It’s day five of Australian Open 2019 and already the match-ups are getting that big-time Grand Slam feel, with former world No.1s Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova facing off on Rod Laver Arena on Friday afternoon before Rafael Nadal takes on the lightning feet and reactions of Australian Alex de Minaur to kick off the night session.
So how are the four shaping up as they head into round three? Game Insight Group in partnership with Infosys have run the numbers from the opening two rounds.
Wozniacki v Sharapova
|
Wozniacki |
Stat |
Sharapova |
|
129kmh |
Average second serve speed |
144kmh |
|
65cm behind the baseline |
Second serve return location |
45cm inside the baseline |
|
107km/h |
Average forehand speed |
120km/h |
|
109km/h |
Average backhand speed |
118km/h |
|
3690kJ |
Total work |
2015kJ |
|
3.0km |
Total distance |
1.7km |
|
81 |
Number of high intensity changes of direction |
20 |
Points of interest
1. Sharapova hits her second serve return 1.2m further forward than Wozniacki, so she will be looking to attack the Dane’s second serve – which is 5kmh slower than the top-10 WTA player average.
2. The rallies will highlight the classic clash of styles of play. Sharapova will seek to dominate with her edge in power (13kmh faster on forehand and 9kmh faster on backhand), while Wozniacki will rely on her rally craft (rated highly in GIG’s Player DNA).
3. Wozniacki’s high intensity style of play has seen her do significantly more work (1675KJ or equal to the fuel/energy of five bananas), cover 1.3km more distance and perform three times as many high intensity changes of direction (81 v 20) as Sharapova in the event so far.
Nadal v De Minaur
|
Nadal |
Stat |
De Minaur |
|
3740KJ |
Total work |
11,570KJ |
|
2.5km |
Total distance |
7km |
|
122 |
Number of high intensity changes of direction |
413 |
|
13.1km/h |
Average movement speed |
12.1km/h |
|
94 |
Total number of sprints |
254 |
Points of interest
1. Nadal enters this contest considerably fresher, with two straight set wins, versus De Minaur backing up after a tough five-setter.
2. De Minaur has expended 7830KJ more energy than Nadal, the equivalent of 23 bananas of fuel!
3. De Minaur has also run 4.5km more than Nadal in the opening two matches, as well as completing 160 more sprints and 291 more high intensity changes of direction.
4. This is one of the biggest head-to-head physical differentials that GIG has recorded in a third round at the AO. Lucky De Minaur is fit and young!
