Match Stats/Report - Murray vs Djokovic, Canadian Open final, 2015

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Waspsting

Hall of Fame
Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the Canadian Open final, 2015 on hard court in Montreal

It was Murray's third title at the event. Djokovic, a former 3 time champion, would go onto win the following year. Djokovic would win the US Open shortly afterwards. Djokovic had won the pair's last matches, with Murray's last win having come in Wimbledon 2013 final.

Murray won 118 points, Djokovic 112

Serve Stats
Murray...
- 1st serve percentage (75/124) 60%
- 1st serve points won (52/75) 69%
- 2nd serve points won (22/49) 45%
- Aces 7 (1 second serve), Service Winners 1
- Double Faults 5
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (36/124) 29%

Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (64/106) 60%
- 1st serve points won (42/64) 66%
- 2nd serve points won (20/42) 48%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (25/106) 24%

Serve Patterns
Murray served...
- to FH 53%
- to BH 46%
- to Body 1%

Djokovic served...
- to FH 42%
- to BH 39%
- to Body 18%

Return Stats
Murray made...
- 79 (37 FH, 42 BH), including 3 return-approaches
- 3 Winners (3 BH)
- 20 Errors, comprising...
- 10 Unforced (5 FH, 5 BH)
- 10 Forced (6 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (79/104) 76%

Djokovic made...
- 83 (41 FH, 42 BH), including 1 return-approach
- 3 Winners (1 FH, 2 BH)
- 28 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (4 FH, 2 BH)
- 22 Forced (13 FH, 9 BH)
- Return Rate (83/119) 70%

Break Points
Murray 4/19 (6 games)
Djokovic 3/14 (7 games)

Winners (excluding serves, including returns)
Murray 27 (8 FH, 12 BH, 5 FHV, 2 BHV)
Djokovic 27 (12 FH, 5 BH, 3 FHV, 1 BH1/2V, 6 OH)

Murray's FHs - 3 cc (1 at net), 2 dtl passes (1 net chord flicker), 1 inside-out and 1 lob
- BHs - 9 cc (2 returns, 4 passes), 2 dtl (1 pass) and 1 inside-in return

Djokovic's FHs - 3 cc (1 return, 1 pass), 4 inside-out, 1 inside-in, 1 longline at net, 2 drop shots at net and 1 running-down-drop-shot lob at net
- BHs - 4 cc (2 returns, 1 pass, 1 at net) and 1 dtl/inside-out

- 1 FHV was a pass from near baseline and 1 was a swinging shot

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Murray 55
- 39 Unforced (20 FH, 16 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 16 Forced (10 FH, 6 BH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.9

Djokovic 53
- 33 Unforced (14 FH, 16 BH, 1 FHV, 2 OH)... with 2 FH at net (1 pass attempt)
- 20 Forced (5 FH, 13 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV)... with 1 BH at net (a lob) & 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 49.4

(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 for these two matches are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Murray was...
- 21/30 (70%) at net, including...
- 2/4 (50%) serve-volleying, all 1st serves
---
- 2/3 (67%) return-approaching
- 1/3 (33%) forced back/retreated

Djokovic was...
- 26/44 (59%) at net, including...
- 1/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
---
- 1/1 return-approaching
- 2/2 forced back

Match Report
Great match with both players playing superbly, action more or less even throughout, with plenty of tension both at the end and otherwise, on a normal hard court

Match is extremely close too, with who has the run of play at a given point changing slightly and the one in the lead never getting too far ahead. There's no critical different between the 2, thus making it a 'who-plays-big-points-better' encounter. If we're splitting hairs, Murray has a razor thin advantage on the return - and the difference comes out on potentially 'big points'

Points won - Murray 118, Djoko 112
Points served - Murray 124, Djoko 106... that's entirely due to an outlier 26 point Murray game. The important part of which is, he holds
Break points - Murray 4/19 (6 games), Djoko 3/14 (7 games)... that reflects well on both players. Djoko for having more break points in more games, but with 6 of those coming in eventual 26 point game hold for Murray, Murray having better of things in general

