With Roger Federer exiting Wimbledon yesterday, it gives three of the four remaining players a golden opportunity to claim their first ever Wimbledon singles title. And while the prohibitive favorite now is no stranger to lifting the Gentlemen’s Cup, the added pressure of cementing his status as the undisputed top man of tennis might be an extra obstacle for him to face. That along with 15,000 plus screaming English fans who will be urging their best hope to claim the title for “God and country” after a 74 year drought. But with all four players about the same age or so, these “princes” of the sport will be ready to stake their claim as the next “king” of Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic vs. Tomas Berdych
Djokovic was picked to lose early ever since the draw came out. But the Serb who’s had an up but mostly down year has found his best form just in time to make his second Wimbledon semifinal. Djokovic is facing Berdych whom he hasn’t lost a set to in two previous meetings. But their last match in Miami in 2009 shouldn’t be a factor as Berdych is a completely new man. Long touted as the next big thing, Berdych has put aside his rep as a player who gets tight in big moments and instead is showing a new confidence in all parts of his game.
Djokovic’s experience in Grand Slam semifinals should give him an edge in this one so long as he can return Berdych’s massive serves and keep the tall Czech moving around and not let Berdych set up his favorite forehand shot. This one could go the distance, but as I said at the beginning of the event, Djokovic wants to prove he deserves to be a contender for the No. 1 ranking and not just been seen as the “court jester” of the tour. Djokovic in five sets.
Andy Murray vs. Rafael Nadal
Despite having the support of the entire country on his side tomorrow, this match will be won or lost on Murray’s racquet alone. Many think the matchup with Nadal suits Murray better than say against Federer, but it won’t matter unless Murray can somehow work his way into the Nadal service games. It also won’t matter unless Murray can again find a way to be less passive in the rallies and try to mix it up, even with some serve and volley. The quicker court surface does help Murray but as Nadal joked in his press conference the other day that there was “(a) lot of clay behind the baseline”, one wonders how much of help it will be for the Scot.
Nadal, now No. 1, will look to win this Wimbledon to seal his claim as the new “king” of both this tournament and the sport itself. Unless this becomes a physical battle that tests Nadal’s body, the Spaniard should prevail against both the man across from him at the net and the nation who will once again rue what might have been. Nadal in four sets.
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