shot shot that scarcely qualifies as a pass), 8 FEs (4 FH, 4 BH). No lob winners
4 BH pass winners, 4 FEs is very good. Given no lob winners despite all the lobs he throws up, worth having a go at the pass more. He’s quick enough to reach even good approaches to have a reasonable look at it. Call it reasonable minus look. Then again, testing Djoko on smash is an obvious move

Those 13 OH winners from Djoko aren’t all net shots. 2 are on bounce from baseline, 1 is one bounce from near service line. 1/3 UEs is also from baseline on the full, where he’d probably be better of letting ball bounce

He does have to make difficult ones - and does successfully. Jokes about Djoko’s smashing aside and 3 UEs being not being good for that this particular shot, lobbing him leads to Djoko winning as many points as he’d hope for coming forward. Pretty decisive with it too, with just 1 or 2 that aren’t too tough to put back in play defensively, and almost all strong, point ending shots the first time (that is, he doesn’t need multiple smashes to finish), while facing fair few tricky ones. Good smashing from Djoko

In all, Djoko with 33 winners, 27 UEs, forcing 15 errors (excluding the point penalty from his UEs)
Murray 21 winners, 35 UEs, forcing 16 errors

The UE contest is uphill work, both players strongly solid and UEs taking time and usually hard-hitting force to draw
Djoko successfully attacking from back and front, balancing the two beautifully
Murray’s defence is excellent too and seeing attack through against him is difficult. He could do with a bump in proactively attacking - he’s artful in taking net when he does
Djoko’s dtl shots at heart of it all. Drives them down off both wings attackingly seemingly at will to get the dynamic he’s looking for

Match Progression
Great opening set. Djoko with high in count of 81% (Murray has good 67% too) and hard hitting baseline rallies to start. Djoko sooner rather or later finding baseline with a groundie, Murray taking it in stride. Djoko takes to coming to net to attack

Murray defends and counter-punches largely, but when he lets loose with groundie, its as potent as anything Djoko does more regularly

First 3 games takes over 20 minutes, with Djoko holding 2 10 point games. He faces just 1 break point, in the second of his serve games, despite making all 10 first serves. Saves it with one of his best serves
Djoko’s already got 3 smash winners and a smash FE after those games

Murray’s turn through the hoop in game 6 that he holds in 8 points. Djoko with a lovely drop shot in and lob winner combo early on and he’s got Murray strongly on the defensive at 40-40, but Murray comes away with an unlikley FH drop shot winner. Its around here that Djoko knocks ball away after game, that lightly glances a fan

Sets decided by a choke from Murray. He’s nicely placed at 40-15, but makes 4 ground UEs in a row. First is pretty simple BH cc into open court for winner off third ball, the rest are neutral shots in not long rallies. Last of them is against a deep ball

That leaves Djoko to serve out for 6-3, which he does to love, finishing with a running FH dtl winner

Second set is even better, with Murray upping his aggression. He works Djoko over more from the back and comes in after doing so to finish with nice drop volleys. Djoko carries on his own way too, still ramming dtl shots. Lots of great, lively rallies of attack, defence and counter-attack, and plenty of net play from both

Even amidst that, game 6 stands out as superb. Djoko saves a break point with a deep shot in 12 point game filled with great rallies

Djoko falls over and bumps back of his head as Murray putsaway a BHV to start game 7. Short delay as he gets himself together. Does it snap Murray’s focus? He’s broken from there, double faulting twice

Djoko serves for the match at 5-4. Its another great game and Djoko has 3 match points in it in all
Murray lets fly with consecutive, brutal winning BH cc’s to reach 30-40. Djoko works him over before delivering a FH inside-out winner to reach deuce

More good rallies and quality tennis as the 3 match points come and go, before Murray collars last 2 points with a point turning BH dtl leading to winning at net and a FH inside-out winner from routine position to break

Murray wins next 2 games to take the set. Both fine games. Djoko’s not a happy bunny at missing a good look pass at 30-30 returning and smashes his racquet, which incurs a second warning and a point penalty
Murray knocks away 3 BH winners in a row to reach 15-40 and 3 set points. He converts the second one with a belted BH return

Murray somewhat eases back in third set. He’s at net 5 times in it, as opposed to 11 the set before. Also more ready to accept Djoko’s baseline lead than earlier

Djoko’s baseline lead is thumping dtl shots off both wings at will. Murray defends strongly against it and makes him keep at it to finish points. Good defence, better offence still and Djoko has better of things
Not by much, however much he takes the eye. Break points for set read Djoko 1/1, Murray 0/1, though Djoko does break to love

Djoko’s pressured into 2 UEs - 1 by a firm FH inside-out the other a ball on the move - to go down break point at 2-3. Third ball FH dtl sets up a smash winner to save it and he breaks down Murray’s defence to come away with hold for 3-3

Then breaks to love - couple of winning FH dtl’s, and drawing out a couple of BH UEs

On serve out, Djoko’s down 0-30, having missed an OH on the full from near the baseline and a BH dtl winner attempt after a good rally. Wins next 3 points via ground UEs - just 1 is a simple miss in a short rally, the other 2 have to be earned and puts match to bed with a FH inside-in winner from near service line

Summing up, great match. Djokovic the aggressor, Murray the reactor, both excellent at what they do, both good when roles are reversed too
Even amidst all around high quality, Murray’s returning and Djokovic’s dtl attacking play stand out

Murray is a wall on the return. Against a good serve. Almost turning that good serve into a 2 ‘second serves’ situation

2 ‘second’ serve points is enough for Djokovic because he commands court action. Rams dtl attacking shots off both wings at will. I haven’t seen anyone hit such shots with such regularity - and not against a light ball. It wouldn’t be easy to just hit neutral longline change-ups without making errors, to the extent that Djokovic pounds commanding dtl attacking shots

The mere, background high quality features hard hitting baseline, coupled with exemplary movement and shot tolerance. Djokovic usually leads the dance, Murray when he chooses, can match him, especially with BH, particularly belted BH cc’s. Excellent depth from the winner too and coping with it from the loser

Both also utilizing net play - Djokovic in conjunction with his dtl shots, striking a lovely balance of back and forecourt offence, Murray from working opponent over neatly slipping forward. Djokovic called on to smash against teasing lobs and he passes test, Murray very nice in dropping volley winners

 

[MichaelNadal]

Ewwww

 

[Rebel-I.N.S]

Great summary @Waspsting.

I’d completely forgotten about the potential default for Djokovic…

 

[wang07]

One of the most entertaining Djokovic-Murray matches. Very few of their clashes were truly memorable, but this one was great. Ironic that both of them were on the way out at that point.

 

[Gazelle]

Djokovic torpedoing bystanders seems to be a recurring theme.