Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 7-5, 7-6(4) in the Rome quarter-final, 2016 on clay
Djokovic, the defending champion, would go onto lose in the final to Andy Murray. Nadal had recently won Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Djokovic had won Madrid and would go onto win the French Open shortly afterwards. It was Djokovic's 7th straight win over Nadal
Djokovic won 87 points, Nadal 84
Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (56/79) 71%
- 1st serve points won (36/56) 64%
- 2nd serve points won (15/23) 65%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (14/79) 18%
Nadal....
- 1st serve percentage (76/92) 83%
- 1st serve points won (45/76) 59%
- 2nd serve points won (11/16) 69%
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/92) 20%
Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 36%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 1%
Nadal served...
- to FH 40%
- to BH 44%
- to Body 16%
Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 73 (37 FH, 36 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (6 FH, 1 BH)
- 9 Forced (7 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (73/91) 80%
Nadal made...
- 63 (22 FH, 41 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (5 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 2 Forced (2 FH)
- Return Rate (63/77) 82%
Break Points
Djokovic 3/9 (3 games)
Nadal 2/3 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 24 (14 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Nadal 21 (11 FH, 8 BH, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
Djokovic's FHs - 4 dtl (1 pass), 5 inside-out (1 return), 1 inside-in, 1 inside-in/cc, 2 longline/cc and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 3 cc, 1 inside-in and 1 lob
- 1 BHV was a swinging shot
- 2 volleys were net-to-net - 1 FHV and 1 BHV
Nadal's FHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 1 dtl pass, 3 inside-out, 1 inside-in turnaround pass, 1 inside-in/cc, 1 longline pass and 2 drop shots
- BHs - 3 cc (1 return), 1 dtl slice at net, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net and 2 running-down-drop-shot drops shots at net
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 43
- 31 Unforced (18 FH, 10 BH, 2 BHV, 1 BHOH)
- 12 Forced (6 FH, 6 BH)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.1
Nadal 48
- 29 Unforced (19 FH, 9 BH, 1 OH)
- 19 Forced (14 FH, 5 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.6
(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...
- 9/18 (50%) at net
Nadal was...
- 14/19 (74%) at net, with...
- 2/3 (67%) forced back
Match Report
Tough and close match that could have gone either way. Nadal leads by a break in both sets and is has 5 set points while serving for the second before Djoko breaks and takes it in the tiebreak. Action is close enough that final outcome is down to Djokovic playing the important point better - and he does play them, very, very well. Much more so than Nadal doing the opposite
Unusually, both players win more second serve points than firsts (Djoko 65% to 64%, Nadal 69% to 59%)
Nadal's game
Most eye-catching feature of action is Nadal playing a balanced, duel winged game. He does not overly rely on FH or stay over on BH side of the court, as he tends to. No constant running around BHs to hit FHs
There are 2 good reasons for it
- a) his FH is loose. Note 19 UEs, which is just 1 more than Djokovic's, but Djoko's shot is more damaging (14 winners to 11) and dictates play more. Nadal's FH, if not impotent, is about as undamaging as I've seen it. Its an exaggeration to say its plopping balls in court, but its not dictating play by any means.
- doesn't seem quick enough of foot to runaround to hit FHs. Nadal's not slow, but short of lightning fast. He's got his hands full in keeping up with Djoko's regular hard hit shots playing orthodox position... and would undoubtedly have been rushed had he tried running around BHs to manufacture FH
So good decision by Nadal to play from central position, which raises the issue of how his BH - which over the course of the two players rivalry - had been all shield and no sword (especially on clay)?
It does well. 8 winners and 9 UEs are great numbers for a BH and shades Djoko (5 and 10) on both fronts. He hits BH hard and often deep, though with less than great placement
Purely from an aesthetic point of view, its not pleasing compared to his usual style. There's a bludgeoning or ball bashing quality to his offence (as opposed to the pouncing thrill of his usual FH attacks). He looks like a ball-bashing, consistent player - not uncommon successful style on clay (it can be said to be Djokovic's style even) - but to my eye, its a good 2 steps down from his norm, aesthetically speaking
Footspeed and footwork are also down from years gone by and its not too difficult to force errors out of him. He has 19, to Djokovic's 12. In other matches between the two, Djoko leading in this area is down to his having much stronger offence. Here, its at least as much about Nadal's defence being down some
Its common for Nadal's FH to have lots more FH FEs, and with his keeping central position, we're able to see to what extent that's due to his FH being weaker defensively (since having to move greater distance isn't a factor, as it tends to be when he's leaning on BH side of court). Fair to say that yes, defensively, he's more vulnerable on FH. The BH has 5 FEs
Aesthetics aside and dealing in just quality, not only isn't Nadal's game worse, it might well be better. Generally, Djoko is clearly the one in command of baseline in their matches. Here, the two fight for command and its near 50-50 who gets it. Albeit, in a ball bashing way. From Nadal's point of view, is that better or worse than being reactive, playing a hold-the-fort BH game, leaving his FH side open to be attacked... and only attacking occasionally off the FH?
In light of his movements not being what they were, the changes are necessary and smart from Nadal. He doesn't have it in him to keep retrieving ball after ball... leaving play on Djoko's racquet and trusting to Djoko missing would be very unlikely to end well for him
In short, very different Nadal from his dominant years. Backhand is stronger and he looks to play off both wings. Forehand is weaker and movements slower. Good changes, in light of how his capabilities have changed
Djokovic, the defending champion, would go onto lose in the final to Andy Murray. Nadal had recently won Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Djokovic had won Madrid and would go onto win the French Open shortly afterwards. It was Djokovic's 7th straight win over Nadal
Djokovic won 87 points, Nadal 84
Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (56/79) 71%
- 1st serve points won (36/56) 64%
- 2nd serve points won (15/23) 65%
- Aces 3, Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (14/79) 18%
Nadal....
