Will two unexpected semifinalists be able to avoid a new episode of the most repeated duel on the circuit? On Friday at Wimbledon, reigning triple champion Novak Djokovic will face Britain’s Cameron Norrie, and Rafa Nadal – if he is fit enough to play – will try to cut off Australian Nick Kyrgios.
Djokovic, in search of a seventh victory on the London grass (the fourth in a row), and Nadal, a two-time champion in London, have met 59 times. The Serbian has a slim advantage in direct duels (30-29), but he comes from losing to Nadal in the Roland Garros quarters.
For Nadal, Kyrgios is "a nightmare"according to Mats Wilander, seven-time Grand Slam champion and currently a commentator on Eurosport, because of his game and even more because of his attitude totally opposed to the Spanish’s behavioral canons.
But an additional difficulty threatens Nadal: the abdominal pain that brought him to the brink of abandonment in the quarterfinals.
"I do not know", replied the World No.4 when asked on Wednesday if he would be fit to face Kyrgios in pursuit of his sixth English Grand Slam final. The Mallorcan did not want to give more details so as not to be treated as "liar" if the results of the tests to be carried out this Thursday contradicted his words.
In any case, he pointed out that the reason he didn’t throw in the towel in quarters against Taylor Fritz – while his abs tortured him – is that "hates to leave".
Kyrgios-"a very good player on all surfaces, particularly on grass"-, has sowed controversy and disagreements with his rivals on his way to the semifinals, especially in the third round against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who saw in him "a demonic side". Although he has also shown all his talent with the racket in this edition of Wimbledon.
"I play probably my best tennis and I feel very good mentally."stated the world No. 40 after his victory against Chilean Cristian GarÃn on Wednesday, which opened the doors to his first Grand Slam semifinal, eight years after his first quarter-final at Wimbledon.
At that time he was an unknown player and enjoyed an invitation. Even so, he defeated Nadal in the round of 16 before being stopped at the gates of the semifinals.
"Twice we had an all-out fight on Center Court. He won one and I another"recalled the Australian.
"It is a match that makes the whole world salivate. It will probably be the most watched game in history"He launched.
Djokovic before Norrie and the public
Djokovic rarely has the favor of the public. And he won’t have it on Friday either, since the current triple champion will face Cameron Norrie (12th), the first British tennis player to reach the Wimbledon semifinals since Andy Murray in 2016, when the Scotsman won his second title on the London grass.
"I know what awaits me"stated the Serbian with 20 Grand Slam titles. "He has nothing to lose and every victory from now on is of great value to him. But I know your game well"affirmed ‘Nole’.
For Djokovic, who has two fewer ‘Greats’ than Nadal in the race for the record (22 for the Spaniard after his victories in Australia and at Roland Garros this year), the title at Wimbledon is of special importance because it could be the only in the hands of the Serb this year.
Banned from Australia before the tournament for not having been vaccinated against covid, he could miss the US Open, which starts on August 29, for the same reasons.
Under these conditions, and despite the support of the public – Prince William and his wife left Center Court to witness the end of his quarter-final duel against David Goffin – Norrie will not be the favourite.
But do you have options to prevail? "Without a doubt!"answer before adding that "it will be difficult".