Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 7-6(2), 6-2 in the Rome final, 2009 on clay
It was Nadal's fourth title at the event. Djokovic had been defending champion. The two had played the final of Monte Carlo shortly before, with Nadal winning
Nadal won 75 points, Djokovic 61
Serve Stats
Nadal...
- 1st serve percentage (50/70) 71%
- 1st serve points won (34/50) 68%
- 2nd serve points won (11/20) 55%
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (10/70) 14%
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (39/66) 59%
- 1st serve points won (23/39) 59%
- 2nd serve points won (13/27) 48%
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (8/66) 12%
Serve Pattern
Nadal served...
- to FH 23%
- to BH 68%
- to Body 9%
Djokovic served...
- to FH 30%
- to BH 63%
- to Body 8%
Return Stats
Nadal made...
- 56 (28 FH, 28 BH), including 8 runaround FHs
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (2 FH, 1 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 5 Forced (1 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (56/64) 88%
Djokovic made...
- 59 (19 FH, 40 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (1 FH, 7 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (59/69) 86%
Break Points
Nadal 4/5 (5 games)
Djokovic 2/4 (3 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Nadal 19 (13 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
Djokovic 22 (10 FH, 8 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH)
Nadal's FHs - 1 cc pass, 4 dtl (3 passes), 2 inside-out, 1 inside-out/longline, 2 inside-in, 1 longline, 1 lob and 1 net chord dribbler
- BHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl pass and 1 longline at net
Djokovic's FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 at net), 5 inside-out (2 at net) and 2 inside-in (1 return)
- BHs - 5 cc (2 at net), 2 dtl and 1 dtl/inside-out
- the FHV was a swinging shot
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Nadal 30
- 19 Unforced (10 FH, 9 BH)
- 11 Forced (8 FH, 3 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.2
Djokovic 44
- 36 Unforced (16 FH, 19 BH, 1 BHV)... with 1 FH at net
- 8 Forced (6 FH, 2 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.2
(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 6/8 (75%) at net
Djokovic was 15/24 (63%) at net, including...
- 1/2 serve-volleying, comprising...
- 0/1 off 1st serve and...
- 1/1 off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 forced back
Match Report
Somewhat bland match with similar type of play from both players - hitting neutral balls from behind the baseline. Nadal's a bit better at it and Djokovic's resulting frustration at the situation so being leads to him occasionally hitting out rashly and unsuccessfully
That's it in a nutshell - mostly who-blinks-first neutral rallying (Nadal with advantage) + some Djoko failed attacking play
Djokovic gets very frustrated. He breaks racquet and is warned for it and is near doing so several other times. By end, he's expressing himself in a rattled way. Both his own mistakes and Nadal eking out points from defensive positions seem to cause him much angst. Djoko's attitude, though quite understandable, serves to bring home something quietly impressive about Nadal. In this match and more generally, you never seen Nadal lose his poise. Rallies are just as tough for him as they are for Djoko... and such is play between the two that there's the promise of more of the same to come. Nadal never seems daunted by the prospect. Djoko does
Serve & Return
Serve-Return complex isn't much of a factor. Note 0 service winners, let alone aces for match and low unreturned rates (Nadal 14%, Djoko 12%). Nadal's serve is very average and 8/10 return errors he draws have been marked unforced. He probably does have something in reserve because one of his best serves comes down break point, which forces an error (and leaves Djoko close to breaking his racquet after). Most of Nadal's serves are unforceful though
Some typical hard hit returning from Djoko, though not deep by his standard. He returns a few comfortably wide of Nadal too, which isn't normal for him. He's usually able to neutralize point with the return, if not snatch initiative, though its more accurate to say that Nadal serves neutrally rather than Djoko neutralizes. You could say there's scope there for Djoko to have snatched initiative and he's a step down by merely returning neutralizingly and consistently... that would be critiquing against an unreasonably high expectation. Noting though that trailing in play as he does, Djoko needed to do more with the return and he at least is capable of it - but doesn't
