Rafael Nadal beat Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Indian Wells final, 2013 on hard court
It was Nadal's first Masters title of the year and first hard court title in 2.5 years. Del Potro was seeded 7th and had beaten Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray among others en route to the final
Nadal won 95 points, del Potro 82
Serve Stats
Nadal...
- 1st serve percentage (49/78) 63%
- 1st serve points won (33/49) 67%
- 2nd serve points won (21/29) 72%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (12/78) 15%
del Potro...
- 1st serve percentage (69/99) 70%
- 1st serve points won (46/69) 67%
- 2nd serve points won (12/30) 40%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (16/99) 16%
Serve Pattern
Nadal served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 3%
del Potro served...
- to FH 13%
- to BH 85%
- to Body 2%
Return Stats
Nadal made...
- 79 (16 FH, 63 BH), including 8 runaround FHs
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (1 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 7 Forced (2 FH, 5 BH)
- Return Rate (79/95) 83%
del Potro made...
- 65 (31 FH, 34 BH), including 11 runaround FHs
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 6 Forced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (65/77) 84%
Break Points
Nadal 4/18 (8 games)
del Potro 3/3
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Nadal 29 (22 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 2 OH)
del Potro 23 (19 FH, 1 BH, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH)
Nadal's FHs - 6 cc, 9 dtl (1 pass), 5 inside-out (1 at net) and 2 inside-in (1 pass at net)
- BHs - 3 cc (1 pass)
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot from behind service line but has been counted a net point and 1 OH was on the bounce
del Potro's FHs - 3 cc (1 pass), 5 dtl, 7 inside-out (1 runaround return), 3 inside-in and 1 running-down-drop shot cc at net
- BH - 1 cc return
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first 'volley' BH1/2V
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Nadal 42
- 24 Unforced (16 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)... the OH was a on the bounce baseline shot
- 18 Forced (9 FH, 7 BH, 1 BHV, 1 OH)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net and the OH was a flagrantly forced baseline attempt to fend back a smash
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45
del Potro 50
- 40 Unforced (20 FH, 17 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 10 Forced (7 FH, 2 BH, 1 Challenge)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47
(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
Nadal was 10/16 (63%) at net
del Potro was...
- 13/21 (62%) at net, including...
- 2/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
---
- 0/1 forced back
Match Report
A FH shot making fest of a match, with both players partaking, spectacularly. Beyond that similarity, Nadal is steadier of the and far more consistent from neutral positions, including in being able to construct a point to end with a big FH. By contrast, del Potro blasts a few FH winners from regulation positions (also misses a fair few trying) or needs his serve to set up a point killing shot
The two combine for 41 FH winners in 29 games. All other shots, including the serve, total 20. Sans aces, 11. Statistically off the FH, things are more or less (Nadal has better of it - he has 3 more winners and 4 fewer UEs)
On other side though, things look completely out of whack. Nadal has just 6 BH UEs to Delpo's 17. That's deceptive in that Delpo's figure is heavily biased towards first few games of the match, when rallies continuously end with his BH coughing up error. He has 8 after 3 games, which means he has 9 for rest of match - which is very good and again in Nadal's ball park. Given Delpo ended up winning first set, that means he's not trailing too much in play for the match
He's trailing more than enough though. He faces break points in 8 games and can conjure them in just 3 and serves 99 points to Nadal's 78, despite serving 1 fewer game. In other words, Nadal holds serve easily for most part, Delpo's regularly under the gun
No difference in effectiveness of serve - both with low and virtually equal unreturned rates (Nadal 15%, Delpo 16%), with Delpo having an extra ace but also 3 extra double fautls
First serve points won are a dead wash - both winning 67%
Humongous difference in second serve points is biggest difference in play - Nadal wins 72%, Delpo 40%. Even that's not too big a deal since Delpo serves at very large 70%, but it speaks to the real key difference between two players. From neutral starting point, Nadal outplays Delpo constantly.
