G’day From Paris. 🇫🇷🎾
Novak Djokovic has not dropped a set on his way to the 2023 Roland Garros quarter-finals. Twelve sets played. Twelve sets won, even though four have been extended to tie-breaks.
Next up for Djokovic is big-serving Karen Khachanov, who also has the power and strength to match him off the ground. Let’s look at the aggregate data of Novak’s first four matches to see how he is traveling in the tournament so far.
SERVING
2023 Roland Garros: Novak Djokovic To The Quarter Finals
Djokovic’s serve data is not setting the world on fire, but in the same breath, nothing is of significant concern either.
Twenty aces is right around the middle of the pack of the remaining players. Karen Khachanov leads the entire tournament with just 38. 13 double faults in 12 sets are also acceptable.
Djokovic’s career average 1st serves in are 65%, and first serves won is 74%. Djokovic is right at this average through his first four matches on the red dirt in Paris.
It’s second serve points won that leaves some room for improvement.
Of the 12 players left, he is ranked just 10th in this category and 36th best for the tournament. The leader is Carlos Alcaraz at 62%, followed closely by Casper Ruud (61%). This is one of the few rare spots on his stats sheet where he is not performing up to his lofty standards. Remember that the tournament average for 2nd serve points won is 49%, so he is ahead of that.
RETURNING
Djokovic’s numbers are all we expect them to be. Of the remaining players, he is 2nd with Returns Won vs. 1st Serve & sixth-best against second serves. He is second to Grigor Dimitrov (56%) in the all-important Break Points Won category.
RALLYING
These are right where you expect them to be. More dominant in the 0-4 rally length with 12 sets played and won.
Here’s the breakdown with forehands and backhands.
FOREHANDS
- Winners = 56
- Errors = 111
- Difference = -55
BACKHANDS
- Winners = 29
- Errors = 90
- Difference = -62
Djokovic has hit almost twice the amount of winners off the forehand side, and his forehand is overall performing better than the backhand when you count winners – errors.
Djokovic is winning right at the tournament average for net points won, which is just fine for his attacking game style. He must be very encouraged to see how high his baseline points won are after four matches, which included four tie-breaks. He must win the baseline exchanges to retake the title this year.
SUMMARY
Baseline points won is probably his most robust statistic to the quarters. He also performed well in the 0-4 shot rally length and return points won against second serves. Also, breakpoints won are a healthy stat.
The only minor concern is second serve points won. He is above the tournament average but typically wins 55-60% of these points and is only at 52%. If that drops under 50%, it represents a crack in his armor opponents can go after.
All the best from Paris,
Craig