Game plan
David Nalbandian v Novak Djokovic
Every number combines what David Nalbandian does well with what Novak Djokovic allows, each measured against the tour average and shrunk toward it when the sample is thin. Flip perspective
Forecast
Each player's serve and return strength is fitted against every opponent they were charted against, so a record built on weak opponents counts for less. At least one of them is no longer active or has too little charted in the last three seasons, so both are compared on their careers. The result is then nudged by David Nalbandian's record against Novak Djokovic's tactical lookalikes and in their charted head-to-heads (lookalikes: +5.7 on serve, +3.8 on return vs expectation (598 points); head-to-head: +16.2 on serve, +3.4 on return vs expectation (149 points)). A game-by-game Markov chain turns point odds into match odds; the 90% range covers the uncertainty in the two strengths, not the nudges. Charted matches lean toward big events, so treat this as a scouting estimate, not a betting line.
Head to head, per 100 shots
| Career | David | Novak |
|---|---|---|
| Direction choice | +0.26 ±0.05 better than 97% | +0.04 ±0.02 better than 70% |
| Shot selection | −0.29 ±0.09 better than 24% | +0.04 ±0.03 better than 58% |
| Execution | +0.33 ±0.30 better than 79% | +1.17 ±0.10 better than 97% |
| Points left on the table | 2.02 ±0.09 lower than 99% | 2.24 ±0.03 lower than 89% |
Each player's career against an average tour player in the same position, adjusted for opponent strength, with a 90% margin (shots clustered by match). Points left on the table is the gap to the best-value direction for the same stroke, so lower is better. Percentiles are within each player's own tour. A side is highlighted only when the gap is larger than the margin on the difference.
Serve plan
The share of points the server wins when a first serve lands in that direction (hover a rate for its 90% interval; ± is the 90% margin). "Matchup" combines the server's rate with how this returner handles that serve. "Optimal" is the mix that wins most against this returner once they start reading a habit, at the response measured across the tour, and only within the range servers' habits actually vary. The gain over the current mix is how exploitable that mix is.
David Nalbandian serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | David wins | v Novak | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 40% | 69% | 69% | 64.1%±3.5 | 53% ▲ |
| Body | 13% | 63% | 58% | 57.5%±5.7 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 48% | 71% | 71% | 66.5%±3.5 | 47% |
Optimal v Novak Djokovic: +0.7±0.6 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix. Serving T every time would read +2.1 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | David wins | v Novak | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 54% | 64% | 69% | 59.9%±3.1 | 46% ▼ |
| Body | 5% | 63% | 57% | 56.7%±8.8 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 41% | 70% | 69% | 67.0%±3.6 | 54% ▲ |
Optimal v Novak Djokovic: +0.4±0.4 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving T every time would read +4.3 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Novak Djokovic serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Novak wins | v David | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 46% | 74% | 73% | 73.8%±2.8 | 59% ▲ |
| Body | 9% | 67% | 76% | 79.1%±5.8 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 45% | 76% | 75% | 76.2%±2.9 | 41% ▼ |
Optimal v David Nalbandian: +0.2±0.5 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving body every time would read +3.7 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Novak wins | v David | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 51% | 74% | 71% | 72.5%±3.0 | 47% ▼ |
| Body | 9% | 63% | 60% | 60.2%±8.0 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 40% | 73% | 74% | 75.0%±3.2 | 53% ▲ |
Optimal v David Nalbandian: +0.6±0.5 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix. Serving T every time would read +2.6 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Return plan
Value of each return, in points per 100 returns against an average return of the same serve (direction, court, surface): the tour's result with that return, the returner's own edge with it, and what this server gives up when it comes back to that side. Returns with no charted direction are left out, so values compare with each other rather than with zero. Depth isn't a choice here: missed returns have no depth. Serve quality isn't charted, so a block through the middle partly reflects the serve that forced it.
