Andy Roddick beat David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-3 in the Canadian Open final, 2003 on hard court in Montreal
This was Roddick’s first masters title and he would go onto win Cincinnati and the US Open shortly afterwards. The two would clash in the US Open semi-final, with Roddick saving match point en route to victory
Roddick won 56 points, Nalbandian 33
Serve Stats
Roddick...
- 1st serve percentage (26/42) 62%
- 1st serve points won (21/26) 81%
- 2nd serve points won (10/16) 63%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (15/42) 36%
Nalbandian...
- 1st serve percentage (25/47) 53%
- 1st serve points won (15/25) 60%
- 2nd serve points won (7/22) 32%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (9/47) 19%
Serve Pattern
Roddick served...
- to FH 39%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 2%
Nalbandian served...
- to FH 37%
- to BH 63%
Return Stats
Roddick made...
- 37 (21 FH, 16 BH), including 8 runaround FHs
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (37/46) 80%
Nalbandian made...
- 26 (11 FH, 15 BH)
- 9 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH)
- 7 Forced (2 FH, 5 BH)
- Return Rate (26/41) 63%
Break Points
Roddick 5/8 (5 games)
Nalbandian 1/2 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Roddick 7 (4 FH, 1 BH, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Nalbandian 6 (4 FH, 1 BH, 1 OH)
Roddick's FHs - 2 cc (1 pass at net), 1 cc/down-the-middle at net, 1 inside-out
- BH pass - 1 cc
Nalbandian's FHs - 2 dtl, 2 inside-out
- BH - 1 dtl
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Roddick 17
- 11 Unforced (9 FH, 2 BH)
- 6 Forced (4 FH, 2 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.4
Nalbandian 33
- 26 Unforced (13 FH, 13 BH)
- 7 Forced (1 FH, 4 BH, 2 FH1/2V)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.2
(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 a measure of how aggressive of intent the average UE made was. 60 is maximum, 20 is minimum. This match has been scored using a four point scale - 2 defensive, 4 neutral, 5 attacking, 6 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Roddick was 7/7 (100%)
Nalbandian was...
- 3/7 (43%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Match Report
Roddick serves well, particularly second serves and outdoes Nalbandian in a game of who-blinks-first from the baseline to gain an easy win. Court is slow
There is a very tight contest going on… between Dave’s FH and BH to see which can give up the most unforced errors. Count stays neck and neck throughout and beautifully, ends dead equal, 13 apiece. Roddic has 11 UEs total
26 UEs from Dave, split down the middle across wins. Putting that in perspective -
- both players combined have 24 unreturned serves
- both players combined have 13 winners
- both players combined have 13 FEs
- Roddick has 11 UEs
- Dave wins 33 points total (15 aggressively, including with serves)
What makes it worse is disproportionately high number are into the net. Nor are they product of aggression. It’s a baseline match, both players stay a pace or 2 behind baseline. Negligible taking ball early from Dave, as he’s known for. Only time Roddick rips ball is after drawing a very weak return that he can take from around the service line
Just a whole lot of normal-passive rallies, dual winged, cc based with odd line change-up until someone blinks. Usually Dave. Few long rallies, not a ton of short ones, but match lasts about an hour in all
Winners - Roddick 7, Dave 6
Errors Forced - Roddick 7, Dave 6
UEs - Roddick 11, Dave 26
Roddick’s winners are mostly putaway balls. Exception is a fantastic running BH cc pass. Dave does nail a few good winners - his 5 groundies comprise 3 dtl and 2 FH inside-outs, the dtl’s being not obvious shot choices
3/5 Nalb ground FEs are passes. Couple good passes force 1/2volley errors at net
4/6 Roddick FEs are FHs, drawn by wider FH cc. These are makeable running shots, Roddick not particularly good on it
Roddick’s BH starring with match low 2 UEs. Its more a case that that Dave misses first, so Roddick can’t then Roddick being a wall so Dave has to miss
UE breakdown -
- Neutral - Roddick 6, Dave 18
- Attacking - Roddick 3, Dave 5
- Winner Attempts - Roddick 2, Dave 3
Those numbers are suggesting Dave would be better of aggressively going for his winners. 5 ground-to-ground winners for 3 errors trying isn’t good… but its better than being outdone 3:1 exchanging neutral groundies. His winners are dtl shots that he adventurously chooses to take on. He’s unable to outmanuver or overpower Roddick to set up good looks for winners. But to repeat, he’s not taking ball early or changing directions attackingly (in other words, not trying to open up attacking chances). He’s certainly not hitting with great power. His showing is closer to that of a pusher than a renowned, creative, court-opening, taking-ball early player. Think Ferrer
