Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 in the final of the US Open, 2007 on hard court
This was Federer's 4th US Open title and marked the third time in four years he had won 3/4 Slams in a year - a feat that had been accomplished a total of 3 times in the Open Era prior to this run. For Djokovic, this was his first Slam final - and he would go on to win the very next one, beating Federer in the semi in route
Federer won 119 points, Djokovic 103
Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (64/106) 60%
- 1st serve points won (50/64) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (27/42) 64%
- Aces 11, Service Winners 7
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (36/106) 34%
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (62/116) 53%
- 1st serve points won (44/62) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (30/54) 56%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 6
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (33/116) 28%
Serve Patterns
Federer served...
- to FH 47%
- to BH 53%
Djokovic served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 63%
- to Body 5%
Return Stats
Federer made...
- 76 (26 FH, 50 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 22 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (6 BH)
- 16 Forced (8 FH, 8 BH)
- Return Rate (76/109) 70%
Djokovic made...
- 67 (32 FH, 34 BH, 1 unknown)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (1 FH, 5 BH), including 1 return-approach attempt
- 12 Forced (6 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (67/102) 66%
Break Points
Federer 3/5 (4 games)
Djokovic 2/9 (4 games)
Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Federer 26 (12 FH, 4 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV, 5 OH, 1 BHOH)
Djokovic 21 (11 FH, 5 BH, 3 FHV, 2 OH)
Federer's FHs - 3 dtl, 3 inside-out, 3 cc (including 1 return), 2 at net (1 a pass) and 1 longline that Djokovic misjudged and left
- on the BH, all 4 were dtl (2 of which were passes)
Djokovic's FHs - 6 cc (1 not clean), 1 dtl, 1 inside-in and 2 inside out.
- sole pass was a FH lob, which he executed perfectly after drawing Federer in with a drop shot
- on the BH, 2 dtl, 2 cc and 1 particularly good inside-out, which completely caught Federer off guard
- many of his groundstrokes were hit from close to the service line
- 2 FHVs were drop volleys
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Federer 45
- 25 Unforced (18 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 20 Forced (7 FH, 12 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.8
Djokovic 50
- 29 Unforced (9 FH, 19 BH, 1 BHV)
- 21 Forced (7 FH, 10 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BH1/2V, 1 BHOH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.3
(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
Federer was 14/19 (74%) at net, including 1/1 serve-volleying (a first serve)
Djokovic was 12/21 (57%), including 0/3 serve-volleying - all first points
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Match Report
A tough straight setter - featuring a error strewn first set, a major choking phase from Djokovic, raising his level at the right time from Fed and finally, a rattled experimental Djokovic to finish up
The first set is riddled with errors from both players. On a quick court, both do well to return the others powerful serves and then settle into ball bashing rallies up and down the middle of the court. Neither player seems to be trying to open the court up and both make plenty of errors (Federer off the FH, Djokovic from the BH). With comfortable holds, the set looks to be headed for a tiebreak, when Djokovic breaks - with Federer making two awful FH errors to yield his serve.
As Djokovic races out to 40-0 to give himself 3 set points, Federer erases the first with swiping FH cc that catches the line.... I'm reminded of the famous return of serve winner Djok was to strike match point down in the pairs 2011 semi. This one wasn't as extreme, but same type of mentality... nothing-to-lose-lets-have-a-swipe. And that begins the chokefest. Djoko squanders the rest of his set points with weak, unforced errors (he misses 5 in the first set in total). He continues in the same vein in the tiebreak, allowing Federer to pinch the first set
At the start of the second, a frustrated Djok takes to being more aggressive. He still mostly hits up and down the middle but more powerfully and takes to stepping into the court more. It works - and he gains the break. Federer however, who has played largely neutrally to this point, raises his game at the opportune time to break back to love (forcing 3 errors) and finding his range with the serve (starts winning many more points with it). This set goes into a tiebreak too, but not before Djok has 2 more set points on the Federer serve, which are erased by good play from the Swiss. The tiebreak is a vintage Federer one.... all his service points are unreturned and he finishes off with two tremendous winners - his favourite inside-out FH (the first he really goes after) and rasping BH dtl passing drive
A more relaxed Federer is much the better player in the 3rd set. That's partially due to Djokovic playing some strange tennis. He starts being unduly aggressive on his second serve returns and misses a number of them (he'd hardly missed at all in the first two sets). Starts approaching net more (without much success). Starts directing his serves more and more to Federer's FH, which I think shapes Federer's more dynamic play in this part of the match. And Djok has a mini-choke. Reaching 0-40 on the Federer serves, he dumps two regulation second serve returns into the net and inexplicably, plays no shot to straight ball that lands on the line. Still, I'd say Federer won the third set more than Djoko lost it
FHs/BHs, Attack/Defence & Serve/Return
Djokovic overall has the better FH in the match and Federer the BH surprisingly. Djok's FH is considerably less error prone (unforced errors 9-18), though he lacks Federer's timely spectacular shot making off the wing. On the other hand, Djoko makes many more errors than Fed on the BH (19-5). This is a very solid BH match from the Swiss
Djoko is the more aggressive player off the ground and over certain parts of the match, is bossing Federer around from the back and looking to dictate. Federer plays fairly passively (for him, anyway) and while striking with power, does so from a couple of feet behind the baseline. By contrast, in the 2008 final https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-federer-vs-murray-us-open-final-2008.611390/ he was out and out going for the kill shots (though Murray played much more passively there then Djoko did here). He does have he ability to raise the stakes with aggressive shots when he feels the need to though, which I don't think Djoko had then.