First serve in count identical at 60%. Murray +3% first serve points won, Djoko +3% on seconds. Edge Murray but just a bit

Relatively low first serve points won (Murray 69%, Djoko 66%) speaks to a return > serve match. Which generally tends to open up possiblity of lively action. Relatively stable 2nd serve points won (Murray 45%, Djoko 48%) speaks to even action, given that the returning is terrific and a few double faults getting thrown in, servers have done well to win that many

Typical matches between the pair involve better returning than serving, leading to plenty of rallies. Those rallies tend to be dull, blunt cc and longline exchanges off both sides, often biased to BH-BH side. Most points end with UEs. Quality of hitting varies from pushing to firm hitting. An outlasting or who-blinks-first game, not beat down

Here, staple action hard hitting and classic, cc with odd longline change-ups. Crosscourt rallies aren't blunt and there's neglibile longline pushing or ball-bashing. Very much beat-down and not out-lasting of nature. From that very sound base, both players look to attack.

Both throw out an extra hard or wide hit ball among already hard hitting shots to snatch initiative or even end point. Particularly Murray

Both take the ball early to be pressuring. Generally, it tends to be Djokovic to step up a bit and Murray to fall-back. Little of that here (unless its forced by one player taking up attacking position) and both vie for hitting advantage from normal, or slightly advanced positions

Both go in for 1-2s - court opener + hit into open court to attack (or end point) - Djokovic more. Both defend stubbornly against the plays most of the time (there are understandable lulls given brutality of play where both players ease off on defensive effort)

Both come to net after seizing advantage from back. Djoko does it more on the whole, Murray takes to doing it more near the end and is more succesful. There's serve-volleys (total 6), return-approaches (total 4) among the combined 74 approaches. Murray wins 70%, Ddjoko 59%. Good lot of near token approaches (where powerful approach shot has done all the work), but also outstanding passing (particularly from Murray, who also tests Djoko out of the OH, without much success)

The returning in the match up is always good of solidity and neutralizing ability. All of that's on show here, plus an extra attacking edge. Both players go wide for point ending efforts to marked degree. There are high 6 return winners. And the serving is solid too - both landing 60% first serves in, but the returning is better. Good job by both returners to keep unreturned rates down to 29% for Murray, 24% for Djoko. Against normal opposotion, I'd estimate serving to be good for 35% unreturned rates

The return is the one area where a slight difference emerges. On it -

- Return UEs - Murray 10, Djoko 6
- Return FEs - Murray 10, Djoko 22

Comparable UEs, but Murray much healtheir on the FEs front (from returners point of view). Murray's able to get back in play the tough or tough-ish return that much better. Not that Djoko's a slouch, but just a few more errors to makeably, not-easy returns from him. These aren't overwhelmingly powerful serves on lines but hefty serves a bit wide. Particularly for the players concerned, more makeable than not. Murray makes considerably more of 'em. Its a high end encounter when that's the biggest difference

Both players are particularly good at finding their best serves when in trouble too, upping it from base norm of hefty
 
In play -
- Winners 27 each
- Errors forced - Murray 20, Djoko 16
- UEs - Murray 39, Djoko 33

comes to 90/162 points ended forcefully or 56%. Comparing with pair's other Slams, Masters and YECs hard court finals, there are only 2 higher ratios are -

- '12 Shanghai 57%
- '15 Australian 56% (marginally higher than this match - 56.3% to 55.6% to be more specific)

... and both of those matches have big let-downs, a lack of tension at the end and are unbalanced in terms of shares of ending points aggressively and making UEs. Figures for remaining matches are -

- 49% - '13 Aus, '09 Miami and '15 Paris
- 48% - '08 Cincy
- 46% - '15 Miami
- 43% - '16 Aus
- 42% - '12 US
- 39% - '11 Aus
- 38% - '11 Cincy and '16 YEC

