A match between two future Hall of Famer and multi-Grand Slam title winners is always a must-watch tennis, and that’s exactly what we’re getting this Friday as former Wimbledon winners Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal lock horns in a semi finals duel. This will be more highly anticipated than the final itself, given that we won’t get the Federer vs Nadal (or Djokovic for that matter) match that we all wanted. It’s a close one to call, with the two aggressive players nearly neck and neck at the sportsbook. Who will advance to the final round?
Djokovic barges into the semifinals thanks to a sweet victory over Kei Nishikori in the quarters, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Although Djokovic dropped the second set, it looked nothing more than just a hiccup in retrospect for the three-time Wimbledon champion. Djokovic may have struggled at times in the tournament but those troubles came few and far in between to outweigh the winning perception that the Serbian is having an outstanding campaign in London. While grass is not Djokovic’s cup of tea, he’s been very good on the surface this year with a 9-1 record in grass matches so far in 2018. Against Nishikori, the 31-year-old Serbian peppered the Japanese with 40 winners, while also scoring on 85 percent of his successful first serves. More than his serves, Djokovic will also look to dazzle Nadal with his activity all over the court, similar to the tactic he used in the quarterfinals in which he went 19-for-21 on attempts made while attacking the net.
Betting on Rafael Nadal (-110 Moneyline)
Nadal is the only remaining standing remnant of the great 2018 Wimbledon finals after the loss of Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, as he completed his own assignment in that same round by downing a very gritty foe in the form of Juan Martin del Potro to the tune of a 7-5, 6-7 (7-9), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 score. Nadal had trouble returning del Potro’s powerful serves, but he’s unlikely to face that kind of power against a more finesse player in Djokovic. One concern about Nadal is whether he could get back to 100 percent form just in time for the semis after an exhausting five-setter against del Potro. While Djokovic has the slight 26-25 lead all-time against Nadal, the Spaniard is 9-4 against him in Grand Slam matches. Nadal is also 5-0 so far his year on grass.
Writer’s Prediction
Nadal sends himself to the finals with a win in five sets.
