The final day of Australian Open 2019 will see two all-time greats going head-to-head for the men's singles title.
On Saturday evening, six-time champion and world No.1 Novak Djokovic takes on 2009 winner and 17-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal with history on the line once again.
Game Insight Group in partnership with Infosys have run the numbers from their opening six matches.
Djokovic v Nadal
HISTORICAL
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Nadal
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Career stats
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Djokovic
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61:12 (84%)
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AO record (wins:losses)
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67:8 (89%)
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119:23 (84%)
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Grand Slam hardcourt record
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136:18 (88%)
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25
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Head-to-head
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27
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7
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Head-to-head on hardcourt
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18
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2
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Head-to-head on hardcourt at Grand Slam level
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2
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- It’s been 64 months and seven straight defeats since Nadal beat Djokovic on a hard court.
- Nadal has also won 11 Slams since his one and only victory in Melbourne. Can he break the 10-year drought in Melbourne?
ROAD TO THE FINAL IN 2019
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Nadal
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Road to the final (AO19)
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Djokovic
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83%
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Third shot forehand percentage
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61%
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70%
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Percentage of points 0-4 shots
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63%
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3.73 Shots
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Average rally length
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4.69 Shots
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12hrs 11mins
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Time on court
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11hrs 59mins
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13,715 KJ
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Total work
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16,833 KJ
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- Nadal has been very aggressive throughout AO19. His much publicised serve is faster (see below compared to 2012) and hitting more spots.
- On his favourite wide first serve to the ad court, he’s hit to within 50cm of the sideline 27% of the time versus only 15% in 2018.
- On the deuce court, his wide serve is also more precise (hugging the line 16% of the time vs 12% in 2018).
- The combination of improved serve speed and accuracy has helped him find his forehand 83% of the time with his next shot after the serve, substantially higher than in previous years (up 9% on 2012).
- Djokovic’s points have lasted one shot longer on average (4.69 shots v 3.73 shots) than Nadal's on the way to the final. The length of Nadal’s points at AO 2019 have been in line with Federer’s at AO 2017.
- Both players’ road to the final has been relatively straightforward, with only 12 minutes of court time separating the pair. However, Djokovic has had to work harder, expending 3,118 KJ more energy throughout the event. Cumulative fatigue won’t be a factor though.
2012 v 2019
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Nadal
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AO12 final vs AO19
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Djokovic
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2012
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2019
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Year
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2012
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2019
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138kmh
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156kmh
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Ave 2nd serve speed
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153kmh
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164kmh
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130cm behind baseline
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130cm behind baseline
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Rally Impact Position
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60cm behind baseline
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120cm behind baseline
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74%
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83%
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Third shot forehand %
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63%
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61%
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- A comparison of second serve speeds from their 2012 final to the 2019 event shows that a lot may have changed! Nadal’s second delivery is up by 18kmh, and Djokovic has also added more spice tohis serve (11 kmh faster than in 2012). Will this pattern continue or will the pressure of the final see the players revert to type?
- Nadal’s court position in AO19 is the same as it was during the 2012 classic. Djokovic, on the other hand, has given up ground, playing on average 60cm further back in the court. Will he step it up again on Sunday night?