Match Stats/Report - Djokovic vs Ruud, French Open final, 2023

[Waspsting]

Novak Djokovic beat Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 in the French Open final, 2023 on clay

It was Djokovic’s record breaking 23rd Slam title and made him the first player in history to win a triple career Grand Slam. Ruud was playing his third Slam final and had been runner-up the previous year also

Djokovic 118 won points, Ruud 89

Serve Stats
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (74/101) 73%
- 1st serve points won (59/74) 80%
- 2nd serve points won (17/27) 63%
- Aces 11 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (26/101) 26%

Ruud...
- 1st serve percentage (69/106) 65%
- 1st serve points won (40/69) 58%
- 2nd serve points won (24/37) 65%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (17/106) 16%

Serve Pattern
Djokovic served...
- to FH 43%
- to BH 55%
- to Body 2%

Ruud served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 61%
- to Body 7%

Return Stats
Djokovic made...
- 88 (32 FH, 56 BH), including 4 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 13 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- 7 Forced (5 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (88/105) 84%

Ruud made...
- 74 (35 FH, 39 BH), including 5 runaround FHs
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 15 Errors, comprising...
- 5 Unforced (3 FH, 2 BH), including 2 runaround FHs
- 10 Forced (8 FH, 2 BH)
- Return Rate (74/100) 74%

Break Points
Djokovic 3/10 (6 games)
Ruud 1/4 (2 games)

Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Djokovic 42 (29 FH, 6 BH, 2 FHV, 2 BHV, 3 OH)
Ruud 28 (14 FH, 3 BH, 4 FHV, 4 BHV, 3 OH)

Djokovic's FHs - 9 cc (1 pass), 2 dtl, 6 inside-out (1 at net), 9 inside-in (1 return), 1 inside-in/cc, 1 longline/inside-out at net and 1 net chord dribbler
- BHs - 2 cc (1 pass), 2 dtl and 2 drop shots at net

- 1 OH was on the bounce

Ruud's FHs - 2 cc, 1 cc/inside-in, 4 dtl (2 passes), 3 inside-out (1 return, 1 at net), 2 inside-in, 1 inside-in/cc and 1 drop shot
- BHs - 2 dtl and 1 net chord dribbler

- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first volley FHV
- 1 BHV was played net-to-net
- 1 OH on the bounce from the baseline

Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Djokovic 43
- 28 Unforced (13 FH, 13 BH, 2 OH)
- 15 Forced (8 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 Over-the-Shoulder)... with 1 FH running-down-drop-shot (not at net)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 50.7

Ruud 49
- 32 Unforced (12 FH, 17 BH, 1 BHV, 2 OH)... with 1 OH on the bounce from the baseline
- 17 Forced (10 FH, 5 BH, 2 BHV)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.5

(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...
- 19/28 (68%) at net, including...
- 4/5 (80%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 0/2 forced back/retreated

Ruud was...
- 15/24 (63%) at net, including...
- 1/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
---
- 0/2 forced back

Match Report
Good, hard hitting match and an outstanding, top form showing from Djokovic, who hits the apex of his abilities in all areas, especially the FH, to leave a solid and steady Ruud behind

Its somewhat a two part match. Going into the tiebreak, both players have won 40 points apiece
Starting with the ‘breaker, Djoko wins 78 points, Ruud 49

Going into the ‘breaker, Djoko has 9 winners, 17 UEs and forces 5 errors out of Ruud. Respectable clay court figures
From the ‘breaker onward, its 32 winners, 9 UEs and forcing 10 errors out of Ruud. Sky alight figures

FHs the superstar of the show. To call it outstanding is an understatement

29 winners, 13 UEs, 8 FEs. More than double winners to UEs and comfortably more than total errors. In fact, he has more FH winners than total UEs! - which might be unique for a figure as high as 28

Generally, 10 winners per set is a good target to aim for. Djokovic hits about that many off his FH alone

He’s devastating in all directions with it. 8 cc - many of them shots out of routine positions. 10 inside-in based is a strange one, in light of ‘just’ 5 inside-out (the inside-outs do eventually breakdown Ruud’s BH to a greater extent than inside-in does his FH). dtl is the only direction that isn’t well represented

The winners come out of everything. Set up by the serve, set by pushing Ruud back and stepping in, shots out of nowhere, shots out of routine positions

Its not just the winners. Djoko works over, pushes back, moves opponent about and beats down Ruud with all the same shots he has so many winners off

Ruud’s no pushover himself and has 14 winners, 12 UEs off his own FH. A fine showing, water onto wine compared to Djoko’s

While the FH takes the eye, rest of Djoko’s game shines too. He serves hard and has a healthy 11 aces to show for it, forces 10 return errors to just 5 UEs. And the serve sets up commanding position for the rally to come

He returns with customary thunder, hammering balls back to the baseline. 1st and 2nd serves. If anything, more against the first serve. Unusually, Ruud wins 65% of his second serve points - more than both his first serve ones of 58% and Djoko’s second serve off 63%

