Roger Federer is just one win away from setting yet another historic tennis milestone. If Federer goes on to win Wimbledon – as we predicted in our Wimbledon preview – he will be the first man in the Open Era to win the prestigious Grand Slam eight times.
However, World No. 2 and No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic has defeated the great Federer many times before, and will look to do so again to claim his second ever Wimbledon crown. Read on for more on this fantastic final.
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]
Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic, Men’s Wimbledon Finals
Where: The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Roger Federer could hardly have been more dominant on his way to yet another Wimbledon final. Through five matches, the Fed Express has been broken just once in 89 service games and has dropped just on set – both came against fellow Swiss, Stan Wawrinka.
[sc:Other240banner ]Federer was especially dominant in his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over the hard-serving Milos Raonic in the semifinal. Federer’s return game in particular held Raonic’s serve to subpar numbers in first serves made (55%), first serve points won (80%), second serve points won (50%), service games lost (three), double faults (four) and aces (17).
Against Djokovic, Federer’s second serve will be a huge advantage. Federer has won 68% of second serve points, which is the best in the tournament. In Federer’s only previous meeting against Djokovic at Wimbledon back in 2012, Federer won an impressive 72% of second serve points as he emerged victorious, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Djokovic will need something magical to beat Federer, who just doesn’t lose at this stage of the tournament. Federer is 7-1 all-time in Wimbledon finals, with the lone defeat coming against Rafael Nadal in the 2008 final, which is considered one of the greatest matches in history.
Betting on Novak Djokovic
Very few players in the world can boast a win-loss record against Roger Federer that’s close to even like Novak Djokovic. The World No. 2 is 16-18 over arguably the greatest ever tennis player, but has won 11 of their last 16 meetings. Three of those wins have come in their four meetings at a tournament final.
Djokovic sealed his 35th meeting with Federer with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(7) win over “Baby Fed” Grigor Dimitrov. Djokovic hasn’t had the smoothest of rides in this year’s Wimbledon tournament; he needed five sets to get past Marin Cilic in the quarterfinal. But with his past success over Federer, Djokovic should enter this final with the confidence that he can beat the Swiss.
One of the few statistical advantages Djokovic can claim over Federer ahead of their meeting is in first serve percentage; Djokovic is at 68% while Federer is at 66%. However, Djokovic must take full advantage of those first serves and turn them into points.
If Djokovic truly stands a chance against Federer, he needs to break the Swiss Maestro’s serve. Djokovic has converted 39% of his break point opportunities thus far in the tournament. He broke Dimitrov’s serve three times after the Bulgarian was broken just three times prior.
Writer’s Prediction
Federer has been sublime from the very start of this year’s tournament, and he’ll finish the job victorious. Take Federer (+130) to beat Djokovic in four sets. Create a betting account now and be part of tennis history.