Fed's defence is impressive, and the biggest change one sees in him from before and now. There's a tendancy to miss this aspect of the Swiss' game because it all looks so unstrained, but still, its there. From the baseline, Djoko is already Fed's equal. Its the serve that puts Federer over
Returning serve on this quick court is not easy and both players do so well. It isn't until Federer starts placing the ball superbly (in addition to the power he has throughout) that Djoko is unable to return effectively, but I don't think anyone could have against serving like that. Fed for his part, returns Djoko's first serve with reasonable comfort.
A strange weakness in Fed's returning is against soft serves to the BH. There are many powerful second serves in the match - and Fed returns those, but nets the gentler second serves with push-slice type shots. A weakness that would come to haunt him against Nadal. Djoko for his part misses relatively easy returns when he starts going for too much on the shot, but mentally, he's clearly rattled by that point in the third set
Summary - some choking by Djokovic, some raising his game and clutch play from Fed and some clear difference in experience as far as knowing what to do to win goes. Not the best of matches.... but still a very hard fought one
This was Federer's 4th US Open title and marked the third time in four years he had won 3/4 Slams in a year - a feat that had been accomplished a total of 3 times in the Open Era prior to this run. For Djokovic, this was his first Slam final - and he would go on to win the very next one, beating Federer in the semi in route
Federer won 119 points, Djokovic 103
Serve Stats
Federer...
- 1st serve percentage (64/106) 60%
- 1st serve points won (50/64) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (27/42) 64%
- Aces 11, Service Winners 7
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (36/106) 34%
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (62/116) 53%
- 1st serve points won (44/62) 71%
- 2nd serve points won (30/54) 56%
- Aces 5, Service Winners 6
- Double Faults 7
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (33/116) 28%
Serve Patterns
Federer served...
- to FH 47%
- to BH 53%
Djokovic served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 63%
- to Body 5%
Return Stats
Federer made...
- 76 (26 FH, 50 BH)
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 22 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (6 BH)
- 16 Forced (8 FH, 8 BH)
- Return Rate (76/109) 70%
Djokovic made...
- 67 (32 FH, 34 BH, 1 unknown)
- 18 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (1 FH, 5 BH), including 1 return-approach attempt
- 12 Forced (6 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (67/102) 66%
Break Points
Federer 3/5 (4 games)
Djokovic 2/9 (4 games)
Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Federer 26 (12 FH, 4 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BHV, 5 OH, 1 BHOH)
Djokovic 21 (11 FH, 5 BH, 3 FHV, 2 OH)
Federer's FHs - 3 dtl, 3 inside-out, 3 cc (including 1 return), 2 at net (1 a pass) and 1 longline that Djokovic misjudged and left
- on the BH, all 4 were dtl (2 of which were passes)
Djokovic's FHs - 6 cc (1 not clean), 1 dtl, 1 inside-in and 2 inside out.
