Five-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic will make his way into another semifinals appearance in this grand slam tourney, where he’ll cross paths with a familiar foe, Denis Shapovalov of Canada. This is a matchup of top 10 players; Djokovic is currently ranked No. 1 in the world while Shapovalov is No. 10. Check out our preview of this 2021 Wimbledon semifinals matchup below.
Djokovic had some shaky moments in his quarterfinals match against Marton Fucsovics, but the Serbian still managed to come through with a dominant straight-set win to the tune of a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 score. Djokovic won 50 of 61 first serves he put in and 14 of 32 of the second serves he put into play. The rest of the field is looking very favorable for Djokovic, as no player remaining outside of him in the 2021 Wimbledon is considered a huge threat to him. That includes Shapovalov, whom he has not lost to in six career meetings. The last time Djokovic played against Shapovalov, he scored a 7-5 7-5 win in the ATP Cup – Serbia vs. Canada (hardcourt) down in Melbourne, Australia last February. Since dropping the first set of his first match in the 2021 Wimbledon against Jack Draper, Djokovic has not lost a set, winning all in his next four matches.
Shapovalov will relish playing the deepest round he’s made in a grand slam tournament so far in his young career. The 22-year-old Shapovalov’s previous best was a quarterfinals appearance in the 2020 US Open. In order for him to make the semis, the Canadian had to win back to back against top 25 players. He beat No.8 Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 and then No. 25 Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals in which he had to claw his way from a 2-1 set deficit, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. He also got the better of former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in the third round via a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. Perhaps Shapovalov can get extra motivation from Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated the legendary, albeit past-his-prime Roger Federer, in the quarterfinals to set himself up a spot in the semifinals. Shapovalov used his big hand in the wins over Bautista Agut and Khachanov, as he out-aced them both, 32-4.
