How they got there

So we got our "battle for #2" semi-final match, and what a match it was, fighting to the very last to get that win. So whatever happens today we'll have a change in the #2/#3 rankings tomorrow. And Nadal has once again extended his lead over the rest of the field, so it's going to be a couple of months before it's even mathematically possible to take the #1 from him, never mind anyone actually managing to do it.

As well, with Ferrer's solid 4th round and Youzhny's amazing run to the semi-finals we will have two new top 10 players, pushing Andy Roddick back out so we will once again have no Americans in the top 10 (though there will now be three Spaniards).

Anyway, the main purpose of this post was not in fact to share my own thoughts but someone else's. The ATP have just posted this very interesting little comparison showing the differences between Nadal and Djokovic's respective runs to the final. I find things like that to be absolutely fascinating, so I just wanted to make sure no one missed it.

I will make a little note about the comparison that they don't mention though, some of the stats can be deceptive and need to be considered in context. They point out that Djokovic has "the edge" on returns, but the reason for that? He's had to. Nadal's serve has been so impenetrable that he won't have face nearly as many return games as Djokovic. When you have one player who has been broken twice all tournament when the other has been thirteen times, the only way for the second player to be present in the final if he has broken his opponents serve a lot more than the other player has. That's just logic.

So really, the stats weigh pretty heavily in Nadal's favour. But the previous rounds' stats count for nothing now; it doesn't matter how you get to the final, all that matters is how you play on that last day. Anything could happen, there's still everything to play for. Should be an interesting match. I can't wait.