- sole pass was a FH lob, which he executed perfectly after drawing Federer in with a drop shot
- on the BH, 2 dtl, 2 cc and 1 particularly good inside-out, which completely caught Federer off guard
- many of his groundstrokes were hit from close to the service line
- 2 FHVs were drop volleys
Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Federer 45
- 25 Unforced (18 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 20 Forced (7 FH, 12 BH, 1 BHV)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.8
Djokovic 50
- 29 Unforced (9 FH, 19 BH, 1 BHV)
- 21 Forced (7 FH, 10 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BH1/2V, 1 BHOH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 48.3
(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
Federer was 14/19 (74%) at net, including 1/1 serve-volleying (a first serve)
Djokovic was 12/21 (57%), including 0/3 serve-volleying - all first points
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Match Report
A tough straight setter - featuring a error strewn first set, a major choking phase from Djokovic, raising his level at the right time from Fed and finally, a rattled experimental Djokovic to finish up
The first set is riddled with errors from both players. On a quick court, both do well to return the others powerful serves and then settle into ball bashing rallies up and down the middle of the court. Neither player seems to be trying to open the court up and both make plenty of errors (Federer off the FH, Djokovic from the BH). With comfortable holds, the set looks to be headed for a tiebreak, when Djokovic breaks - with Federer making two awful FH errors to yield his serve.
As Djokovic races out to 40-0 to give himself 3 set points, Federer erases the first with swiping FH cc that catches the line.... I'm reminded of the famous return of serve winner Djok was to strike match point down in the pairs 2011 semi. This one wasn't as extreme, but same type of mentality... nothing-to-lose-lets-have-a-swipe. And that begins the chokefest. Djoko squanders the rest of his set points with weak, unforced errors (he misses 5 in the first set in total). He continues in the same vein in the tiebreak, allowing Federer to pinch the first set
At the start of the second, a frustrated Djok takes to being more aggressive. He still mostly hits up and down the middle but more powerfully and takes to stepping into the court more. It works - and he gains the break. Federer however, who has played largely neutrally to this point, raises his game at the opportune time to break back to love (forcing 3 errors) and finding his range with the serve (starts winning many more points with it). This set goes into a tiebreak too, but not before Djok has 2 more set points on the Federer serve, which are erased by good play from the Swiss. The tiebreak is a vintage Federer one.... all his service points are unreturned and he finishes off with two tremendous winners - his favourite inside-out FH (the first he really goes after) and rasping BH dtl passing drive
A more relaxed Federer is much the better player in the 3rd set. That's partially due to Djokovic playing some strange tennis. He starts being unduly aggressive on his second serve returns and misses a number of them (he'd hardly missed at all in the first two sets). Starts approaching net more (without much success). Starts directing his serves more and more to Federer's FH, which I think shapes Federer's more dynamic play in this part of the match. And Djok has a mini-choke. Reaching 0-40 on the Federer serves, he dumps two regulation second serve returns into the net and inexplicably, plays no shot to straight ball that lands on the line. Still, I'd say Federer won the third set more than Djoko lost it
FHs/BHs, Attack/Defence & Serve/Return
Djokovic overall has the better FH in the match and Federer the BH surprisingly. Djok's FH is considerably less error prone (unforced errors 9-18), though he lacks Federer's timely spectacular shot making off the wing. On the other hand, Djoko makes many more errors than Fed on the BH (19-5). This is a very solid BH match from the Swiss
Djoko is the more aggressive player off the ground and over certain parts of the match, is bossing Federer around from the back and looking to dictate. Federer plays fairly passively (for him, anyway) and while striking with power, does so from a couple of feet behind the baseline. By contrast, in the 2008 final https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-federer-vs-murray-us-open-final-2008.611390/ he was out and out going for the kill shots (though Murray played much more passively there then Djoko did here). He does have he ability to raise the stakes with aggressive shots when he feels the need to though, which I don't think Djoko had then.
Fed's defence is impressive, and the biggest change one sees in him from before and now. There's a tendancy to miss this aspect of the Swiss' game because it all looks so unstrained, but still, its there. From the baseline, Djoko is already Fed's equal. Its the serve that puts Federer over
Returning serve on this quick court is not easy and both players do so well. It isn't until Federer starts placing the ball superbly (in addition to the power he has throughout) that Djoko is unable to return effectively, but I don't think anyone could have against serving like that. Fed for his part, returns Djoko's first serve with reasonable comfort.
A strange weakness in Fed's returning is against soft serves to the BH. There are many powerful second serves in the match - and Fed returns those, but nets the gentler second serves with push-slice type shots. A weakness that would come to haunt him against Nadal. Djoko for his part misses relatively easy returns when he starts going for too much on the shot, but mentally, he's clearly rattled by that point in the third set
Summary - some choking by Djokovic, some raising his game and clutch play from Fed and some clear difference in experience as far as knowing what to do to win goes. Not the best of matches.... but still a very hard fought one
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