Wimbledon SF preview and prediction: Djokovic vs. Bautista Agut

Everyone–except Dominic Thiem on clay–looks just about hopeless against the Big 3 these days. But if there is anyone who won’t lack belief, it is Roberto Bautista Agut against Novak Djokovic.

That will be the matchup in the first Wimbledon semifinal on Friday afternoon.

Although Bautista Agut still trails the head-to-head series 7-3, he is 2-0 against Djokovic this season. The Spaniard prevailed 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 in the Doha semis and 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 during fourth-round action in Miami. They have never faced each other on grass, while all three of their previous Grand Slam encounters have gone Djokovic’s way in four sets (2015 U.S. Open, 2016 French Open, 2018 French Open).

“He is very solid from baseline,” Bautista Agut said when asked why he and Djokovic always have tough matches. “He likes to play a lot of rallies. Well, I like to play against opponent like this–to play a match with a lot of rallies. Against Novak, that’s what we do.”

Nothing was difficult about either competitor’s trip to the semis. Djokovic split his first two sets with Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 6-7(5) before rolling, but he otherwise made mincemeat out of Philipp Kohlschreiber, Denis Kudla, Ugo Humbert, and David Goffin. The world No. 1 is now 70-10 lifetime at the All-England Club with four titles, three of which have come in the last five years–including one last summer.

Bautista Agut has also dropped just a single set this fortnight. The world No. 22 trounced Peter Gojowyczk, Steve Darcis, Karen Khachanov, and Benoit Paire before beating Guido Pella 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the quarters.

“His consistency, I think,” Djokovic answered when asked about the best aspect’s of Bautista Agut’s game. “His ability to stay in the point even when it seems like he’s on the back foot. He’s got amazing consistency I think with his shots. Very flat from both forehand and backhand. He has improved his backhand; I think he’s got more depth on his backhand. The ball bounces lower on the grass, which is I think more suitable to his style of the game. He doesn’t like when the ball bounces higher to his backhand. He’s been playing some very, very high-quality tennis in this tournament. He has won twice against me so far this year. That’s certainly going to give him confidence coming into the match.

“(In the) semifinals of a Grand Slam, (I’m) going to try to use my experience in being in these kind of matches (and) get myself tactically prepared.”

Djokovic is absolutely correct that a slam situation is entirely different from the likes of Doha or even Miami. The top-seeded Serb’s urgency level will increase tenfold and that should allow him to fend off what will be yet another stern test from Bautista Agut.

Pick: Djokovic in 4

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100 Comments on Wimbledon SF preview and prediction: Djokovic vs. Bautista Agut

  1. Djokovic in 3 but on other hand this could be really really good. Something tells me Djokovic hits top gear and goes off though

  2. I just want to share this in case people don’t know.
    Last year at Roland Garros, Bautista played his first match against Istomin days after the sudden death of his mother Esther.
    His father, Joaquín, suffered an accident while taking care of his horses. (Roberto is a horse owner/lover, some of his horses have gone to the Olympic games for Spain) and he’s severely impaired.
    He’s using tennis as a way to keep on fighting for it all and not just tennis.

  3. Looks like Djoko in three to me. Agut only knows how to play one style, ie to stay at the baseline going CC in the rallies. Djoko is taking the initiative to move to the net to control the points and forcing errors, very effective play against Agut.

    • Yes, exactly!! Even when Agut is on top of the point he is not pulling the trigger! Just CC, CC!!
      And he keeps getting a lot of looks into Novak’s serve but he can’t capitalize!
      But at least he is hanging in there!

    • I never thought RBA would pose a challenge! Beating Nole in BO3 isn’t remotely comparable to how Nole will play in a slam semi-final!

  4. Didn’t see any weakness in Djoko’s game so far – this court really suits him to the T, it plays more like a slow HC, the ball bounces right up to his striking zone, very comfortable for him.

  5. Djoko really has the blessing of the draw, none of his opponents is one who could make him play out of his comfort zone! A Kyrgios, or Pella, maybe would offer some challenges. As it is, he’s moving effortlessly through the draw and most likely into his 6th final here.

  6. I Dont know if its me, but i actually think Novak looks quite bored, too easy for a semi at a GS it is quite a boring match ( no offence Novak fans ) , bring on the second semi sorry ….

    • I agree, Djoko is feeling bored, trying to add some excitement into the match by losing his serve in the second set!

  7. Is it windy out there? Why has Djoko’s level dropped so suddenly? I know Agut has upped his level but Djoko is making uncharacteristic errors.

  8. Bautista Agut is a machine. He’s probably got the most energy left of anyone in the tournament besides maybe Rafa, having only dropped one set thus far. And he’s a guy with great stamina as it is. Djokovic will have to win this match, he won’t be able to just grind with RBA and hope his level drops. Because it won’t. #knockonwood

  9. RBA has settled in and this is going to be a match, even if Novak wins it in 4, they won’t come easy. If only Goffin had the mental toughness of Batista-Agut.

  10. Just got back to find they are 1 set all! What happened?Nole was in complete control. When I was out I noticed there was quite a gusty wind, is that what is bugging Nole?