David Nalbandian returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Novak | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 38% | +4.3 | −0.4 | −0.4 | +3.5±1.5 |
| FH crosscourt | 30% | +5.5 | −3.1 | +0.6 | +3.0±2.5 |
| FH slice through the middle | 11% | −4.2 | −0.6 | +1.0 | −3.8±1.7 |
| FH down the line | 10% | +1.7 | −3.4 | −0.2 | −1.9±3.2 |
| FH slice down the line | 6% | −4.3 | +0.2 | −0.1 | −4.2±2.6 |
Lean FH through the middle: +2.2±1.3 per 100 returns v the current mix (933 returns charted)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Novak | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH crosscourt | 32% | +8.8 | +1.0 | +0.7 | +10.5±1.9 |
| BH through the middle | 26% | +6.4 | +0.9 | +0.5 | +7.7±1.6 |
| BH slice through the middle | 18% | −4.2 | −0.6 | +0.5 | −4.3±1.6 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 14% | +0.5 | +0.8 | +1.0 | +2.3±2.1 |
| BH down the line | 6% | +4.2 | +1.8 | +0.3 | +6.3±3.5 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +5.6±1.4 per 100 returns v the current mix (915 returns charted)
2nd serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Novak | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH crosscourt | 40% | −0.2 | +0.5 | −1.6 | −1.4±3.0 |
| FH through the middle | 35% | −3.5 | −1.9 | +0.3 | −5.1±2.0 |
| FH down the line | 16% | −1.8 | −0.4 | −2.6 | −4.7±3.5 |
| FH slice through the middle | 3% | −12.7 | −0.1 | −0.8 | −13.5±2.1 |
| FH slice down the line | 2% | −9.4 | +0.9 | +0.9 | −7.6±2.8 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +2.3±2.0 per 100 returns v the current mix (324 returns charted)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Novak | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH crosscourt | 60% | +1.0 | +0.7 | +0.9 | +2.6±1.5 |
| BH through the middle | 22% | −2.9 | +0.1 | +0.6 | −2.2±1.6 |
| BH down the line | 12% | −0.2 | +1.7 | ±0.0 | +1.5±3.7 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 3% | −4.0 | −2.3 | +0.7 | −5.7±2.0 |
| FH through the middle | 2% | −2.9 | −0.4 | +0.3 | −3.0±1.4 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +1.7±0.8 per 100 returns v the current mix (792 returns charted)
Novak Djokovic returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v David | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 49% | +4.3 | +0.5 | +0.8 | +5.6±1.4 |
| FH down the line | 20% | +1.7 | +1.9 | +2.9 | +6.5±2.5 |
| FH crosscourt | 18% | +5.5 | +0.3 | −0.5 | +5.3±2.7 |
| FH slice through the middle | 8% | −4.2 | +1.5 | +1.3 | −1.4±1.8 |
| FH slice down the line | 2% | −4.3 | +1.4 | +1.8 | −1.1±2.7 |
| BH inside-in | 0% | +7.7 | +2.5 | +2.6 | +12.8±3.0 |
Lean BH inside-in: +7.9±3.2 per 100 returns v the current mix (11120 returns charted)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v David | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 38% | +6.4 | +0.5 | +1.6 | +8.5±1.3 |
| BH crosscourt | 24% | +8.8 | +1.4 | +2.6 | +12.8±1.8 |
| BH slice through the middle | 15% | −4.2 | −0.2 | +1.7 | −2.7±1.5 |
| BH down the line | 11% | +4.2 | +2.2 | +5.8 | +12.2±3.2 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 8% | +0.5 | −1.0 | +2.3 | +1.8±2.1 |
| FH inside-out | 0% | +8.6 | +1.3 | +2.9 | +12.8±3.1 |
Lean FH inside-out: +5.8±3.2 per 100 returns v the current mix (9500 returns charted)
2nd serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v David | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 54% | −3.5 | +1.3 | +1.1 | −1.1±1.9 |