- 1st serve percentage (76/92) 83%
- 1st serve points won (45/76) 59%
- 2nd serve points won (11/16) 69%
- Aces 2
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (18/92) 20%
Serve Patterns
Djokovic served...
- to FH 36%
- to BH 62%
- to Body 1%
Nadal served...
- to FH 40%
- to BH 44%
- to Body 16%
Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 73 (37 FH, 36 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 7 Unforced (6 FH, 1 BH)
- 9 Forced (7 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (73/91) 80%
Nadal made...
- 63 (22 FH, 41 BH), including 3 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 BH)
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (5 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 2 Forced (2 FH)
- Return Rate (63/77) 82%
Break Points
Djokovic 3/9 (3 games)
Nadal 2/3 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Djokovic 24 (14 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV, 2 OH)
Nadal 21 (11 FH, 8 BH, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V)
Djokovic's FHs - 4 dtl (1 pass), 5 inside-out (1 return), 1 inside-in, 1 inside-in/cc, 2 longline/cc and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 3 cc, 1 inside-in and 1 lob
- 1 BHV was a swinging shot
- 2 volleys were net-to-net - 1 FHV and 1 BHV
Nadal's FHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 1 dtl pass, 3 inside-out, 1 inside-in turnaround pass, 1 inside-in/cc, 1 longline pass and 2 drop shots
- BHs - 3 cc (1 return), 1 dtl slice at net, 1 running-down-drop-shot dtl at net and 2 running-down-drop-shot drops shots at net
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Djokovic 43
- 31 Unforced (18 FH, 10 BH, 2 BHV, 1 BHOH)
- 12 Forced (6 FH, 6 BH)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.1
Nadal 48
- 29 Unforced (19 FH, 9 BH, 1 OH)
- 19 Forced (14 FH, 5 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.6
(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...
- 9/18 (50%) at net
Nadal was...
- 14/19 (74%) at net, with...
- 2/3 (67%) forced back
Match Report
Tough and close match that could have gone either way. Nadal leads by a break in both sets and is has 5 set points while serving for the second before Djoko breaks and takes it in the tiebreak. Action is close enough that final outcome is down to Djokovic playing the important point better - and he does play them, very, very well. Much more so than Nadal doing the opposite
Unusually, both players win more second serve points than firsts (Djoko 65% to 64%, Nadal 69% to 59%)
Nadal's game
Most eye-catching feature of action is Nadal playing a balanced, duel winged game. He does not overly rely on FH or stay over on BH side of the court, as he tends to. No constant running around BHs to hit FHs
There are 2 good reasons for it
- a) his FH is loose. Note 19 UEs, which is just 1 more than Djokovic's, but Djoko's shot is more damaging (14 winners to 11) and dictates play more. Nadal's FH, if not impotent, is about as undamaging as I've seen it. Its an exaggeration to say its plopping balls in court, but its not dictating play by any means.
- doesn't seem quick enough of foot to runaround to hit FHs. Nadal's not slow, but short of lightning fast. He's got his hands full in keeping up with Djoko's regular hard hit shots playing orthodox position... and would undoubtedly have been rushed had he tried running around BHs to manufacture FH
So good decision by Nadal to play from central position, which raises the issue of how his BH - which over the course of the two players rivalry - had been all shield and no sword (especially on clay)?
It does well. 8 winners and 9 UEs are great numbers for a BH and shades Djoko (5 and 10) on both fronts. He hits BH hard and often deep, though with less than great placement
Purely from an aesthetic point of view, its not pleasing compared to his usual style. There's a bludgeoning or ball bashing quality to his offence (as opposed to the pouncing thrill of his usual FH attacks). He looks like a ball-bashing, consistent player - not uncommon successful style on clay (it can be said to be Djokovic's style even) - but to my eye, its a good 2 steps down from his norm, aesthetically speaking
Footspeed and footwork are also down from years gone by and its not too difficult to force errors out of him. He has 19, to Djokovic's 12. In other matches between the two, Djoko leading in this area is down to his having much stronger offence. Here, its at least as much about Nadal's defence being down some
Its common for Nadal's FH to have lots more FH FEs, and with his keeping central position, we're able to see to what extent that's due to his FH being weaker defensively (since having to move greater distance isn't a factor, as it tends to be when he's leaning on BH side of court). Fair to say that yes, defensively, he's more vulnerable on FH. The BH has 5 FEs
Aesthetics aside and dealing in just quality, not only isn't Nadal's game worse, it might well be better. Generally, Djoko is clearly the one in command of baseline in their matches. Here, the two fight for command and its near 50-50 who gets it. Albeit, in a ball bashing way. From Nadal's point of view, is that better or worse than being reactive, playing a hold-the-fort BH game, leaving his FH side open to be attacked... and only attacking occasionally off the FH?
In light of his movements not being what they were, the changes are necessary and smart from Nadal. He doesn't have it in him to keep retrieving ball after ball... leaving play on Djoko's racquet and trusting to Djoko missing would be very unlikely to end well for him
In short, very different Nadal from his dominant years. Backhand is stronger and he looks to play off both wings. Forehand is weaker and movements slower. Good changes, in light of how his capabilities have changed
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