Djoko is stronger server, thought short of being strong by a general standard. Some good wide serves. He's forced 5 errors, as opposed to 3 UEs from Nadal. And some of his first serves give him good initiative off third ball
Typical, consistent returning from Nadal at 88%. He does leave Djoko in charge of points on third ball though - that Djoko can't do much with it is down to his attacking shots lacking vigour
Play - Baseline
Baseline play is a just a bit flat, both men playing from behind the baseline and hitting without attacking intent. Rallies are duel winged (no persistent attempt by either to break down a side), Nadal on quick feet constantly runsround to take FHs whenever he can and goes both ways off his strong side
Djokovic isn't heavy enough of shot to force action, thus turning contest into straight out consistency, who-blinks-first affair... and Nadal is just a bit more consistent. Djoko can't afford to play from behind baseline against Nadal - to win, he needs to be stepping up and directing play
Nadal does not hustle on defence. Lets a fair few balls go without chase. This is perhaps somewhat due to his usually being ahead in the match
Not much changes in second set. Djoko grows impatient or frustrated and occasionally lets loose with wild shots that invariably land out, or tries his beloved drop shot (which almost always lands in net). Nadal for that matter plays a number of bad drop shots that Djoko's able to dispatch at net without even hitting up
There are shadows of what the match up would turn into in a couple of years. Djoko's at his most successful with FH inside-out (5 winners - and note Nadal with match high 8 FH FEs). And finds that he has the ability to hurt Nadal with BH cc (5 winners). His BH would look very good in its solidity and variety - he changes direction regularly and with ease - only Nadal's shot are more so, and its often of the BH that Djoko plays his wilder shots. Match high 19 UEs off BH from Djoko (Nadal has that many total)... but it does not break down, and rallies have to go on awhile for it to yield the errors. Its under pressure to change directions since the Nadal FH is clearly the more consistent shot, but no question of it being able to push Djoko's BH into defence. The Nadal FH - Djoko BH rallies are a contest between shots on an equal plane, as opposed to Nadal's dictating and Djoko's reacting - which in light of how Nadal's matches tend to go, is a good sign for Djoko
Djoko again slipping in a 1/2volley winner, this time BH1/2V. Its odd how often he does against Nadal on clay
Nadal with 19 winners, 19 UEs. and this is one of his more tepid showings
Match Progression
Nadal breaks to open and nurses the break to 5-3 up. He has a break and set point in that game, but misses a BH before Djoko goes on to hold
Then follows 3 breaks in a row, Nadal failing to serve out the set twice. He's broken first in an error strewn game, ending when Nadal misses consecutive FH inside-out winner attempts (they are the only winner attempts he misses all match). He breaks back in a particularly poor game from Djoko, who misses 3 BHs and a BHV
Poor tiebreak from Djokovic. 2 dumb drop shot errors and a BH dtl miss cost him
Second set is about even... until it isn't. Nadal leads 3-2 on serve, having saved a break point and been taken to deuce twice. Djoko also has a deuce game
And then Nadal wins the next 3 to end the match. There's an astonishing BHV winner from Djoko in the first break game, where he's able to react to a step-in, lined up blast of a Nadal FH pass. BH though falls apart - 3 UEs from 40-30 up puts him down break point, and then he doubles
Summing up, not a very good match by the standards of the two. Its lacking contrast of styles - the two trade neutral shots, as opposed to Djoko taking the lead or Nadal bossing as tends to be how play develops in their matches. The dynamic would favour Nadal and so it proves. Some good fight shown by Djoko - in light of how out of it mentally he seems at times - but he's playing an up hill game all match
Stats for Djokovic's semi with Roger Federer - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...kovic-vs-federer-rome-semi-final-2009.672289/
Stats pair's Monte Carlo final shortly before - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...al-vs-djokovic-monte-carlo-final-2009.672223/
It was Nadal's fourth title at the event. Djokovic had been defending champion. The two had played the final of Monte Carlo shortly before, with Nadal winning
Nadal won 75 points, Djokovic 61
Serve Stats
Nadal...
