*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
*All Wimbledon match times are approx and are subject to change
1:30pm: Matteo Berrettini v Hubert Hurkacz
SELECTION: Hurkacz to win
Hubert Hurkacz’s reward for dismantling Roger Federer is a semi-final tie against sixth seed Matteo Berrettini. Both men are high in confidence and will be salivating at the prospect of getting to their first slam final.
Hurkacz is probably the bigger surprise package of the two but if we think back to his display at the Miami Masters this year maybe we shouldn’t be so amazed that he made it to the business end of the competition. He beat fellow Wimbledon semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov, Milos Raonic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner all on the way to that title so he knows how to navigate a tough draw.
Clearly he has had to do the same this week beating Federer and second seed Daniil Medvedev to get to this point. Both results were impressive for different reasons. He showed resilience to come back from an overnight suspension to face Medvedev who was a set ahead so left him with very little room for error.
He came back the next day to break Medvedev straight away and take the fourth before winning the deciding set comfortably. Albeit Federer’s powers would appear to be waning, any time you can hand the Wimbledon legend his first bagel at SW19, and only his second overall in the 21st century, it must be considered an eye-catching achievement. With all he has done this week, I feel he will achieve more and get to the final.
He faces a red-hot Berrettini who is coming off an impressive title run at Queens but Hurkacz has won their most recent match-up in straight sets so he shouldn’t be fazed. Take Hurkacz to Win.
1:30pm: Matteo Berrettini v Hubert Hurkacz
SELECTION: Hurkacz Service Break Number 1
Both men have a strong serve in their locker so in theory there shouldn’t be too many break point opportunities for either player. Berrettini has actually accumulated the most aces this week by a considerable distance and breaking him is a difficult prospect with all those straightforward points leading to straightforward games.
However, I do think this is uncharted territory for both men despite their considerable achievements in their respective young careers and nerves may play a part. Hurkacz has been a lethal returner since returning from that overnight suspension against Medvedev, breaking eight times across five sets, only once being broken himself.
I think Berrettini is rightfully favourite here but it’s a good price on him faltering first on serve on the big occasion, take Hurkacz to snatch the first service break of the match.
4pm: Novak Djokovic v Denis Shapovalov
SELECTION: Djokovic -2.5 Set Handicap
Novak Djokovic surprisingly lost the first set of his Wimbledon campaign to Jack Draper. Since then though he hasn’t let up and he has been ruthlessly efficient in getting to the semi-final without dropping another.
Here he faces Denis Shapovalov who has been competitive against him of late, putting in a good showing at this years ATP Cup and taking him to a third-set tiebreaker in the same competition a year prior. Still though he has never beaten Djokovic and facing him in a slam semi-final is a different matter.
For all his undisputed potential, Shapovalov might find the prospect of Djokovic in his first slam semi-final a bit too much, particularly when you think that Djokovic is on the hunt for the Golden Slam. With such an achievement on the table to further cement his greatness, I can’t see Djokovic dropping his levels. Back Djokovic -2.5 in the set handicap.
Wimbledon men’s semi final tips
1:30pm: Matteo Berrettini v Hubert Hurkacz
Hurkacz to Win
Hurkacz – Service Break Number 1
4pm: Novak Djokovic v Denis Shapovalov
Djokovic -2.5 Set Handicap
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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