There are no weak links in the groundgame. Djoko gets better of things FH-FH and has match joint-best 12 winners and sole best 14 UEs off that side. Murray's FH is most error prone with 20 UEs. Murray meanwhile gets better of BH-BH. Both with 16 UEs, Murray with exceptionally high 12 winners and he's able to take charge with the extra hard shot from normal dynamics

12 winners, 16 UEs is an exceptional showing for a BH in any context - more so in a beat-down show where opponent's BH is as steady and pressuring as Djoko's

Groundstrokes ordered by consistency -
- Djoko FH 14
- both BHs - 16
- Murray FH 20

That at least fits the pattern of their matches (often, 3 of the groundies are clumped together, and 1 is more loose), but not as important as usual because its a much more aggressive match, with much higher lot of points ending with FEs and winners

Match Progression
Its not a uniform match. The first set is exceptionally brutal. There are 87 points in or 8.7 per game (compard to just 58 or 5.8 in the second set), which is arduous enough, but amidst hard hitting, dual winged beat down play, doubly so. Only 3/10 games don't go to deuce, including the final game which is a break

Hefty serving, great returning (defensive and counter-attacking), normal angled cc rallies with beat-down strong hitting and the odd extra powerful shot thrown in, both players taking the ball early

Murray has better of it on whole, particularly at the start. Djoko rallies to near partity in middle part, utilizing net play as he's beaten down more often than not from the back. He does well up front, but Murray also passes superbly - both precise, 1 shot needle-threaders and more crafty 2 shot deals - the first pass trickily wide or low to draw defensive volley and the second to end the point

There's a weird Hawk-eye call in third game. Murray's 2nd serve is called an ace and Djoko challenges. Hawk-eye calls the ball in though its video shot seems to show the ball landing on the line, but beyond the relevant part of the ad court. Djoko protests (very correctly), and the chair tells him they have to go with Hawkeyes verbal verdict. The point takes score to 30-0. The game ends up lasting 12 points. In other words, all things remaining the same but the call going the other way would have led to a break

Djoko's broken in 16 point game right after, where he takes net 8 times. A poor FH dtl winner attempt brings up Murray's 6th break point. On it Djoko serve-volleys but can't handle a low return near his feet

There's some terrific shots as Djoko breaks back and play carries on in same vein thereafter. Starting game 3, 7 games in a row go to deuce at least. Murray breaks to end the set, scoring with a wide return off a 1st serve and an improbably BH cc pass winner. On his 2nd break point, Djoko mishits a BH dtl. 6-4 after well over an hour of brutal tennis

By comparison, second set goes by quickly. The dog-fight-for-every-point nature of play isn't there. There are a few tired looking or lazy errors with no feet. Both players semi-tank return games they've fallen behind on. Still a good set tennis by a normal standard, and intensity of rallies going down is expected. Both players had taken an off-court break after first set

Djoko opens with a break and hold to love - 3 winners in a row on the break (OH, FH cc pass against a serve-volley and a BH cc return). He finishes his hold a with a half-volleyed third ball BH dtl/inside-out winner

Players trade breaks in middle of set. Murray wraps up his by forcing BH error with 1 of many, out of the blue sudden extra powerful BHs he hits in the match and then a BH cc return winner. Djoko hits back in an error filled game, though the hitting is still good. Lovely Djoko touch BH1/2V winner game after. Great point in the serve-out as Djoko drop shots Murray in, Murray does well to not just reach the ball but smack it hard at net and an anticipating Djoko moving in right direction FHV'ng a a pass winner from just inside the baseline. 6-4 Djokovic and 1 set all

Third set fluctuates some in terms of who has run of play, but quality always remains high. And it gets very tense

Djoko brings up break point in the opener with a perfect running-down-drop-shot lob at net to net winner. Murray goes on to hold with by forcing 3 return errors - 1 excellent serve, 2 makeably returnable

Then Murray braks by crowind net and holds comfortably - again, game ending with Djoko return error, this time a UE off a 2nd serve. 3-0, Murray seems to have match under control

Even more so after Djoko gently pats an OH into the net and misses third ball, wrong footing FH cc winner attempt to go down 0-30 to start next game, but Djoko strikes back to hold with authority

