Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have gone by the wayside, leaving Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as the two favorites heading into semifinal Friday at Wimbledon. Djokovic is going up against Grigor Dimitrov, while Federer is facing Milos Raonic.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (11) Grigor Dimitrov
Djokovic and Dimitrov will be facing each other for the fifth time in their careers when they collide in the Wimbledon semifinals on Friday afternoon. Dimitrov stunned Djokovic 7-6(6), 6-7(8), 6-3 on the clay courts of Madrid last spring, but their other three encounters have been mostly straightforward affairs in the Serb’s favor. Djokovic improved his head-to-head series lead with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 blowout at last year’s French Open.
Dimitrov contested his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at this season’s Australian Open and he is now making his debut semifinal appearance at a major. The in-form Bulgarian is 35-9 for his 2014 campaign following wins this fortnight over Ryan Harrison, Luke Saville, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Leonardo Mayer, and defending champion Andy Murray. Djokovic got past Andrey Golubev, Radek Stepanek, Gilles Simon, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before needing five sets to beat Marin Cilic on Wednesday. The world No. 2 has not been dominant of late, but this should be a decent matchup for him. These two players are similar in their incredible athleticism and ability to turn defense into offense. The problem for Dimitrov is that Djokovic can do everything he can do while doing all of it better–and, of course, with more experience on the final weekend of majors.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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(4) Roger Federer vs. (8) Milos Raonic
It all seems to be falling into place for Federer, who is looking like a completely different man from the Federer of last summer who lost in the second round of Wimbledon and the fourth round of the U.S. Open. Most importantly, he is simply playing stellar grass-court tennis. The 17-time Grand Slam champion captured the Halle title and so far at the All-England Club he has taken out Paolo Lorenzi, Gilles Muller, Santiago Giraldo, Tommy Robredo, and Stanislas Wawrinka. Now he is running into Raonic instead of nemesis Rafael Nadal, who bowed out to Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round.
Federer leads the head-to-head series 4-0, but in each of their first three meetings he dropped the opening set before winning the next two. They most recently squared off at the 2013 Australian Open, where Federer cruised 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2. Their only previous grass-court clash saw the former world No. 1 prevail 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3) in the 2012 Halle quarterfinals. Like Dimitrov, Raonic made it to his first-ever slam quarterfinal earlier this year (French Open) and is now into a semifinal for the first time. The eighth-seeded Canadian booked such a spot by defeating Matthew Ebden, Jack Sock, Lukasz Kubot, Kei Nishikori, and Kyrgios. This is a considerable step up in both competition and pressure, so it remains to be seen how the underdog will handle the occasion. Raonic’s only hope, of course, is to serve incredibly well and take the match out of Federer’s hands.
Pick: Federer in 4
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I am suddenly feeling mjor withdrawal symptoms and feeling very bad that Rafa is not contesting tomorrow. Why Rafa Why were you not a bit more aggressive in your 4th round
@Sanju,
I feel the same way. Thanks again for your honesty and keeping it real. It’s good to know that I am not alone in my feelings.
I am with you two. having a tough time getting over this :/ can’t believe rafa won’t be in the final
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/07/roger-federer-novak-djokovic-wimbledon-final-sunday-prediction
Who cares? 😡
I care.
Ajde Nole!!!
#TennisFan
Rafa is a money spinner and it’s hard for him to keep fighting these battles with people with so much to gain by defeating him. No other player in tennis history has been this great.
Vamos Rafa
You are simply the best.
hawkeye, over-hydration can be dangerous.
I’m sure we can carry on our banter without a lynch mob on the side. <3
I’m fine either way nadline. I’ve certainly never hesitated to join lively discussions!
Besides, I need all the help I can get keeping up with you nadline, 🙂
So who do yo guys think wants this more? Or rather who will be more pained at losing and will be affected more?
I think the match will be way too nervy and will feature tons of errors.
What is the weather forecast for tomm? If roof is closed (which I am sure Fed is hoping for), it will be clear advantage to him
What does our Fed fan abhirf feel abuut tomm match?
http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=uk7dayx7;page=2;ct=9616~London%20Borough%20of%20Ealing;sess=#forecast
@Sanju,
Going by the way these 2 have played in their matches so far, I will give the edge to Fed. Nole is still troublesome against that slice to both his sides also he is sliding too much this year. I think Fed can exploit those 2 areas pretty well. Fed can draw Nole in the forecourt with those slices and drop shots and we know that Nole is more comfortable playing from the baseline rather than at the nets.
For Nole, the key would be to stretch Roger in his service games as Fed has the tendency of getting over his service games in the blink of an eye. Nole will also have to hope that Fed’s FH is off during the match, coz if Roger’s FH starts clicking he will start dictating the play and Nole would have to succumb to defending. Nole will try to make the match as physical as possible. Also he will have to be straight out of the block from the start. He can’t afford to lose 1st set here, as Roger will become more relaxed and calm and start playing much better.
The only thing that worries me is : Will Roger be able to close it out? He has shown nerves in his previous matches whilst closing out the matches. He can’t afford that today as we all know how good Nole is coming from being Set pts/Match pts down.
Overall, I think the chances of winner will be – Fed:Nole :: 60:40 (only because it’s grass)
Whatever be the result, I would be happy as well as sad.
I really wan’t Fed to win his 8th Wimby crown! Can’t stand him losing now.
Also I don’t want Nole to lose another major final as it can really dismantle him.
But I do like Roger much more than Nole, so would be very much happy if he can add another feather in his cap here.
Hoping for a Roger’s win.
#8
I think it will be more painful for Djoker to lose, for Roger, it’s just gravy.
I think it will be equally devastating for either players but for different reasons.
My God Kvitova was crushing it like anything. Unplayable. Congrats Kvitivoa
Bouchard will take a lot from this match surely. She was tactically too inflexible to not stand a bit behind the baseline and adjust rather than on it when Petra was hitting it really deep all the match
Commentators saying Roger looking too relaxed today in the hitting session whereas Novak looks stressed
Kvitova won in 2011, Novak won in 2011
Kvitova wins in 2014..Novak ???
How many times has Kvitova won any other slam when Novak won them?
Haha..Wimby is what I am talking about 😉
And its about Novak following Petra not the reverse :-)..After all ladies final follows mens, Petra cannot follow Novak anyway 🙂
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg ·17 mins
Aside from everything else, Petra Kvitova is also the first player in WTA history to successfully recover from Radek Stepanek… #Wimbledon
LOL
Oh no,,
Tiggy has picked Fed to win..
We all know what that means..
#Jinxed
It will be all about Novaks composure and mental strength