Its also an see-saw match. From middle of first set to early in second, Delpo goes on a 28-13 point winning run (wins first set and takes break lead in second)
From middle of second set to middle of third, Nadal has a 39-18 run, with most of the points on Delpo serve (wins second set and takes break lead in the third)
Serve & Return
Just solid serving from Nadal, nothing too damaging, nothing easy to exploit (including second serves). Delpo's is stronger and he gets 70% first serves in - 6% more than Nadal
Subsequently, Nadal returns better for return rates to be near equal (Nadal 83%, Delpo 84%). Good depth from Nadal on returns to curb as much as possible Delpo's prospective big third ball FH. Very good returning from Delpo too of consistency. He has 11 runaround FH returns - he steps imperceptibly into position for them. The size of his frame probably disguises his movement
Delpo more often draws weak return that he can take charge of
Play - Baseline
Play is almost all baseline stuff. Initially Nadal's able to breakdown Delpo's BH, but that doesn't last long. For most of match, Delpo's BH is steady enough (though not damaging) and Nadal doesn't unduly look to break it down. He's looking to attack with FHs
Nadal largely keeps central court position and is willing to step in to attack when possible. Its shot making tennis, within the context of typical solid rallying. Generally, Nadal directs action with his FH, while leaning on BH side of court - utilizing combinations of inside-out and inside-in to run his opponents around and finish points
Here, he keeps central position, rallies neutrally (i.e. not unduly moving Delpo about) with heavy shots and when those draw short ball or he's half-opened court, goes for killing FH. Note 9 dtl winners to just 5 inside-out. He's willing to runaround and go for the inside-out winner too, but selectively.
BH looks a lot stronger than years gone by. He's hammering cc shots harder than Delpo's neutral FH, strong enough to break down it down. Almost always goes cc with it, but powerfully and occasionally throwing in attackingly wide balls
Delpo's BH is holds up for most of match, but isn't damaging at any time. And he's fairly error prone neutrally rallying off FH. Which leaves him to go bananas with FHs - and delivers in spades. Shots from regulation positions are blasted through for winners, or the serve sets up a big one
Movement and defence are minor factors in play. Delpo has no answer for Nadal's attacks, while Nadal is able to retrieve and fend back wide shots reasonably well. Usually goes on to lose the point anyway. Nadal's footwork is excellent to get into position for shots, without the strain of constantly running around BHs. Delpo's at times is a big sluggish and have a minor part in his being pushed back and/or around mildly though the bigger contributor to that is Nadal's heavier rallying shots and placement
Match Progression
Two long games to start the match - Nadal holding an 8 point game and then breaking in a 12 point one. Games are filled with Delpo BH UEs, but Nadal closes the break with back to back FH winners - the first cc, the next dtl
Couple of poor shots from Nadal - a baseline OH into net and a completely misjudged FH gives Delpo chance to break back, which he snatches with a dazzling move-around FH inside-out return winner. Delpo than turns to blasting FHs and overwhelms Nadal as he breaks again to take the set and opens up a break lead in the second set
Nadal's first break point to restore parity is erased with a beautiful BH1/2V winner from a serve-volley point. He takes the next point with a deep return that Delpo can't handle. Nadal breaks again with 3 winners to take the set
There are 9 winners in the 14 point first game of the third set, with Delpo reeling of 3 third ball FH winners in a row (inside-out, inside-in and dtl) and he manages to hold. He's been made to run around a lot in the game though, and Nadal steps up to hold in about a minute to put him straight back in the kitchen. Nadal commandingly breaks this time to move ahead 2-1 and Delpo looks like he's lost stomach for the fight
Rest of match is easy holds. Delpo doesn't seem to be upto mounting a challenge and Nadal doesn't seem to be trying too much in return games. Delpo does old from 0-40 down to force Nadal to serve it out, which he does without incident
Summing up, a grand old good time for blasting FHs by both men. Behind it, Nadal's the more bossy and consistent baseliner and with better movement to come out comfortably ahead. Good match from Nadal with FH firing and BH strong and reliable. Not a bad one from Delpo either along similar lines, but trailing some in most areas
It was Nadal's first Masters title of the year and first hard court title in 2.5 years. Del Potro was seeded 7th and had beaten Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray among others en route to the final
Nadal won 95 points, del Potro 82
Serve Stats
Nadal...