BH initally is loose gives up the errors in dual winged rallies. By second set, Djoko’s BH has firmed up and by the third, its Ruud’s that breaks down against good depth (often against FH inside-outs)

He comes to net some too, including serve-volleying. In fact, net play is the first thing he falls back on after being outlasted in the early part of the match

For all the 42 winners and aggressive errors (note high UEFI - he has 12 winner attempts to 10 neutral UEs), it’s a sound showing from Djokovic, not an unduly attacking one. He goes for adventurous shots, but largely, plays a hard hitting, beat-down game for foundation to attack from. No laxness in defence either as he runs balls down and if necessary, just throws it up in the air to either neutralize or make Ruud play one more shot

And what of Ruud? He plays well too. FHs in the net positives and BH holds up with Djoko’s until the end when its broken down to an extent (often via FH inside-outs, on top of deep BH cc’s). His serve isn’t strong and return proves too passive. His FH is never beaten out of the match though and he can and does overpower Djoko on that side (particularly early on). Later, he engages in some fine shotmaking off the FH, though its overshadowed by Djoko doing the same considerably better

In previous year, Ruud had got it the same way from Rafael Nadal. An early, even tussle and then his opponent going on a ridiculous purple streak. He’s a better player here then he was a year ago, not easy to boss and bully from the baseline

Serve & Return
Powerful serving from Djoko. Ruud returns from well-back position and still gets aced 11 times and gives up half-court returns that Djoko can attack.

Ruud’s serve is a bit stranger. Until about the third set, Djoko returns it with thorough ease. Just 2 serves don’t come back after first 53 serves. The next 53 sees 15 unreturned

The start of the change has to do with Djoko, whose up a break, being a little lax with the return, and missing a few makeable ones. It’s a price worth paying for returning forcefully, and Djoko ups the weight of his returns from firm to smacked and gets them in deeper

Still, Ruud continues to hold, so that little change is a relative win for him. By third set, he’s serving more powerfully and genuinely forces return errors

Djoko returns from a bit further back than has usually been his wont and remains in that position even against second serve. Typical thundering returns from Djoko - and with the rest of his game firing to back it up, very good job by Ruud to keep from being broken again in the second set, and he’s not broken until the very end of the third

Basic stats have come out a bit queer

First serve points won - Djoko 80%, Ruud 58%

Second serve points won - Djoko 63%, Ruud 65%

The strength of Djoko’s first serve has come out in first serve points won, as has his high quality of play in second serve points

Ruud’s figures odd. Not really explainable by Djoko returning both serves with equal comfort for a set and a bit, because that leaves a set and more than a bit when Ruud’s serve is more effective.

16/17 of Ruud’s unreturned serves are first serves, so not only is there no explanation to be had there, but it makes the question even harder

He wins 10/17 second serve points or 59% in last 2 sets, so not much explanation there either

Ruud plays well is simplest explanation. Djoko might be controlled fire in second part of match (starting with tiebreak), but Ruud remains resistant to being overwhelmed, which is no small feat against the kind of thing he finds himself up against

Going into tiebreak, Ruud has 13 winners, 15 UEs and forces 9 errors from Djoko
‘breaker onward - 15 winners, 17 UEs and forcing 6 errors

A steady, solid showing throughout

 

[Waspsting]

Play - Baseline & Net
Playing dynamics change as match progresses. Djoko initiates a FH led dynamic to start, but falls short of being able to lead it; Ruud hits his own FHs just as hard and more steadily. Ruud’s able to drag Djoko wide with extra angled cc more often than the other way around and able to counter Djoko’s wide cc shots better

After going down a break, Djoko switches to net play. Few serve-volleys and otherwise, serve draws short return which Djoko pounds and comes in behind. Even early on, Djoko’s hitting FH winners, but they’re almost all set up by serve

Ruud hits his own FH winners - and they’re not set up by powerful serves. When not hitting winners or outlasting Djoko, he overpowers him and comes to net to finish. Volleys with nice touch

Djoko plays a little closer to the baseline in this period, Ruud slightly behind but both step in when they’ve been able to create the chance. And Ruud’s steadier of groundies

Djoko goes into zone starting with tiebreak and thereafter, he controls play. Both BH and FH barely give up an error. There’s room for improvement in Ruud’s resistance to power and UEs are beaten out of him. Not much of a blackmark - the persistence and weight of Djoko’s shots strongly encourage errors and promises not to let up.

