Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic will continue their Wimbledon campaigns as the entire fourth round is played on Monday. They are set for respective encounters with Kevin Anderson and Denis Kudla.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (14) Kevin Anderson
Djokovic and Anderson will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers and for the first time in more than three years when they meet again in round four of Wimbledon on Monday. Anderson won their first-ever encounter 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4 at the 2008 Miami Masters but Djokovic has since won four in a row without dropping a set. The Serb prevailed three times in 2011–including 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 at Wimbledon–and at the 2012 Indian Wells Masters.
After succumbing to Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final, Djokovic did not play any off the grass-court warmups. But it is safe to say some rest did not do him any harm. The world No. 1 steamrolled through his first week at the All-England Club with straight-set scalps of Philipp Kohlschreiber, Jarkko Nieminen, and Bernard Tomic. Anderson punched his ticket to the last 16 by defeating Lucas Pouille, Marsel Ilhan, and Leonardo Mayer. This is the 14th-ranked South African’s second career trip to the Wimbledon fourth round and second in succession. Anderson’s one-two punch with his serve and forehand will make at least two sets relatively competitive, but Djokovic knows what to expect from the big guy and the favorite’s form is far too great for anyone outside the top five right now. In fact, since last summer’s Cincinnati Masters he has only one loss to a non-top five adversary (Ivo Karlovic, Doha).
Pick: Djokovic in 3 losing 11-14 games
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(9) Marin Cilic vs. (WC) Denis Kudla
Few could have imagined that Kudla would be in the second week of Wimbledon when this fortnight began–or that he would be the last American standing. That being said, his fine form at the All-England Club has not come out of nowhere. The world No. 105 had been just 2-6 at the ATP level in 2015 prior to this tournament, but he entered two grass-court Challenger events last month and reached the final of one before winning the other. His run so far at the All-England Club has been a dream for Kudla, who owns five-set victories over Pablo Cuevas and Santiago Giraldo and a four-setter at the expense of Alexander Zverev.
Next up for the 22-year-old is a first-ever meeting with Cilic. The reigning U.S. Open champion has not quite been the same since that triumph last summer, in part due to injury, but he is finally heating up again. Cilic reached the fourth round of the French Open and the semifinals in Stuttgart before succumbing to Viktor Troicki in a third-set tiebreaker. The ninth-ranked Croat has been far from dominant at this event, but he persevered through five-setters with Ricardas Berankis and John Isner after easing past Hiroki Moriya in his opener. Kudla wields some dangerous firepower, especially off the backhand side, but in the end this is mismatch between a slam champion and someone who had never previously been to a third round.
Pick: Cilic in 4
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This is what confidence does to you. I saw the 1st 2 sets and Nole was 2 sets to 0 down. It was 12:45 AM at night and I went to sleep. I got up today morning to check the score and was not surprised to see Nole square it. When you are confident, you just refuse to lose.
I think Fed is primed to win 18th. I saw Murray playing a bit in his 3rd and 4th round, Fed is clearly playing better than Murray. I hope he retires after that too :-).
I thought the same thing while I watched the match. I was able to see it live in my time zone. It’s true that confidence is so important. He also knew that this is a best of five set match and that he had a good shot at coming back. These guys can play maybe one or two good sets of tennis and then that’s it.
However, I don’t agree about Murray. I remember how Murray struggled at the 2013 Wimbledon. He was battling in every match and even was down two sets to Verdasco in the quarterfinals. He lost a set to Jerzy in the semis. So many were predicting an easy win for Novak in the final. But Andy saved his best tennis for that final.
Players don’t have to be at their best in the fourth round. Also, Murray was playing Karlovic, the human ace serving machine. It’s never pretty when someone faces him. Fed looks better against weaker opposition. But when he bumps up against a quality player, then it’s a different thing entirely. Just think about him meeting Stan in the quarterfinals at RG.
Yes but NNY..I think Andy has a slight shoulder problem. He was touching it multiple times in his 3rd and 4th round. He is not aggressive from what I have seen. Fed wont let him grind . I think Andy will have a tougher time beating Fed on grass than Novak.
Stan looks to be in great form and Stan is definitely going to make Novak work very hard in the semi.
Yes, Murray acknowledged he is having shoulder problems a few days ago and hoped it didn’t get worse.
Sanju,
I didn’t realize that. The ESPN commies said that there might be something going on with him and I did forget that he called the trainer in his previous match. But I didn’t think it seemed to be anything. If there is this should problem then that could possibly change things. Because otherwise I think Andy has been playing well enough to have a shot at winning this.
let’s see how many first serves can K.anderson land in !
lol…he starts with two massive aces down the middle!
4/4 first serves, 3 aces and one easy volley put away courtesy of an effective slider out wide…
If K.Anderson can keep serving well, he has a chance.
0-30 for anderson!
oh my! two break points !!
Novak got a little lucky on both break points but at the same time he played solid tennis under pressure!
2-2… may be anderson lost his chance
wow…anderson is landing so many first serves in and this ought to put a lot of pressure on novak’s service games! 81 percent of first serves in so far… remember , it was at 41 percent in set 3 and we know what happened!
38 aces for the South African so far!
VR, if it was down to two, who would you prefer to win Wimbledon – Fed or Nole?
@hawkeye ,umm…. the it has to be Nole!
That’s why I’m pulling for him big time here (until Federer loses).
#NE1ButRF
but I don’t want nole to have more wimbledon titles than my man!! lol
Novak getting frustrated on the court
I’d rather take that chance that he won’t win another six more than Rafa over the next three years or so than Fed to get 18.
Is nobody watching this?? Anderson just out-hit Novak in a long rally! 30-30!
and he justtt missed a very makeable forehand! 40-30 Novak
Love the body serve. Bailed Nole out there.
yeah…smart serving.
But how well is K.A serving! He is unplayable on his service games right now . No tie breaks so this is interesting! Anderson has the advantage of serving first. He has a decent shot here. Things can slip away pretty quickly on grass.
Anderson winning much easier on his serve than Nole. Doesn’t bode well for the TB.
The break really hurt Nole as Anderson’s level had trailed off late in the match yesterday but is now well rested both mentally and physically after surrendering the 3rd and 4th sets.
no TB hawkeye…… and yup, I knew the delay would benefit K.A. It was kind of obvious..
K.A has lost just one point on first serves in this set and he has almost won 50 percent of second serve RETURN points…
But hey, all it takes is one bad game lol…Anderson’s first serve most crucial shot of the match
If I had to choose, reluctantly it would be Nole.
There’s no tie break in this set.
Right. Forgot. That’s good.
Unfortunately 🙁
Ed, same question to you.
18th for Fed or 9th for Nole if you had to choose?
Novak taking a page out of Rafa’s woes and hitting short too often but Anderson not taking advantage.
I’m pretty certain ND will find a way to come through: meanwhile have to admit I’m rather enjoying watching him looking so frazzled. 😛
Anderson serving into the wind now.
What bothers me is that Anderson will fold like a cheap suit if he wins this.
Federer faced the most inept of servebots in Querrey and Groth.
haha true
he holds easily again! 4 points away from a historic win.
40 aces for the match so far.
I really think Nole is the only one who can stop Federer.