Only standout positive is Roddick’s serve. It’s a slow court. He doesn’t bang down big serves all the time, but when he does, it’s a handful. Has 6 aces (Dave has 1), and other serves that are feebly as possible lifted back to court to leave a putaway shot from net or close to it
Roddick serving big isn’t unusual, but also, excellent second serves. Kicked up high, or/and wide, a nice one to the body thrown in. Number of his second serves draw errors marked FE
36% unreturned - good job on this court. Dave musters 19%, with 6/8 return errors he draws marked UEs. Harmless serving from him
Roddick perfect 7/7 at net. Not important. Putsaway groundies and comes in couple times. Waiting out errors from Dave is enough to win. Throw fat lot of freebies and big lead there, enough to thrash
Match Progression
Rod starts the match coming in behind dtl shot to putaway BHV winner. That aside, content of first set is mini-model of the match. Bunch of blinky UEe lead to 30-40 and Rod holds with unreturned serves (including a strong second serve)
Dave with a FH dtl winner and smash in his opening service game, also a winning wide FH cc. Made up for by blinky UEs - a FH, a BH, a FH, a BH. He serve-volleys down break point and can’t handle a FH1/2V
FH takes the lead in Dave’s game next time he’s broken. FH UE, BH UE early on, another winning wide FH cc and to wrap up, 2 FH UEs
Two trade breaks to start second set. Dave broken the usual way to start but he hits back with a FH dtl approach and wide, deep FH cc to get to break point. On which, Roddick gets too cute, trying to drop shot a third ball from service line and misses
No matter. 3 regulation FH misses in a row - 2 of them third balls - makes it 3 break in a row, with Roddick back in the lead
In due time, match ends with another break. 2 neutral FH UEs set Dave back 15-40. At least he’s trying to hit a winner with a BH inside-out after having moved Roddick to opposite side on match point, when he of course, nets the shot
Summing up, very poor showing from Nalbandian, who can’t keep the ball in play for long off either wing, without the hindrance of taking it early, hitting it hard or wide to make it harder to land such shots. Most errors are into the net too
Roddick also scores with some good serving, with the variety and effectiveness of the second serve standing out, along with expected lot of big firsts
Stats for Roddick’s semi-final with Roger Federer - Duel Match Stats/Reports - Federer vs Roddick, Canadian Open final & semi-final, 2004 & 2003 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
This was Roddick’s first masters title and he would go onto win Cincinnati and the US Open shortly afterwards. The two would clash in the US Open semi-final, with Roddick saving match point en route to victory
Roddick won 56 points, Nalbandian 33
Serve Stats
Roddick...
- 1st serve percentage (26/42) 62%
- 1st serve points won (21/26) 81%
- 2nd serve points won (10/16) 63%
- Aces 6
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (15/42) 36%
Nalbandian...
- 1st serve percentage (25/47) 53%
- 1st serve points won (15/25) 60%
- 2nd serve points won (7/22) 32%
- Aces 1
- Double Faults 1
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (9/47) 19%
Serve Pattern
Roddick served...
- to FH 39%
- to BH 59%
- to Body 2%
Nalbandian served...
- to FH 37%
- to BH 63%
Return Stats
Roddick made...
- 37 (21 FH, 16 BH), including 8 runaround FHs
- 8 Errors, comprising...
- 6 Unforced (2 FH, 4 BH)
- 2 Forced (1 FH, 1 BH)
- Return Rate (37/46) 80%
Nalbandian made...
- 26 (11 FH, 15 BH)
- 9 Errors, comprising...
- 2 Unforced (2 BH)
- 7 Forced (2 FH, 5 BH)
- Return Rate (26/41) 63%
Break Points
Roddick 5/8 (5 games)
Nalbandian 1/2 (2 games)
Winners (including returns, excluding aces)
Roddick 7 (4 FH, 1 BH, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Nalbandian 6 (4 FH, 1 BH, 1 OH)
Roddick's FHs - 2 cc (1 pass at net), 1 cc/down-the-middle at net, 1 inside-out
- BH pass - 1 cc
Nalbandian's FHs - 2 dtl, 2 inside-out
- BH - 1 dtl
Errors (excluding returns and serves)
Roddick 17
- 11 Unforced (9 FH, 2 BH)
- 6 Forced (4 FH, 2 BH)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 46.4
Nalbandian 33
- 26 Unforced (13 FH, 13 BH)
- 7 Forced (1 FH, 4 BH, 2 FH1/2V)
Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 44.2
(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 a measure of how aggressive of intent the average UE made was. 60 is maximum, 20 is minimum. This match has been scored using a four point scale - 2 defensive, 4 neutral, 5 attacking, 6 winner attempt)
Net Points & Serve-Volley
Roddick was 7/7 (100%)
Nalbandian was...
- 3/7 (43%) at net, including...
