No
surprises in three of the semifinalists as the "Big 3" have made it to the final four. But they will be joined by a man nobody expected would last beyond the first week, Roberto Bautista Agut, who is playing some of the best tennis of his life since the beginning of the year.
No surprises here with the Big 3 making it to the final stages
Novak
Djokovic has also been sublime on his way to the final four as the Serb is yet to drop a set in the tournament. With a relatively easy draw so far, Djokovic cannot get complacent against the hard-working Spaniard.
Roberto Bautista Agut is the fourth semifinalist
Then
there is the blockbuster semifinal between two eternal rivals, Roger
Federer and Rafael Nadal. And what makes this match even more
interesting? It is their first meeting on the grass courts of Wimbledon since their 2008 epic. With 38 Slams between the two greats, nothing gets bigger than this.
Here are the previews and picks of the tournament's final four:
Novak Djokovic vs. Roberto Bautista Agut
Bautista Agut has beaten the Serb in their last two meetings this year
On
paper, Djokovic is the heavy favourite heading into the semifinal. With the Serb yet to drop a set and having a relatively forgiving draw so far, he knows his path to the final will not be easy. Standing between him and a ticket to the final is Bautista Agut. The Spaniard isn't a
high seed or even a big name, nobody expected him to be here and neither
did himself but he is here now, fighting for a place in the final of
Wimbledon.
Djokovic knows what Agut is capable of. That's because Agut has won both of their meetings this year, in
Doha and Miami. But a best-of-five in a Grand Slam is a different ball game altogether and this is where the 15-time Grand Slam champion has the advantage.
After a decade of
persistence, the 31-year-old Spaniard has made it to his maiden Grand
Slam semifinal. And with nothing to lose, he may have a say or two when he takes on Djokovic. Djokovic knows that if his level drops at all,
Agut is someone who could make him pay for it.
Prediction: Novak Djokovic in three.
Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal
This will be Federer's and Nadal's meeting on grass since 2008
You
may have the world number one and a first time semifinalist in the other semifinal but all eyes will be on this one. 11 years since their epic, they are here again. But this time it is not a final. Federer will
be looking for a record ninth Wimbledon title while Nadal will be
looking to be the first man since Bjorn Borg to win the French and
Wimbledon double three times.
Federer has
dropped two sets on his road to the final four, one in the first round to Lloyd Harris and one in the previous round to Kei Nishikori. And the common pattern in both sets was that Federer dropped the first sets in both matches, only to up his game and dismantle his opponents in four.
Nadal
has dropped just a single set till now, in the second round to Nick
Kyrgios. Both have the momentum and confidence on their side. Nadal may have some extra confidence after making it through a tough draw and clinching the Roland Garros last month. While for Federer, the surface will be his biggest advantage.
Nadal may
lead 24-15 head to head and will have the extra-confidence of beating
the Swiss at the French but this is Federer's turf for a reason, he's
11-1 in Wimbledon semifinals.
Prediction: Roger Federer in five sets.
