Tennis
2018-07-13 - Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Tennis: Wimbledon Semi Final
Friday 13th July 2018 - Scheduled 3:30pm
Preview
There are going to be plenty of people out there who will consider this the 'real' Wimbledon Final when Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal step onto Centre Court to play one another for the first time since the 2011 Wimbledon Final.
Both players have looked really strong going through the draw although it is Nadal who was forced into an epic Quarter Final match against Juan Martin Del Potro which has to be factored into this one. He spent well over four hours on the court in the Quarter Final and had to come from 2-1 down in sets to win that match and it is a big ask for Nadal to recover and be ready to face someone who is arguably superior on this surface.
For Novak Djokovic the big challenge is to hold the emotions together as he has already produced his best performance at a Grand Slam since losing in the 2016 US Open Final. It is funny to think the last time he won a Grand Slam was the 2016 French Open to complete his set and it was clear the emotional effort to win that tournament took something out of the tank for the former World Number 1.
It has been a long road back for Djokovic with an injury curtailing his 2017 season and there have been some ups and downs in 2018. However I have been mentioning for a while that I feel Djokovic is approaching his best and the last month on the grass courts have shown there is a player here who is feeling much better about his overall game.
The numbers have backed that up with strong serving backed up by the kind of returning that Djokovic was producing between 2014 and June 2016 when he won six of the ten Grand Slams in which he competed. Those numbers are going to be put to the test by the current World Number 1 Rafael Nadal who has been in fantastic form at Wimbledon after winning yet another Grand Slam title at the French Open six weeks ago.
Nadal's numbers have also been very strong and there is no doubt this is going to be a very good match to watch and a very close one to call.
The length of the Quarter Final win over Del Potro can't be ignored, but I also know Nadal is one of the fittest players on the Tour and it hasn't been a really taxing tournament before that match. That means I am expecting Nadal at his best, but Djokovic was able to give him something to think about in their recent clay court encounter in Rome and this surface may suit the Serb more than the Spaniard.
I won't be surprised if this match needs four and potentially five sets to separate them, but I am going to back Djokovic to get the better of Nadal and I think it will be Djokovic playing in his first Grand Slam Final in almost two years.
Prediction
This is the match of the day and the winner will be a big favourite in the Wimbledon Final on Sunday regardless of who they face.
My edge is narrowly with Novak Djokovic and I will back him to reach a first Grand Slam Final in a little under two years.
The Pick :
Novak Djokovic 3-2 Rafael Nadal
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Novak Djokovic to Win @ 1.91 with BetFred