- 1st serve percentage (50/70) 71%
- 1st serve points won (34/50) 68%
- 2nd serve points won (11/20) 55%
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (10/70) 14%
Djokovic...
- 1st serve percentage (39/66) 59%
- 1st serve points won (23/39) 59%
- 2nd serve points won (13/27) 48%
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (8/66) 12%
Serve Pattern
Nadal served...
- to FH 23%
- to BH 68%
- to Body 9%
Djokovic served...
- to FH 30%
- to BH 63%
- to Body 8%
Return Stats
Nadal made...
- 56 (28 FH, 28 BH), including 8 runaround FHs
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 3 Unforced (2 FH, 1 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 5 Forced (1 FH, 4 BH)
- Return Rate (56/64) 88%
Djokovic made...
- 59 (19 FH, 40 BH), including 1 runaround FH
- 1 Winner (1 FH)
- 10 Errors, comprising...
- 8 Unforced (1 FH, 7 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (59/69) 86%
Break Points
Nadal 4/5 (5 games)
Djokovic 2/4 (3 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Nadal 19 (13 FH, 4 BH, 1 FHV, 1 OH)
Djokovic 22 (10 FH, 8 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 BH1/2V, 1 OH)
Nadal's FHs - 1 cc pass, 4 dtl (3 passes), 2 inside-out, 1 inside-out/longline, 2 inside-in, 1 longline, 1 lob and 1 net chord dribbler
- BHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl pass and 1 longline at net
Djokovic's FHs - 1 cc, 2 dtl (1 at net), 5 inside-out (2 at net) and 2 inside-in (1 return)
- BHs - 5 cc (2 at net), 2 dtl and 1 dtl/inside-out
- the FHV was a swinging shot
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Nadal 30
- 19 Unforced (10 FH, 9 BH)
- 11 Forced (8 FH, 3 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.2
Djokovic 44
- 36 Unforced (16 FH, 19 BH, 1 BHV)... with 1 FH at net
- 8 Forced (6 FH, 2 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 47.2
(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 6/8 (75%) at net
Djokovic was 15/24 (63%) at net, including...
- 1/2 serve-volleying, comprising...
- 0/1 off 1st serve and...
- 1/1 off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 forced back
Match Report
Somewhat bland match with similar type of play from both players - hitting neutral balls from behind the baseline. Nadal's a bit better at it and Djokovic's resulting frustration at the situation so being leads to him occasionally hitting out rashly and unsuccessfully
That's it in a nutshell - mostly who-blinks-first neutral rallying (Nadal with advantage) + some Djoko failed attacking play
Djokovic gets very frustrated. He breaks racquet and is warned for it and is near doing so several other times. By end, he's expressing himself in a rattled way. Both his own mistakes and Nadal eking out points from defensive positions seem to cause him much angst. Djoko's attitude, though quite understandable, serves to bring home something quietly impressive about Nadal. In this match and more generally, you never seen Nadal lose his poise. Rallies are just as tough for him as they are for Djoko... and such is play between the two that there's the promise of more of the same to come. Nadal never seems daunted by the prospect. Djoko does
Serve & Return
Serve-Return complex isn't much of a factor. Note 0 service winners, let alone aces for match and low unreturned rates (Nadal 14%, Djoko 12%). Nadal's serve is very average and 8/10 return errors he draws have been marked unforced. He probably does have something in reserve because one of his best serves comes down break point, which forces an error (and leaves Djoko close to breaking his racquet after). Most of Nadal's serves are unforceful though
Some typical hard hit returning from Djoko, though not deep by his standard. He returns a few comfortably wide of Nadal too, which isn't normal for him. He's usually able to neutralize point with the return, if not snatch initiative, though its more accurate to say that Nadal serves neutrally rather than Djoko neutralizes. You could say there's scope there for Djoko to have snatched initiative and he's a step down by merely returning neutralizingly and consistently... that would be critiquing against an unreasonably high expectation. Noting though that trailing in play as he does, Djoko needed to do more with the return and he at least is capable of it - but doesn't
