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Wimbledon Quarter-Final Tips: Djokovic to extend dominant head-to-head record against Goffin

The four men’s quarter-final matches take place at Wimbledon today and as expected the ‘big three’ all made it through to the last eight.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic kicks off the action on Centre Court against David Goffin , followed by Roger Federer’s clash with Kei Nishikori.

On Court One, Rafael Nadal takes on Sam Querrey after the match between Roberto Bautista Agut and Guido Pella.

We have three tips from the last eight, starting with the first match on Centre Court. If you agree with our verdict, you can play our Rollover Set Betting – Pick 4 pool.

 

Novak Djokovic vs David Goffin

Djokovic has dropped just one set at the championships ahead of his clash with Goffin but has not played a single player inside the world’s top 20 thanks to the early elimination of Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

His next opponent, at 28 the youngest player left in the men’s singles draw, continues that trend and although Goffin trails Djokovic 5-1 in the head to head, he won their last encounter in Monte Carlo more than two years ago.

Goffin had been in a slump for around 12 months but looks back to his best during the grass-court season having reached the final in Halle and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

His best may not be good enough to beat Djokovic, who dropped just eight games against Ugo Humbert in the fourth round, after which he said of Goffin: “Grass is quite suitable to his style of the game. He’s one of the quickest players on the Tour.

“I think his footwork is probably his biggest asset. He manages to get himself in the right positions. He is balanced on some shots that most of the other guys aren’t really balanced.”

Goffin is playing well enough to test the Serb, but a 3-1 win for the defending champion gets our tennis tips under way.

Stat: Novak Djokovic leads David Goffin 5-1 in the head to head but lost the most recent encounter.

Verdict: Novak Djokovic to beat David Goffin 3-1

 

Guido Pella vs Roberto Bautista Agut

 

 

Not many pundits would have predicted these two fighting it out for a first Grand Slam semi-final but this match promises to be the most competitive of today’s four matches.

Bautista Agut is the only man left standing yet to drop a set at the championships and he heads into the match as a clear favourite with a 2-0 lead in the head to head.

Excellent odds are available on the Spaniard winning the first set 6-3 just as he has done in his previous four matches, but instead we’re going for a 3-1 win.

Two years ago, Bautista Agut destroyed Pella for the loss of just five games in the opening round of the Australian Open, but in May had to come back from a set down to win their quarter-final in Munich.

Pella has beaten two massive servers in Kevin Anderson and Milos Raonic, but this will be more of a baseline battle, one that 13th seed Bautista Agut is expected to win in four.

Stat: Roberto Bautista Agut is the only player yet to drop a set at Wimbledon this year.

Verdict: Roberto Bautista Agut to beat Guido Pella 3-1

 

Sam Querrey vs Rafael Nadal

 

 

Nadal has had a reasonably comfortable ride to the quarter-finals apart from a tough encounter with Nick Kyrgios in the second round and his next opponent could prove the most difficult yet.

Querrey defeated Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2016 and Andy Murray a year later en route to the semi-finals and whether he can take another big-four scalp depends on his huge serve working metronomically.

It’s been going pretty well so far, having served up 100 aces and being broken just once during his four rounds.

The 31-year-old American trails 4-1 in the head to head but he won their last meeting in Acapulco ahead of their first encounter on grass, a surface he likes.

He said: “I love playing here and I’m getting more comfortable every year. I like playing on the grass. It’s becoming more of a thing when I get here, I don’t care so much who I’m playing because I have the confidence that I can make a run regardless of who’s in front of me.”

Nadal should win but with Querrey so strong on serve so far, he may have an opportunity to grab a set through a tie break.

Stat: Sam Querrey has been broken just once in his four rounds.

Verdict: Rafael Nadal to beat Sam Querrey 3-1

 

 

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