  11. God we have to listen to Invertwat arguably the most loathed figure in British sports broadcasting. I can’t stand listening to him!

    • I think it’s hilarious listening to McEnroe trying to keep a conversation going with him, if that’s the Brit I’m listening to.

  12. RBA came to play. He is going to make Novak earn this win. The first challenge that Novak has faced in the tournament so far. Great to see RBA playing with conviction and belief! E

    • That was incredible. RBA had his chances in that game but Novak was too good in those points and that was the difference in the set.

  13. RBA is obviously an incredible tennis player. However, I love him even more as a person. He’s one of the only men on tour who is willing to speak up about injustices that no other male players want to talk about. He also just seems like an extremely nice guy.

  14. Agut is so stupid to engage in non stop CC BH rally with Djoko! He’s throwing away all his BP chances! He’s more hoping for Djoko to miss instead of taking risk to change direction of his shots! It could be 3-4 serving to level the set, now he’s wasting energy to get to 3-5 and Djoko would most likely hold serve to win the set! Agut is quite poor in his maths!

  15. Nope will in 4 sets. He just lost concentration in set 3.
    Only Federer with great serve and attacking game can beat this Djokovic.

    Nadal plz lose to Federer,
    Djokovic will all over in your service games otherwise in final, breaking you infinite times.

    • Please, since when Fed could beat Djoko at Wimbledon, after 2012? Fed already struggled against Kei, don’t even need to talk about Djoko. He’ll be hoping to beat Rafa and Agut to beat Djoko to reach the final!

    • Novak is keeping ball in play hoping Agut he makes an error. If Agut was playing more aggressive he could have won this third set by now, esp as Novak cannot buy a first serve!!!

      • I agree. Novak just has to keep the ball in play and wait for RBA to make a mistake. Getting drawn into that kind of baseline war with Novak is a losing strategy.

        RBA had his chances to break back in that third set. But he just got drawn into this baseline war of attrition.

  16. Seriously am I the only person who literally can’t bear listening to Inverjerk?! I have to turn the commentary down until it’s scarcely audible!

    • Amy, turn your favourite music on, and mute it. I know missing the court sound is not idea. They should give us an option to mute the commentary and enjoy the tennis only.

      • I like listening to Mac! To me it is obvious.that Mac detests Invermoron as much as I do. He sounds mortified to be sitting next to.him. Wish he would beat him about the head with a large kipper!

  17. No! I don’t want to see Agut winning against Djokovic as it might actually put pressure on Federer to beat Nadal considering beating Nadal would almost feel him win the title then. I don’t want to have Federer feel that extra pressure.
    The reason is if Agut wins, the Fedal match will be dogfight then, and with pressure to reach final at any cost to feast Agut might impact Federer’s game. With Djokovic not in Final, Nadal will be extra motivated to beat Federer and can make things complicated for Federer.

    Why I federe to win is the fact that he has already beaten Djokovic in his prime at Wimbledon in 2012, had almost won again in 2014 – had a breaking point in 5th set.

    So, Federer still has a better probability to beat this Djokovic.

    • Lol!! Agut is not going to win! He does not have the killer instinct required to beat Novak here! The upset would be if he takes Novak to five!
      I like Agut but hid game is not where it needs to be to beat Novak at this point. Such as shame bcos Novak cannot buy a first serve!

    • You’re talking about four or five years ago; if Fed couldn’t beat Djoko then, now that he’s so much older, you think he’s still good enough to beat this Djoko?

      Djoko is like a human backboard, it’s so difficult to hit past him; I doubt old Fed could do the job.

  18. This is an extremely physical match and RBA comes through with a huge hold in the 1st game of the 4th. High quality stuff from both players.

  19. Djoko is finally being put to the test. At least this won’t be an easy match for him to win. It’ll probably take him 3 hours if he were to win in four.

  20. This court looks like an Indian Wells court. I hope Federer wouldn’t be that sad about the current condition of this court as he could imagine his last encounter with Nadal on Indian Wells! 🙂

  21. That should do it; RBA isn’t coming back from a double break. He looks a bit fatigued to me, not surprising given some of the rallies in the bright sun and wind.

    • Thank you, Shireling.
      But at least he made it in 4 not 5. And under 3 hours. Plus he didn’t run as many meters as Bautista-Agut. I have to take what I can. I would have felt better without that 2nd set loss, too.

      Sorry for your loss Shireling – I know you are a Roberto Bautista-Agut fan. It would have been great for RBA to make the final here! I respect him a lot.

  22. I have been very calm last night and up until now. But the nerves have kicked in as the match is about to start.

    Vamos Rafa!

  23. Fed serving very well to start. Rafa not quite as good off the serve but very strong off the ground. On serve at 3-2 Fed.

  24. Big holds for both players, especially Rafa, facing two break points in the last game. A very high quality match so far.

  25. Fed missed a second serve return on break point at 2-1, lost the game, and then completely lost focus for the next 15 minutes. Nadal takes the second set handily, 6-1.

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