Djoko is stronger server, thought short of being strong by a general standard. Some good wide serves. He's forced 5 errors, as opposed to 3 UEs from Nadal. And some of his first serves give him good initiative off third ball
Typical, consistent returning from Nadal at 88%. He does leave Djoko in charge of points on third ball though - that Djoko can't do much with it is down to his attacking shots lacking vigour
Play - Baseline
Baseline play is a just a bit flat, both men playing from behind the baseline and hitting without attacking intent. Rallies are duel winged (no persistent attempt by either to break down a side), Nadal on quick feet constantly runsround to take FHs whenever he can and goes both ways off his strong side
Djokovic isn't heavy enough of shot to force action, thus turning contest into straight out consistency, who-blinks-first affair... and Nadal is just a bit more consistent. Djoko can't afford to play from behind baseline against Nadal - to win, he needs to be stepping up and directing play
Nadal does not hustle on defence. Lets a fair few balls go without chase. This is perhaps somewhat due to his usually being ahead in the match
Not much changes in second set. Djoko grows impatient or frustrated and occasionally lets loose with wild shots that invariably land out, or tries his beloved drop shot (which almost always lands in net). Nadal for that matter plays a number of bad drop shots that Djoko's able to dispatch at net without even hitting up
There are shadows of what the match up would turn into in a couple of years. Djoko's at his most successful with FH inside-out (5 winners - and note Nadal with match high 8 FH FEs). And finds that he has the ability to hurt Nadal with BH cc (5 winners). His BH would look very good in its solidity and variety - he changes direction regularly and with ease - only Nadal's shot are more so, and its often of the BH that Djoko plays his wilder shots. Match high 19 UEs off BH from Djoko (Nadal has that many total)... but it does not break down, and rallies have to go on awhile for it to yield the errors. Its under pressure to change directions since the Nadal FH is clearly the more consistent shot, but no question of it being able to push Djoko's BH into defence. The Nadal FH - Djoko BH rallies are a contest between shots on an equal plane, as opposed to Nadal's dictating and Djoko's reacting - which in light of how Nadal's matches tend to go, is a good sign for Djoko
Djoko again slipping in a 1/2volley winner, this time BH1/2V. Its odd how often he does against Nadal on clay
Nadal with 19 winners, 19 UEs. and this is one of his more tepid showings
Match Progression
Nadal breaks to open and nurses the break to 5-3 up. He has a break and set point in that game, but misses a BH before Djoko goes on to hold
Then follows 3 breaks in a row, Nadal failing to serve out the set twice. He's broken first in an error strewn game, ending when Nadal misses consecutive FH inside-out winner attempts (they are the only winner attempts he misses all match). He breaks back in a particularly poor game from Djoko, who misses 3 BHs and a BHV
Poor tiebreak from Djokovic. 2 dumb drop shot errors and a BH dtl miss cost him
Second set is about even... until it isn't. Nadal leads 3-2 on serve, having saved a break point and been taken to deuce twice. Djoko also has a deuce game
And then Nadal wins the next 3 to end the match. There's an astonishing BHV winner from Djoko in the first break game, where he's able to react to a step-in, lined up blast of a Nadal FH pass. BH though falls apart - 3 UEs from 40-30 up puts him down break point, and then he doubles
Summing up, not a very good match by the standards of the two. Its lacking contrast of styles - the two trade neutral shots, as opposed to Djoko taking the lead or Nadal bossing as tends to be how play develops in their matches. The dynamic would favour Nadal and so it proves. Some good fight shown by Djoko - in light of how out of it mentally he seems at times - but he's playing an up hill game all match
Stats for Djokovic's semi with Roger Federer - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...kovic-vs-federer-rome-semi-final-2009.672289/
Stats pair's Monte Carlo final shortly before - https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...al-vs-djokovic-monte-carlo-final-2009.672223/