Ruud isn’t able to get to net as much because he can rarely overpower Djoko to do so, but as earlier figures show, he keeps his head above water with forceful plays even with Djoko at his very best. FH remains hard hitting and damaging, though lacking Djoko’s all-direction variety

Ruud tends to back-away and play FHs when a BH would do just as well. Early on, his BH looked (and was) very steady so there seems no need to play back-away neutral FHs, but maybe he knows his game best. It is the BH that breaks up towards the end and is pushed back. Ruud has a nice semi-drive slice he’d employed as a change-up early on, but he’s forced to use it defensively later on

Djoko has better defence. He’s on attack more often, so Ruud’s is on show more, but Djoko remains a tough man to get an error out of. On the run, he can hit back firmly and if not, throws up a quasi moonball to slow the pace

Statistically, the only difference is Djoko’s FH as a point finisher

UEs - Djoko 28, Ruud 32

3 of the groundies are clustered together in this area (both Djoko’s FH and BH have 13, Ruud’s FH 12), with Ruud’s broken down BH a bit above with 17, but no major difference there

Djoko’s edge is a little clearer in neutral UEs, where he has 10 to Ruud’s 15 (Ruud also has a defensive UE). Advantage in basic consistency is always a good platform to launch from, doubly so here when you consider Ruud’s UEs are more beaten out of him than a product of outlasting play

FEs - Djoko 15, Ruud 17

No difference to speak of there

Winners - Djoko 42, Ruud 28
With FHs being Djoko 28, Ruud 14

In other words, Djoko’s 15 point advantage in FH winners is essentially the difference between the two players. And Djoko’s FH output is very, very excpetional

Match Progression
Ruud opens with a nifty love hold and then breaks in a long, hard hitting 16 point game, with lots of strong FH exchanges where Djoko usually blinks. 5 FH UEs for Djoko in the game (after good, strong rallies) and he ends it by missing an OH

Djoko adds another FH miss in next game, giving him 6 after 3 games. So he only makes 7 more in match’s 31 games.

Thwarted in his FH dictating attempts and with his BH blinking too, Djoko turns to net play. 3 serve-volleys in a couple of games, plus a couple of approaches behind powerful shots see him hold serve, before breaking back for 3-4. Its an error ridden game. Djoko crucially misses another OH at 15-30, but Ruud misses the same a couple of points later down break point (having missed a FH winner attempt the point before)

The two trade holds thereafter, both saving a break point. Couple of lovely shots from Ruud, particularly a perfectly executed FH drop shot winner, gets him to break point, but Djoko overpowers him and finishes off at net

Djoko reaches break point in a game of aggressive errors. Great rally develops on break point, which ends with Djoko missing a FH winner attempt. Ruud holds with a couple of net winners

Tiebreak is superb from Djokovic - FH winners, net play, passes, aces, the works and he takes it easily 7-1

Thereafter, Djoko’s hits top form. He breaks first chance he gets. Commands play and finishes points with FHs and thus, drops the net play. He eases up a touch on return games and throws away a few returns

Ruud endures a tough hold at 2-5, with Djoko blasting a pair of returns right to the baseline. He misses another big return to a regulation serve on break point and Ruud goes on to hold. Djoko serves out to love, finishing with a BH dtl winner after dragging Ruud wide with the serve

If anything, Djoko ups his game in the third set. 13 of his FH winners come in the set, including a love hold with 4. Loses just 4 points in holding 6 times

Ruud’s tested more, but doesn’t falter either. He has to serve 38 points in the set for 5 holds and to be broken, compared to Djoko serving 28 points for 6 holds

End comes in a rush, with Djoko winning 12 of the last 13 points. The only one he loses is a swinging FH on his first match point, which would have been an appropriate way to end it. He has to settle for forcing a running FH error the point after to seal things

Summing up, great showing from Djokovic. Initially outsteadied and outhit from the back, he turns to strong serving and net play to make up the slack. Once his game comes together, there’s no holding him back. One of the best FH displays you’ll see - strong hitting, beat-down play, shot-making, finishing - and all of it in all directions. Supported by strong serving, thunderous returning and a typically firm BH

A good, sound showing from Ruud too, especially in rallies. His FH is damaging too and his BH holds up for most of the match. The serve isn’t much though and the return from such a backward position leaves his opponent with comfortable command that he can ill afford to give up

 

[Milanez82]

Nice analysis. FH looked big but not that big stats wise.

 

[itrium84]

@Waspsting Thank you for your effort, I enjoy reading knowledgeable posters like you. Great analysis, as always.

 

[RF-18]

Great effort and nice analysis.

@Waspsting what's your opinion on Djokovic today as a player compared to say 10 years ago. His FH in particular is massive these days.

 

[Waspsting]

@Waspsting what's your opinion on Djokovic today as a player compared to say 10 years ago. His FH in particular is massive these days.

When motivated, he looks as good as he's ever been

Serve might be at its best now. Hell of a lot better than 2011
Returns just as well
Groundstrokes just as strong and varied
Slice has improved, net game has improved, willingness to serve-volley has gone up and net play too probably

He might not be as quick as he used to be, but remains one of the quickest around. If this were a new player, would you look at him and say he's got a movement problem? He moves better than Boris Becker ever did and Andre Agassi for all but the very start of his career

Still a pain in the butt to force an error out of, still able to hit neutralizing shots on the run/stretch routinely

Most of all, he's smarter now with the shot choices and strategies. And he's collected (in his play). He could go a bit off the road in years gone by now and then. Now, he always seems to know exactly what he wants/needs to do

8 years ago he went into a French Open final and thought it'd be a bright idea to push at a Wawrinka who was in sufficient form to reach the final

 

[BrokenGears]

Glad to see you back Waspsting!

 

[GabeT]

This is simply great. Thanks for the effort and for posting this.