- 1st serve percentage (49/78) 63%
- 1st serve points won (33/49) 67%
- 2nd serve points won (21/29) 72%
- Aces 4
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (12/78) 15%
del Potro...
- 1st serve percentage (69/99) 70%
- 1st serve points won (46/69) 67%
- 2nd serve points won (12/30) 40%
- Aces 5
- Double Faults 4
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (16/99) 16%
Serve Pattern
Nadal served...
- to FH 32%
- to BH 65%
- to Body 3%
del Potro served...
- to FH 13%
- to BH 85%
- to Body 2%
Return Stats
Nadal made...
- 79 (16 FH, 63 BH), including 8 runaround FHs
- 11 Errors, comprising...
- 4 Unforced (1 FH, 3 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 7 Forced (2 FH, 5 BH)
- Return Rate (79/95) 83%
del Potro made...
- 65 (31 FH, 34 BH), including 11 runaround FHs
- 2 Winners (1 FH, 1 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- 6 Forced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (65/77) 84%
Break Points
Nadal 4/18 (8 games)
del Potro 3/3
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Nadal 29 (22 FH, 3 BH, 2 FHV, 2 OH)
del Potro 23 (19 FH, 1 BH, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH)
Nadal's FHs - 6 cc, 9 dtl (1 pass), 5 inside-out (1 at net) and 2 inside-in (1 pass at net)
- BHs - 3 cc (1 pass)
- 1 FHV was a swinging shot from behind service line but has been counted a net point and 1 OH was on the bounce
del Potro's FHs - 3 cc (1 pass), 5 dtl, 7 inside-out (1 runaround return), 3 inside-in and 1 running-down-drop shot cc at net
- BH - 1 cc return
- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first 'volley' BH1/2V
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Nadal 42
- 24 Unforced (16 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)... the OH was a on the bounce baseline shot
- 18 Forced (9 FH, 7 BH, 1 BHV, 1 OH)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net and the OH was a flagrantly forced baseline attempt to fend back a smash
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45
del Potro 50
- 40 Unforced (20 FH, 17 BH, 2 FHV, 1 BHV)
- 10 Forced (7 FH, 2 BH, 1 Challenge)... with 1 BH running-down-drop-shot at net
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47
(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
Nadal was 10/16 (63%) at net
del Potro was...
- 13/21 (62%) at net, including...
- 2/2 serve-volleying, both 1st serves
---
- 0/1 forced back
Match Report
A FH shot making fest of a match, with both players partaking, spectacularly. Beyond that similarity, Nadal is steadier of the and far more consistent from neutral positions, including in being able to construct a point to end with a big FH. By contrast, del Potro blasts a few FH winners from regulation positions (also misses a fair few trying) or needs his serve to set up a point killing shot
The two combine for 41 FH winners in 29 games. All other shots, including the serve, total 20. Sans aces, 11. Statistically off the FH, things are more or less (Nadal has better of it - he has 3 more winners and 4 fewer UEs)
On other side though, things look completely out of whack. Nadal has just 6 BH UEs to Delpo's 17. That's deceptive in that Delpo's figure is heavily biased towards first few games of the match, when rallies continuously end with his BH coughing up error. He has 8 after 3 games, which means he has 9 for rest of match - which is very good and again in Nadal's ball park. Given Delpo ended up winning first set, that means he's not trailing too much in play for the match
He's trailing more than enough though. He faces break points in 8 games and can conjure them in just 3 and serves 99 points to Nadal's 78, despite serving 1 fewer game. In other words, Nadal holds serve easily for most part, Delpo's regularly under the gun
No difference in effectiveness of serve - both with low and virtually equal unreturned rates (Nadal 15%, Delpo 16%), with Delpo having an extra ace but also 3 extra double fautls
First serve points won are a dead wash - both winning 67%
Humongous difference in second serve points is biggest difference in play - Nadal wins 72%, Delpo 40%. Even that's not too big a deal since Delpo serves at very large 70%, but it speaks to the real key difference between two players. From neutral starting point, Nadal outplays Delpo constantly.
