Previewing the Wimbledon Semifinals: Alcaraz vs Medvedev, Djokovic vs Musetti
Wimbledon Championships 2024 Men's Last Four Rounds - Examination & Predictions
The semifinals in the Men's Singles are just around the corner, and the pressure's on the four remaining contenders. Here's a glimpse at both matches and some potential value bets:
Semi-final 1: Alcaraz (3) vs Medvedev (5)
This will be the seventh encounter between Alcaraz and Medvedev, with Alcaraz currently leading their head-to-head 4-2. Alcaraz has won four of the last five matches, but their first-ever meeting at Wimbledon in 2021 was a tough one for the Spanish ace.
In that 2021 match, Alcaraz struggled against Medvedev, losing 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. But Alcaraz has come a long way since then and managed to turn the tables in their rematch at Wimbledon's semifinals last year, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. While Medvedev managed to avenge that defeat in the US Open semifinal, Alcaraz has since won their last two encounters – the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals and this year's Indian Wells.
Alcaraz has been unimpressive in his opening matches at Wimbledon, but his status as the current Wimbledon and French Open champion has him listed as a -320 favorite. Medvedev, on the other hand, is listed at a more generous +250. The Russian's form this year has been ordinary, but he's started to show signs of his old form in the last fortnight, making him a dangerous opponent for Alcaraz.
To win this match, Medvedev will need to find his A-game and avoid playing deep beyond his baseline, as it could lead to Alcaraz using his ultra-effective drop-shot. If Medvedev can be aggressive and play outside his comfort zone, he can make it a tough match for Alcaraz.
Recommended Bet: Alcaraz to win in four sets (+275)
Semi-final 2: Musetti (25) vs Djokovic (2)
This will be the seventh matchup between Musetti and Djokovic, with the Serb leading their head-to-head 5-1. Their Grand Slam encounters have been close, with both matches going to five sets. However, Djokovic's overall record in Grand Slams is more impressive compared to Musetti.
Djokovic is the second seed and is a very short -700 to beat Musetti, who is priced as a +500 outsider in this semifinal. This is Musetti's deepest run in a Grand Slam, and while he may lack top-level experience, he has played Djokovic six times before.
Musetti's record on grass isn't impressive, but he's managed to turn that around this year, boasting an impressive 18-5 record on grass this season. He's also reached the final at the Queen's Club Championships and won five matches at Wimbledon.
However, Djokovic's experience and dominance in their past matches make him the clear favorite. Nevertheless, if Musetti can manage to take the game deep, Djokovic's injured knee may become a factor.
Recommended Bet: Djokovic to win in straight sets (+110)
Side Note: While Novak Djokovic has dominated the head-to-head against Lorenzo Musetti, it's worth noting that their Grand Slam encounters have been closer, with both matches going to five sets. Musetti's grass-court record has improved significantly in the last 18 months, but he still faces a stern test against the experienced Djokovic in this semifinal.
Sources:[1] Google Search: Carlos Alcaraz vs Daniil Medvedev head-to-head record[2] Google Search: Lorenzo Musetti vs Novak Djokovic head-to-head record[3] Google Search: Lorenzo Musetti and Novak Djokovic Grand Slam matches results
- On Friday's semifinals, the world number 2, Novak Djokovic, will stage a match against the 25th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti, aiming to extend his head-to-head record against the Italian to 6-1.
- The total games count in Djokovic's favor may escalate by 275 points as he intends to secure another victory in straight sets.
- Meanwhile, Djokovic's tennis counterpart in the other semi-final, Carlos Alcaraz, will face Daniil Medvedev, aiming to maintain his lead in their head-to-head, currently at 5-2, with a potentially earlier finish as Alcaraz prefers playing in four sets (+275).