Then there's the 26 point game, which pretty much has everything a match can have in and itself. Djoko swatting a FH cc return winner from a wide first serve. Murray swatting a BH cc winner against a strong return. Drop shots and running-down-drop shots and trips to net and passes and good volleys, strong serves and better returns, a couple of double faults, tough rallies

Ending is just a touch disappointing. Djoko misses 2 makeable first serve returns - 1 marked a UE

Great point in the game after where Murray delay return-approaches to meet Djoko at net, gets lob volleyd back to baseline from where he unleashes his own lob winner. Djoko meanwhile puts away 2 OHs

Tough hold for Djoko to prolong the match down 2-5. He comes thorugh saving 3 break points, leaving Murray to serve it out

Murray falls to to 15-40 on back of 3 FH UEs. Djoko misses returns on both break points - a 2nd slightly wide second serve, the second a very good wide first. Djoko erases Murray's first set match point in the game with a FH cc winner. Murray brings up his second by forcing a FH error and Djoko misses a BH in hard hitting rally to end the match

Summing up, great match all around with both players at their best. That stands out for Murray, who rarely ascends to beat-down hard hitting from the back and taking ball early or approaching net so aggressively, while its not unusual for Djokovic to be so commanding. Command of play from the back is up for grabs from the back. Murray usually has it and is stronger off the BH - his sudden, extra powerful or/and wide shot standing out. Djokovic isn't too far behind and has better of things on the FH. Both players take to net with good effect too, and Murray's a bit better in passing

Both players return aggressively and solidly against healthy, hefty serving. Murray being more consistent in making tough returns is one of few significant differences between the two

Little in the final result - Murray's more secure returning nudging odds his way, and some stellar passing helping too - and he comes up on top
 
RS said:
Lol up until the last 8/9 games.
Click to expand...

That qualifier disqualifies it from being superb though lol. It was a great match until a few games into the third - but that kills the quality and competitiveness of the match. If all four sets were the same quality as the first two you'd be right.
 
NatF said:
That qualifier disqualifies it from being superb though lol. It was a great match until a few games into the third - but that kills the quality and competitiveness of the match. If all four sets were the same quality as the first two you'd be right.
Click to expand...
If only Murray broke at 3-3 30-40 lol.
 
Djokovic lost just 4 of his 15 finals that year in 1 of his most dominant seasons ever: 2 to Federer (Dubai and Cincinnati), 1 each to Wawrinka (RG) and Murray (Montreal).
 
Last edited:
One of the best Murray-Djokovic matches in BO3. Still slightly less than Rome 2011 and Shanghaï 2012, though. But that Montreal final was a big upset. One of Djokovic's 4 defeats in finals 2015, knowing the other 2 players who beat him were Federer (Cincinnati and Dubaï) and Wawrinka (RG).
 
Tennisfan339 said:
One of the best Murray-Djokovic matches in BO3. Still slightly less than Rome 2011 and Shanghaï 2012, though. But that Montreal final was a big upset. One of Djokovic's 4 defeats in finals 2015, knowing the other 2 players who beat him were Federer (Cincinnati and Dubaï) and Wawrinka (RG).
Click to expand...
Olympics 2012 was also high quality even though it was a straight setter.
 
We need to give more respect to Prime Murray’s ROS in general on this forum. Until 2017 people said it was close between him and Djoker for that shot and then just because the rest of his game fell off through physical issues, suddenly you’ve all had collective amnesia about it. It was always the shot that he could put up in their matchups even when Djoker was outgunning him across the rest of play
 
jl809 said:
We need to give more respect to Prime Murray’s ROS in general on this forum. Until 2017 people said it was close between him and Djoker for that shot and then just because the rest of his game fell off through physical issues, suddenly you’ve all had collective amnesia about it. It was always the shot that he could put up in their matchups even when Djoker was outgunning him across the rest of play
Click to expand...
For years Murray was overrated, it's just the universe balancing itself out.
 
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