- 0/1 serve-volleying, a 1st serve
Match Report
Roddick serves well, particularly second serves and outdoes Nalbandian in a game of who-blinks-first from the baseline to gain an easy win. Court is slow
There is a very tight contest going on… between Dave’s FH and BH to see which can give up the most unforced errors. Count stays neck and neck throughout and beautifully, ends dead equal, 13 apiece. Roddic has 11 UEs total
26 UEs from Dave, split down the middle across wins. Putting that in perspective -
- both players combined have 24 unreturned serves
- both players combined have 13 winners
- both players combined have 13 FEs
- Roddick has 11 UEs
- Dave wins 33 points total (15 aggressively, including with serves)
What makes it worse is disproportionately high number are into the net. Nor are they product of aggression. It’s a baseline match, both players stay a pace or 2 behind baseline. Negligible taking ball early from Dave, as he’s known for. Only time Roddick rips ball is after drawing a very weak return that he can take from around the service line
Just a whole lot of normal-passive rallies, dual winged, cc based with odd line change-up until someone blinks. Usually Dave. Few long rallies, not a ton of short ones, but match lasts about an hour in all
Winners - Roddick 7, Dave 6
Errors Forced - Roddick 7, Dave 6
UEs - Roddick 11, Dave 26
Roddick’s winners are mostly putaway balls. Exception is a fantastic running BH cc pass. Dave does nail a few good winners - his 5 groundies comprise 3 dtl and 2 FH inside-outs, the dtl’s being not obvious shot choices
3/5 Nalb ground FEs are passes. Couple good passes force 1/2volley errors at net
4/6 Roddick FEs are FHs, drawn by wider FH cc. These are makeable running shots, Roddick not particularly good on it
Roddick’s BH starring with match low 2 UEs. Its more a case that that Dave misses first, so Roddick can’t then Roddick being a wall so Dave has to miss
UE breakdown -
- Neutral - Roddick 6, Dave 18
- Attacking - Roddick 3, Dave 5
- Winner Attempts - Roddick 2, Dave 3
Those numbers are suggesting Dave would be better of aggressively going for his winners. 5 ground-to-ground winners for 3 errors trying isn’t good… but its better than being outdone 3:1 exchanging neutral groundies. His winners are dtl shots that he adventurously chooses to take on. He’s unable to outmanuver or overpower Roddick to set up good looks for winners. But to repeat, he’s not taking ball early or changing directions attackingly (in other words, not trying to open up attacking chances). He’s certainly not hitting with great power. His showing is closer to that of a pusher than a renowned, creative, court-opening, taking-ball early player. Think Ferrer
Only standout positive is Roddick’s serve. It’s a slow court. He doesn’t bang down big serves all the time, but when he does, it’s a handful. Has 6 aces (Dave has 1), and other serves that are feebly as possible lifted back to court to leave a putaway shot from net or close to it
Roddick serving big isn’t unusual, but also, excellent second serves. Kicked up high, or/and wide, a nice one to the body thrown in. Number of his second serves draw errors marked FE
36% unreturned - good job on this court. Dave musters 19%, with 6/8 return errors he draws marked UEs. Harmless serving from him
Roddick perfect 7/7 at net. Not important. Putsaway groundies and comes in couple times. Waiting out errors from Dave is enough to win. Throw fat lot of freebies and big lead there, enough to thrash
Match Progression
Rod starts the match coming in behind dtl shot to putaway BHV winner. That aside, content of first set is mini-model of the match. Bunch of blinky UEe lead to 30-40 and Rod holds with unreturned serves (including a strong second serve)
Dave with a FH dtl winner and smash in his opening service game, also a winning wide FH cc. Made up for by blinky UEs - a FH, a BH, a FH, a BH. He serve-volleys down break point and can’t handle a FH1/2V
FH takes the lead in Dave’s game next time he’s broken. FH UE, BH UE early on, another winning wide FH cc and to wrap up, 2 FH UEs
Two trade breaks to start second set. Dave broken the usual way to start but he hits back with a FH dtl approach and wide, deep FH cc to get to break point. On which, Roddick gets too cute, trying to drop shot a third ball from service line and misses
No matter. 3 regulation FH misses in a row - 2 of them third balls - makes it 3 break in a row, with Roddick back in the lead
In due time, match ends with another break. 2 neutral FH UEs set Dave back 15-40. At least he’s trying to hit a winner with a BH inside-out after having moved Roddick to opposite side on match point, when he of course, nets the shot
Summing up, very poor showing from Nalbandian, who can’t keep the ball in play for long off either wing, without the hindrance of taking it early, hitting it hard or wide to make it harder to land such shots. Most errors are into the net too
Roddick also scores with some good serving, with the variety and effectiveness of the second serve standing out, along with expected lot of big firsts
Stats for Roddick’s semi-final with Roger Federer - Duel Match Stats/Reports - Federer vs Roddick, Canadian Open final & semi-final, 2004 & 2003 | Talk Tennis (tennis-warehouse.com)
