Rafael Nadal just posted the fourth-best return numbers by a year-end No. 1 in the past 29 years.
An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers breakdown of year-end No. 1 players since 1991 identifies that Nadal’s 2019 season eclipses the other four times he finished year-end No. 1 in 2017, 2013, 2010 and 2008. The analysis comes from the ATP Return LEADERBOARD, powered by Infosys NIA Data, and is determined by adding the winning percentages in the following four areas:
First-Serve Return Points Won
Second-Serve Return Points Won
Return Games Won
Break Points Converted
Interestingly, the leading five spots for return metrics by a year-end No. 1 from 1991 to 2019 are all from the previous nine years (2011-2019), showing a clear correlation that we are currently in the “golden era” of the service return.
Leading Five Years 1991 - 2019: Return Rating
2011 - N. Djokovic (180.3)
2012 - N. Djokovic (172.2)
2016 - A. Murray (172.2)
2019 - R. Nadal (170.8)
2013 - R. Nadal (169.6)
As a comparison with serving, only two year-end No. 1 players (Djokovic 2015 / Nadal 2017) from the past decade are also ranked in the top 10 spots for serving.
Nadal’s 2019 return rating of 170.8 was also good enough to elevate him to the top spot on Tour in the specific category in 2019, a place he has not occupied since 2016.
Rafael Nadal: 2019 Season Return Win Percentage & Rating
Return Strategy
Win %
Rating
First-Serve Return Points Won
34.9%
1
Return Games Won
35%
1
Second-Serve Return Points Won
55.9%
2
Break Points Converted
45%
3
The return has always been a strength of Nadal’s game. Amazingly, at 33 years of age, the Spaniard is finding ways to squeeze more out of it, helping elevate him back to the No. 1 ATP Ranking, which he has now occupied for 202 weeks in his illustrious career.
Rafael Nadal: 2004 - 2019 Year-End Ranking & Return Rating
Year-End Ranking
Year
Return Rating
4
2012
179.6
9
2016
177.9
2
2005
176.8
3
2014
174.7
2
2018
174.4
2
2011
171.9
2
2009
170.8
1
2019
170.8
1
2013
169.6
1
2008
168.0
2
2007
166.2
1
2017
164.3
5
2015
159.9
51
2004
159.7
1
2010
159.2
2
2006
157.7
-
AVERAGE
168.8.readfullarticle