Its also an see-saw match. From middle of first set to early in second, Delpo goes on a 28-13 point winning run (wins first set and takes break lead in second)
From middle of second set to middle of third, Nadal has a 39-18 run, with most of the points on Delpo serve (wins second set and takes break lead in the third)
Serve & Return
Just solid serving from Nadal, nothing too damaging, nothing easy to exploit (including second serves). Delpo's is stronger and he gets 70% first serves in - 6% more than Nadal
Subsequently, Nadal returns better for return rates to be near equal (Nadal 83%, Delpo 84%). Good depth from Nadal on returns to curb as much as possible Delpo's prospective big third ball FH. Very good returning from Delpo too of consistency. He has 11 runaround FH returns - he steps imperceptibly into position for them. The size of his frame probably disguises his movement
Delpo more often draws weak return that he can take charge of
Play - Baseline
Play is almost all baseline stuff. Initially Nadal's able to breakdown Delpo's BH, but that doesn't last long. For most of match, Delpo's BH is steady enough (though not damaging) and Nadal doesn't unduly look to break it down. He's looking to attack with FHs
Nadal largely keeps central court position and is willing to step in to attack when possible. Its shot making tennis, within the context of typical solid rallying. Generally, Nadal directs action with his FH, while leaning on BH side of court - utilizing combinations of inside-out and inside-in to run his opponents around and finish points
Here, he keeps central position, rallies neutrally (i.e. not unduly moving Delpo about) with heavy shots and when those draw short ball or he's half-opened court, goes for killing FH. Note 9 dtl winners to just 5 inside-out. He's willing to runaround and go for the inside-out winner too, but selectively.
BH looks a lot stronger than years gone by. He's hammering cc shots harder than Delpo's neutral FH, strong enough to break down it down. Almost always goes cc with it, but powerfully and occasionally throwing in attackingly wide balls
Delpo's BH is holds up for most of match, but isn't damaging at any time. And he's fairly error prone neutrally rallying off FH. Which leaves him to go bananas with FHs - and delivers in spades. Shots from regulation positions are blasted through for winners, or the serve sets up a big one
Movement and defence are minor factors in play. Delpo has no answer for Nadal's attacks, while Nadal is able to retrieve and fend back wide shots reasonably well. Usually goes on to lose the point anyway. Nadal's footwork is excellent to get into position for shots, without the strain of constantly running around BHs. Delpo's at times is a big sluggish and have a minor part in his being pushed back and/or around mildly though the bigger contributor to that is Nadal's heavier rallying shots and placement
Match Progression
Two long games to start the match - Nadal holding an 8 point game and then breaking in a 12 point one. Games are filled with Delpo BH UEs, but Nadal closes the break with back to back FH winners - the first cc, the next dtl
Couple of poor shots from Nadal - a baseline OH into net and a completely misjudged FH gives Delpo chance to break back, which he snatches with a dazzling move-around FH inside-out return winner. Delpo than turns to blasting FHs and overwhelms Nadal as he breaks again to take the set and opens up a break lead in the second set
Nadal's first break point to restore parity is erased with a beautiful BH1/2V winner from a serve-volley point. He takes the next point with a deep return that Delpo can't handle. Nadal breaks again with 3 winners to take the set
There are 9 winners in the 14 point first game of the third set, with Delpo reeling of 3 third ball FH winners in a row (inside-out, inside-in and dtl) and he manages to hold. He's been made to run around a lot in the game though, and Nadal steps up to hold in about a minute to put him straight back in the kitchen. Nadal commandingly breaks this time to move ahead 2-1 and Delpo looks like he's lost stomach for the fight
Rest of match is easy holds. Delpo doesn't seem to be upto mounting a challenge and Nadal doesn't seem to be trying too much in return games. Delpo does old from 0-40 down to force Nadal to serve it out, which he does without incident
Summing up, a grand old good time for blasting FHs by both men. Behind it, Nadal's the more bossy and consistent baseliner and with better movement to come out comfortably ahead. Good match from Nadal with FH firing and BH strong and reliable. Not a bad one from Delpo either along similar lines, but trailing some in most areas
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