Rafa4LifeEver
G.O.A.T.
/Thread
Who is the greater volleyer - Alcaraz, Nadal or Djokovic?
- Thread starter Hitman
- Start date
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Alcaraz is a natural volleyer with incredible touch and net play is an integral part of his game unlike the other two - so, I think he is a better volleyer. He hits spectacularly difficult volleys often and makes them look easy.
For most of their careers, Nadal has been a better volleyer than Djokovic on the rare occasions that both come in to finish points. But, Djokovic has improved a lot in the last few years and his net game has become an increasingly important part of his game for finishing points especially in crucial situations. It seems like he is now up to making some difficult volleys and comes in quicker to the net than Nadal who still waits for an easy volley opportunity.
For most of their careers, Nadal has been a better volleyer than Djokovic on the rare occasions that both come in to finish points. But, Djokovic has improved a lot in the last few years and his net game has become an increasingly important part of his game for finishing points especially in crucial situations. It seems like he is now up to making some difficult volleys and comes in quicker to the net than Nadal who still waits for an easy volley opportunity.
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
I’d still give the Spaniards the slight edge over Djokovic here. However, Djokovic has improved a lot over time. The gap has narrowed over the years
I’d go Alcaraz > Nadal > Djokovic.
It’s close and probably depends also on surface too.
I’d go Alcaraz > Nadal > Djokovic.
It’s close and probably depends also on surface too.
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
I’d agree. I’d say it’s close but I’d go that order. Djoko has closed the gap but still put the 2 Spaniards slightly ahead.
jl809
Hall of Fame
Lol this BS has been outdated since what, 2018?
CBA to link in all the Wimbledon 22 highlights as well but yeah those too, Meddy at Acapulco / AO, etc, etc
Y'all are out there like Djoker is chip and charging or SABRing like 2015 Fed or something lol
Last edited:
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Nadal
jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, Nadal has started to come forward more later in his career. But there are two caveats:
- He's still not coming in as often as Fed did in his career
- He's starting to lose a lot more net points. Nadal fans used to point to his high rate of success at net as "proof" that he is a great volleyer. But now that he takes more risks, his net win % has dropped accordingly.
Angrybirdstar
Rookie
some archived match charting stats from 2022 IW to just before 2023 IW
for the purposes of this thread: Alcaraz net frequency (12.7%) > Djokovic (11.1%) > Nadal (10.5%). Djokovic net win % (74.0%) > Nadal (73.6%) > Alcaraz (72.8%). make whatever conclusions you wish
btw Tsitsipas consistently looks good in these stats
for the purposes of this thread: Alcaraz net frequency (12.7%) > Djokovic (11.1%) > Nadal (10.5%). Djokovic net win % (74.0%) > Nadal (73.6%) > Alcaraz (72.8%). make whatever conclusions you wish
btw Tsitsipas consistently looks good in these stats
btsjungkook
Professional
So Novak is best volleyer of the 3 confirmed? His net win % is extremely impressive despite not being as frequent as both of them. He has really become such a great volleyer.
GoldenSwing
Rookie
Nadal is a more natural volleyer than Djokovic but Djokovic’s training regime has narrowed the gap. I think Nadal has better hands at the net still but Djokovic has 3x the attempts at net than Nadal will ever do.
Because of Djokovic’s willingness to go in, I would rate him effectively as the better volleyer. Novak’s mid thirties career highlights are full of difficult and impressive volleys. I can’t remember Nadal’s last memorable volley actually. Djokovic’s use of them in strategy/tactical play are immeasurably better than Nadal’s
Alcaraz will be greater than the two significantly by the end of his career however
Because of Djokovic’s willingness to go in, I would rate him effectively as the better volleyer. Novak’s mid thirties career highlights are full of difficult and impressive volleys. I can’t remember Nadal’s last memorable volley actually. Djokovic’s use of them in strategy/tactical play are immeasurably better than Nadal’s
Alcaraz will be greater than the two significantly by the end of his career however
btsjungkook
Professional
Why is there no poll? You should make one so we can see the results.
If only his Bh and return are just as good.
Btw, these stats also support my view that Shapovalov’s first serve is an excellent approach tool if he can land his first serves in - his S&V stats are right up there with Alcy.
Fairest way to judge is through their doubles play, where both are forced to play at the net even in scenarios they don’t like to. Nadal is a way natural volleyer than Djokovic. Can’t believe one match against Medvedev would cause Djokovic fans to try to argue the other way round with their favourite stat descriptions.
Djokovic has improved significantly at the net and is now able to handle slow-mid paced passing shots much better with fantastic angles. But his volley reflexes are nowhere as good as Nadal nor Alcaraz, when faced with tougher passing shots.
Djokovic is a way better tactician, probably the best of all time. He knows when to do things, even if it is things he doesn’t feel the most comfortable in (e.g playing at the net).
Djokovic has improved significantly at the net and is now able to handle slow-mid paced passing shots much better with fantastic angles. But his volley reflexes are nowhere as good as Nadal nor Alcaraz, when faced with tougher passing shots.
Djokovic is a way better tactician, probably the best of all time. He knows when to do things, even if it is things he doesn’t feel the most comfortable in (e.g playing at the net).
Hitman
Bionic Poster
OK, I'll make a poll if anyone is interested.
Sputnik Bulgorov
Professional
Alcaraz himself won 77% of net points vs Medvedev in a losing effort where he got broken 3 times. That’s despite having a much worse serve than Djokovic. Now, I’m in agreement that Djokovic’s volleying has evolved from merely passable to fantastic, but Medvedev is an opponent that will give good volleyers ridiculous stats.
jl809
Hall of Fame
After Ned showed the way in 2019, even Loserpas was looking like Sampras Vs Medvedev with the S&V last year
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Well Nadal won 30/50 (60%) against him in the 2022 AO Final so that's not really true.
Sputnik Bulgorov
Professional
And Nadal won 52/66 (79%) in the 2019 USO final. I’m too lazy to look it up, but the only way to put this to bed is to compare how these guys do against Med vs the field or other top players. But I think we can both agree that S&V is an effective tactic vs Med with a high degree of success. If it wasn’t, players wouldn’t be doing it so much.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Yes but 60% is just average, not great against him. Plus he was a better player at 2022 AO than 2019 USO. Serve and volley is a great tactic against him, however. Djokovic also used it effectively in the 2021 Paris Masters final.
Sputnik Bulgorov
Professional
Many feel that 2022 AO was one of Nadal’s lowest slam levels. Here are some stats for you from 2023 though:
Djokovic vs Medvedev net points won
USO 23: 37/44 (84%)
Dubai 23: 17/27 (63%)
Adelaide 23: 14/17 (82%)
Overall: 77%
Djokovic vs Alcaraz net points won
Cincinnati 23: 22/33 (67%)
Wimb 23: 39/65 (60%)
RG 23: 25/45 (56%)
Overall: 61%
Djokovic 2023 average net points won: 70%
Again, Medvedev gives good volleyers better stats than average, and it’s clear from the data that Djokovic has better net stats against Medvedev than his average. This is not to say that Djokovic isn’t fantastic at the net. 70% success for the year is mindblowingly good. Let’s just not anchor ourselves on the USO final against a player especially vulnerable to net play.
Similar threads
- Poll
