The Wimbledon semifinals are set and only Novak Djokovic is a former Slam champion of the remaining four. Djokovic faces Canada’s Denis Shapovalov, while big servers Matteo Berrettini of Italy and Hubert Hurkacz of Poland will face off in the other semifinal. Our panelists have all your predictions for the highly anticipated semifinal matches.
Novak Djokovic vs Denis Shapovalov
Steen Kirby: Shapovalov has the weaponry to not just challenge Djokovic but outright beat him, with that said, this is a matchup where Djokovic has six previous wins and the Canadian Shapovalov has none. (all meetings taking place from 2019 to this year’s ATP Cup). Djokovic hasn’t redlined his game but he’s only dropped one set and the calendar year slam and a third consecutive Wimbledon title is not that far off now. Can Shapovalov stand in the gap and stop history being made? it’s possible, but unlikely, especially with Shapovalov coming off a five setter, Djokovic should figure out his opponent in what will be his most difficult match yet. Djokovic in 4
Yesh Ginsburg: Djokovic has looked unbeatable all week, but he hasn’t looked his best. There are few men who can beat him when he’s playing well, but Shapovalov should be able to. The Canadian is playing well, with confidence, and with a huge game that suits the grass very well. Shapovalov in 5
Damian Kust: The performances Shapovalov has put up this fortnight just scream of maturity and while the Canadian hasn’t exactly gotten rid of all of his inconsistencies, the shot selection and rally tolerance have no doubt improved. Is he ready for an absolutely massive win like that? Djokovic hasn’t really been pushed in this event so far and Shapovalov will test his defensive game. The Canadian can keep it close, especially if the serve and forehand combination can bring him a lot of free points. But all in all, Djokovic’s superior counterpunching skills should see him through. Djokovic in 4
Jim Smith: This is a match that Denis Shapovalov can win. But that is not the same thing as it being a match that he will win. The Canadian has considerable firepower with his whole game having been in good working order so far at Wimbledon. But he has never played in a Grand Slam semifinal before. Novak Djokovic is playing in his 10th just at Wimbledon. The Serbian has also won 32 of the 35 matches he has played this season. He hasn’t found his very best this fortnight, but has also won his last 15 sets. He may drop one here, but expect him to find a way past Shapovalov in the end. Djokovic in 4
Harsh Bhoot: It’s familiar territory for Novak Djokovic against an opponent who’s not too accustomed to the latter stages of a Grand Slam. Denis Shapovalov has played a solid tournament and toughed it out when required. Nerves will definitely be in play for the Canadian and add to that a 0-6 record against the world no. 1. What’s going to be key is how Shapovalov reacts to the extra one to two rally balls he’s made to hit as compared to the matches he’s played so far. Djokovic has looked well within his game and an inspired Shapovalov may eke out a set but the Serb has an extra gear or two in him to nab the all important victory. Djokovic in 4
Hubert Hurkacz vs Matteo Berrettini
Steen: Big servers (Kevin Anderson, Milos Raonic, Andy Roddick, Goran Ivanisevic) have found big success at Wimbledon in the past, and Hurkacz is yet another player on that list, the Polish player who won his first Masters title earlier this year and now he’s knocked off two elite players, Daniil Medvedev and Roger Federer back to back to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal. Hurkacz serve makes him tough to beat because he’s going to push any opponent deep into sets and punish any mistakes they make. Berrettini has proven himself great on grass although his path to the semifinals has not been terribly difficult with a four set win over Felix Auger-Aliassime his only seeded opponent faced. Berrettini’s well rounded grass game (which is also led by a big serve) makes him difficult too, but Hurkacz playing this well is tough to beat. I give the Polish player a small advantage. Hurkacz in 5
Yesh: Berrettini has a huge serve, huge game, and is playing well on the grass. He’s been struggling a bit (relatively) in his recent matches. Hubert Hurkacz, meanwhile, is serving incredibly and is tough for anyone to break. It might take tiebreaks, but he’s got the advantage here. Hurkacz in 4
Damian: Hurkacz is having the tournament of his life, and that’s saying something because we’re talking of an ATP Masters 1000 event winner from earlier in the year. This will be a very serve-oriented matchup and while before the event, everyone would certainly be peaking Berrettini in this one, there are some doubts now. While the Italian showed a certain degree of vulnerability in his performance against Auger-Aliassime, he’s a much more aggressive baseliner and if Hurkacz isn’t able to come out of his comfort zone, he might get hit off the court here. Berrettini in 4
Jim: Both these men have a huge opportunity here. Both can play well-enough to take it. But this is still untread ground to Hubert Hurkacz. The Pole held his nerve admirably against Roger Federer in the last eight, but Matteo Berrettini is a very different proposition. The Italian looks full of confidence and like a man who knows how to win matches even when every aspect of his game has not been working. That makes him a formidable opponent. Berrettini in 5
Harsh: Hubert Hurkacz is the man of the moment as he reached his first ever Grand Slam semi final. The Pole played a consistent game and his flat groundstrokes especially the two hander was damaging. He’ll need those weapons to fire since Matteo Berrettini brings his own big weapons which has been firing pretty well this tournament. Felix Auger-Aliassime was always going to be a tough ask and to get through that in four sets was a great result for the Italian who did play the crucial points well. Expect a tight first couple of sets with Berrettini running away with the last two on the back of his first strike tennis. Berrettini in 4
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