| FH down the line | 28% | −1.8 | +1.5 | −1.4 | −1.6±3.4 |
| FH crosscourt | 16% | −0.2 | +1.5 | +3.3 | +4.6±3.6 |
| BH through the middle | 1% | +0.1 | −1.2 | +0.7 | −0.4±1.7 |
| BH inside-out | 1% | +0.9 | −0.4 | +0.3 | +0.8±3.8 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +5.0±3.3 per 100 returns v the current mix (2581 returns charted)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v David | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH crosscourt | 43% | +1.0 | +1.4 | −1.7 | +0.7±1.7 |
| BH through the middle | 43% | −2.9 | +0.7 | +0.7 | −1.5±1.2 |
| BH down the line | 10% | −0.2 | +2.0 | +0.3 | +2.0±3.5 |
| FH through the middle | 2% | −2.9 | −0.9 | +1.1 | −2.7±2.2 |
| FH inside-out | 1% | +1.0 | +0.1 | −1.4 | −0.3±3.5 |
| FH inside-in | 0% | +0.6 | +1.5 | +3.3 | +5.3±4.3 |
Lean FH inside-in: +5.7±4.4 per 100 returns v the current mix (6220 returns charted)
Rally plan
Edge, in points per 100 shots: the hitter's skill with the shot (own) plus how much the receiver usually gives up against it (theirs), both measured against the tour average on grass. Each player's grass record is shrunk toward their all-surface one, so a thin sample on it moves the numbers only a little.
David Nalbandian
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to the middle · serve +1 | +4.5±2.8 | +3.2 | +1.4 |
| BH to their forehand · serve +1 | +3.7±4.6 | +2.2 | +1.5 |
| BH to the middle · return | +3.6±2.5 | +2.1 | +1.6 |
| BH volley to their backhand · rally | +3.3±5.9 | +2.9 | +0.4 |
| BH slice to their backhand · return | +3.1±2.4 | +0.5 | +2.6 |
| BH to the middle · return +1 | +2.9±2.1 | +1.7 | +1.2 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to their backhand · return | −3.4±3.0 | −3.2 | −0.1 |
| FH volley to their forehand · rally | −3.3±5.9 | +1.0 | −4.3 |
| FH to their forehand · return | −2.5±4.5 | −0.6 | −1.9 |
| FH to their backhand · rally | −2.5±3.3 | −2.4 | −0.1 |
| BH slice to their forehand · rally | −1.7±2.9 | −1.6 | −0.1 |
Novak Djokovic
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to their forehand · return +1 | +6.9±4.3 | +4.3 | +2.6 |
| FH to the middle · return | +5.4±2.7 | +1.6 | +3.8 |
| BH to their backhand · return | +5.0±3.5 | +2.5 | +2.5 |
| BH to their forehand · return | +4.7±4.6 | +1.3 | +3.3 |
| BH slice to their backhand · return | +3.9±2.7 | +1.5 | +2.4 |
| FH volley to their backhand · rally | +3.9±6.0 | +4.0 | −0.1 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH slice to their backhand · serve +1 | −6.3±3.3 | −4.6 | −1.7 |
| FH to their backhand · serve +1 | −3.9±3.7 | −0.7 | −3.2 |
| BH to their forehand · return +1 | −3.1±3.9 | +0.7 | −3.8 |
| BH slice to the middle · rally | −3.1±2.5 | −1.1 | −2.0 |
| BH to their forehand · serve +1 | −1.7±3.5 | +0.3 | −2.0 |
Against Novak Djokovic-like opponents
| David Nalbandian v | Matches | Serve pts won | Return pts won |
|---|---|---|---|
| All charted opponents | – | 61.7% | 37.5% |
| Players most similar to Novak Djokovic | 4 | 63.8% | 42.5% |
| Novak Djokovic (charted head-to-head) | 1 | 73.5% | 38.3% |
Similar by tactical fingerprint: Learner Tien, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, Laslo Djere, Andy Murray, Pablo Andujar, Mikhail Kukushkin, Denis Istomin, Nikolay Davydenko. When two players have rarely met, their records against these lookalikes fill the gap.