Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
This year’s Wimbledon has been outshined by the great symphony of upsets that is the 2018 World Cup. However, the glamour and the bright lights of football’s brightest stage cannot take away from the superb action and class that only the green courts of Wimbledon can provide!
The quarter-finals have been nothing but fantastic to many a tennis fan, but everyone knows that a battle between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal is hard to ignore.
Both men have been playing fantastic tennis, so it’s quite hard to tell which Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal predictions are going to come true. One thing is for certain when it comes to this game, however: it will be a very entertaining match for the flocks of rabid fans coming to watch two of the best tennis players duke it out.
Moreover, the result of one other semi-final makes this match a must-win for both the Serbian and the Spaniard. This particular game has also made Wimbledon betting odds a lot more interesting.
Talking Points
The biggest match of the Gentlemen’s Singles quarter-final easily has to be the outrageous battle Kevin Anderson went through to defeat perennial favourite, Roger Federer. The last set of the four-hour epic took 24 games, with neither man budging or giving up any significant advantage.
However, the South African’s steely determination and willingness to play rough tennis helped him defeat the odds that were stacked against him, settle the match and book a well-deserved spot in the semi-final.
With the eight-time champion out of the Wimbledon courts, the door has been left wide open for both men to come in and dominate in their place. They are heavily favoured compared to Anderson and John Isner, the American ninth seed.
However, they must beat their semi-final opponent if they want to play a final that looks like an easy winner on paper.
Djokovic is especially looking to get into his first Grand Slam final in a while. It may seem to the casual tennis fan that he has disappeared for a bit, so it is understandable that he is playing with a fire in his belly. That anger of his has helped a lot in overpowering Kei Nishikori, making quick work of him in four sets.
Djokovic’s mad tennis might make life difficult for Rafa Nadal, but the Spaniard has been nothing short of brilliant this season. The Spaniard also ran the distance against Juan Martin Del Potro and almost shared the fate of his Swiss rival. Fortunately for him, he pulled himself together and made a wonderful run to win the match, 7-5 6-7(7) 4-6 6-4 6-4.
This year’s run has been the farthest Nadal has been in six years. He may be riding the momentum he built during the clay season, but it’s hard to deny that this has been his best performance yet.
He will surely look to win another Wimbledon trophy. While the current iteration of the Serbian is a tough opponent to play, Nadal will be doing everything he can to make his fourth Wimbledon final.
History
Djokovic has a high batting average at Wimbledon: he made the finals four times, winning the title thrice. His run-up to this match has also been ideal, winning his prior matches without much trouble.
Meanwhile, Nadal has had a rather interesting run in the Grand Slam he only won twice. From the Round of 64 onwards, he would always play a set where he would find it difficult to break his opponent’s serves. This worrying trend he has built up throughout this tournament only means trouble when he faces a motivated Djokovic.
However, it’s not like he will be coming into this match blind. The two rivals have faced each other a record 51 times, an Open Era record for head-to-head meetings. Nadal has won their last two games, but there is a long stretch where the Serbian would simply steamroll over Rafa.
Their last Wimbledon match was in 2011, a match Novak dominated and won in four sets.
What are the odds?
It will take a lot of effort from Rafa in order to defeat this fired-up Djokovic. SBOBET tips agree with my prediction, and the odds the bookies have for this match favours the Serbian by a mile.
If you think Djokovic’s powerful strokes and serves would rattle Nadal out of his game, then a look at the Asian Handicap market is in order. Djokovic -1.50 @ 2.53 is an intriguing option.
However, there is also a big possibility that Nadal will turtle through and make his fourth-ever Wimbledon final. Nadal has 2.00 odds in the 1X2 market.
It will be an uphill battle for Nadal, but it will be one to remember if he manages to pull it off.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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