Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Rafael Nadal (Spain) 6-1, 6-4 in the Olympic Games second round (round of 32), 2024 on clay in Paris, France
Djokovic would go onto win the title, beating Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) in the final. Nadal had previously won the title in 2008 in Beijing, China on hard court. This was the 11th match the two had played at this venue with the rest occuring at the French Open. Djokovic had won 2, Nadal 8 of them. This was the 60th match the pair had played, Djokovic leading the head-to-head 31-29
Djokovic won 63 points, Nadal 43
Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (29/48) 60%
- 1st serve points won (23/29) 79%
- 2nd serve points won (10/19) 53%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (13/48) 27%
Nadal....
- 1st serve percentage (42/58) 72%
- 1st serve points won (23/42) 55%
- 2nd serve points won (5/16) 31%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (8/58) 14%
Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 40%
- to BH 60%
Nadal served...
- to FH 21%
- to BH 75%
- to Body 4%
Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 48 (13 FH, 35 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 7 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 4 Forced (4 BH)
- Return Rate (48/56) 86%
Nadal made...
- 34 (12 FH, 22 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (3 FH, 3 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (34/47) 72%
Break Points
Djokovic 5/12 (5 games)
Nadal 2/3 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 18 (7 FH, 9 BH, 2 BHV)
Nadal 11 (6 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
Djokovic's FHs - 1 dtl, 5 inside-out, 1 inside-out/dtl at net
- BHs - 2 cc (1 pass at net), 3 dtl, 4 drop shots
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first volley BHV
Nadal's FHs - 1 cc pass, 2 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl pass at net
- BHs - 1 cc pass at net (a slice), 2 dtl
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a second volley FHV
- the OH was on the bounce
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 23
- 15 Unforced (7 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV)
- 8 Forced (2 FH, 5 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 51.3
Nadal 30
- 18 Unforced (13 FH, 5 BH)
- 12 Forced (8 FH, 4 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.2
(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...
- 9/15 (60%) at net, including...
- 2/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
Nadal was...
- 5/8 (63%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 1/2 forced back
Match Report
Straight out thrashing with Djokovic better in all areas, and Nadal being ordinary in all of them. Djokovic’s serve is stronger, he returns with damaging force and hits where and how he wants off both wings to overhwhelm
Could have been worse for Nadal. He’s down 1-6, 0-4 with a service game to follow. At that stage, he’s won 21 points to Djoko’s 47. He manages to scrape out 4 games to level at 4-4, without looking too convincing. Makes final scoreline a little more respectable
18 winners, 15 UEs for Djoko, with both wings scoring. FH has 7 winners and UEs apiece, BH does better still with 9 winners, 7 UEs bolstered with drop shotting success
Nadal’s FH falters and has match high 13 UEs (other groundies have 5, 7 and 7) and 8 FEs (other groundies 2, 4 and 5). Initially, he looks to play back-away FHs as much as possible as he did in his breakout days. He has neither force of shot of that side, nor the necessary quick footwork to to make it effective and soon settles to more, central court position game. FH continues to falter though
Djokovic doing what he likes, as he likes, of which wing he likes.
Hard, wide BH cc’s or surprise wrong-footing longlines. Combo’s of hard FH cc, and then down-the-line after pegging Nadal to other side. Move over FH inside-outs. And drop shots
This is the pair’s 60th match. Probably the 2nd or 3rd time Djoko’s come up net positive using drop shots. Djokovic excelling with drop shots would be like Nadal serving a mountain of aces - death knell for opponent
And before all that, Djoko serving well (force and placement), Nadal average on same fronts
Nadal struggling to return, Djoko quite comfortable - with a few typical, easily hit returns to the baseline. Unreturned serves - Djoko 27%, Nadal 14% - with Djoko drawing weak returns, Nadal solid ones at least, and sometimes deep one’s that at least leave him no chance to get on front foot and as often, put on back one
Both players movements are average. Nadal’s is tested more and shows up worse, but Djoko’s not flying around court either. Djoko’s wrong footing shots catch Nadal out, while Nadal can rarely deliver such surprises, but Djoko’s forced into errors by moderately wide shots too. Kind of balls good clay courters are in habit of putting back in play. Ordinary defence from both players, a very far cry from many of their previous matches
Before all that, Djokovic serving and returning better
Unreturned serves Djoko 27%, Nadal 14%
Djoko with 5 aces, Nadal 1
Nadal returning from well-back position. His movements aren’t good and 6/8 return erros have been marked UEs. While relatively low return rate (compared to other matches between the two) is mostly down to that, Djoko does serve particularly well. Against normal position returner, most of his first serves would qualify as forceful, which isn’t typical on clay
Nadal’s serve is normal for him. Good 72% first serves in, without serves being damaging
Some typical, easy deep returns close to baseline by Djoko. By contrast, good few short returns by Nadal. Not unheard of for him, though minority. Generally, he can rely on running and scampering like crazy from such positions to eke out a few points (and make winning points a pain for opponent at least)
He ain’t running and scampering like crazy here. He’s overpowered, out-manuvered and putaway
Djokovic would go onto win the title, beating Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) in the final. Nadal had previously won the title in 2008 in Beijing, China on hard court. This was the 11th match the two had played at this venue with the rest occuring at the French Open. Djokovic had won 2, Nadal 8 of them. This was the 60th match the pair had played, Djokovic leading the head-to-head 31-29
Djokovic won 63 points, Nadal 43
Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (29/48) 60%
- 1st serve points won (23/29) 79%
- 2nd serve points won (10/19) 53%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (13/48) 27%
Nadal....
- 1st serve percentage (42/58) 72%
- 1st serve points won (23/42) 55%
- 2nd serve points won (5/16) 31%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (8/58) 14%
Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 40%
- to BH 60%
Nadal served...
- to FH 21%
- to BH 75%
- to Body 4%
Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 48 (13 FH, 35 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 7 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (3 BH)
- 4 Forced (4 BH)
- Return Rate (48/56) 86%
Nadal made...
- 34 (12 FH, 22 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (3 FH, 3 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (34/47) 72%
Break Points
Djokovic 5/12 (5 games)
Nadal 2/3 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 18 (7 FH, 9 BH, 2 BHV)
Nadal 11 (6 FH, 3 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
Djokovic's FHs - 1 dtl, 5 inside-out, 1 inside-out/dtl at net
- BHs - 2 cc (1 pass at net), 3 dtl, 4 drop shots
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first volley BHV
Nadal's FHs - 1 cc pass, 2 dtl, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-in, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl pass at net
- BHs - 1 cc pass at net (a slice), 2 dtl
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a second volley FHV
- the OH was on the bounce
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 23
- 15 Unforced (7 FH, 7 BH, 1 FHV)
- 8 Forced (2 FH, 5 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 51.3
Nadal 30
- 18 Unforced (13 FH, 5 BH)
- 12 Forced (8 FH, 4 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.2
(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...
- 9/15 (60%) at net, including...
- 2/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
Nadal was...
- 5/8 (63%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 1/2 forced back
Match Report
Straight out thrashing with Djokovic better in all areas, and Nadal being ordinary in all of them. Djokovic’s serve is stronger, he returns with damaging force and hits where and how he wants off both wings to overhwhelm
Could have been worse for Nadal. He’s down 1-6, 0-4 with a service game to follow. At that stage, he’s won 21 points to Djoko’s 47. He manages to scrape out 4 games to level at 4-4, without looking too convincing. Makes final scoreline a little more respectable
18 winners, 15 UEs for Djoko, with both wings scoring. FH has 7 winners and UEs apiece, BH does better still with 9 winners, 7 UEs bolstered with drop shotting success
Nadal’s FH falters and has match high 13 UEs (other groundies have 5, 7 and 7) and 8 FEs (other groundies 2, 4 and 5). Initially, he looks to play back-away FHs as much as possible as he did in his breakout days. He has neither force of shot of that side, nor the necessary quick footwork to to make it effective and soon settles to more, central court position game. FH continues to falter though
Djokovic doing what he likes, as he likes, of which wing he likes.
Hard, wide BH cc’s or surprise wrong-footing longlines. Combo’s of hard FH cc, and then down-the-line after pegging Nadal to other side. Move over FH inside-outs. And drop shots
This is the pair’s 60th match. Probably the 2nd or 3rd time Djoko’s come up net positive using drop shots. Djokovic excelling with drop shots would be like Nadal serving a mountain of aces - death knell for opponent
And before all that, Djoko serving well (force and placement), Nadal average on same fronts
Nadal struggling to return, Djoko quite comfortable - with a few typical, easily hit returns to the baseline. Unreturned serves - Djoko 27%, Nadal 14% - with Djoko drawing weak returns, Nadal solid ones at least, and sometimes deep one’s that at least leave him no chance to get on front foot and as often, put on back one
Both players movements are average. Nadal’s is tested more and shows up worse, but Djoko’s not flying around court either. Djoko’s wrong footing shots catch Nadal out, while Nadal can rarely deliver such surprises, but Djoko’s forced into errors by moderately wide shots too. Kind of balls good clay courters are in habit of putting back in play. Ordinary defence from both players, a very far cry from many of their previous matches
Before all that, Djokovic serving and returning better
Unreturned serves Djoko 27%, Nadal 14%
Djoko with 5 aces, Nadal 1
Nadal returning from well-back position. His movements aren’t good and 6/8 return erros have been marked UEs. While relatively low return rate (compared to other matches between the two) is mostly down to that, Djoko does serve particularly well. Against normal position returner, most of his first serves would qualify as forceful, which isn’t typical on clay
Nadal’s serve is normal for him. Good 72% first serves in, without serves being damaging
Some typical, easy deep returns close to baseline by Djoko. By contrast, good few short returns by Nadal. Not unheard of for him, though minority. Generally, he can rely on running and scampering like crazy from such positions to eke out a few points (and make winning points a pain for opponent at least)
He ain’t running and scampering like crazy here. He’s overpowered, out-manuvered and putaway