The Semi Final between Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro will go down as one of the best matches I have ever seen on a tennis court, right up there with the two Finals played by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on this court.
The ebbs and flows were fascinating and Del Potro will have won a lot more fans with the courage and strength of character he displayed, but it won't have surprised his long-term fans as he showed considerable toughness throughout his career. I have seen Del Potro play some stunning matches against the likes of Roger Federer in the past, but he admitted himself that he feels he played the best match of his career in this one. If he can replicate that kind of performance in two months time, Del Potro may just be able to add to his Grand Slam that was won at the US Open when he returns to Flushing Meadows.
The wins for Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have set up a mouth-watering Final on Sunday in the Men's tournament, but first we will have the Women's Final between Sabine Lisicki and Marion Bartoli. Neither of those players were expected reach the Final at the start of the tournament and I don't think either will have too many better chances to win a Grand Slam title in their career.
My only hope for this Final is that it is one that isn't hindered by the nerves that both players will feel in this one- Bartoli has the experience of playing in the Final here in the past, while Lisicki has the big serve and groundstrokes that can see her take the racquet out of anyone's hands.
Sabine Lisicki - 3.5 games v Marion Bartoli: I really was torn between these players because I feel Sabine Lisicki has the game to dominate the points on this surface, but Marion Bartoli is certainly the more consistent.
Lisicki does blow hot and cold and that was seen in the Semi Final win over Agnieszka Radwanska when the German looked down and out in the third set. That fightback though may just have hardened her enough to win this tournament as long as she can hold her nerves and not think too much about what she has on the line.
I expect her to be able to win points a little easier than her opponent, particularly on serve and that could prove to be the ultimate difference between the players on the day.
Marion Bartoli's strength is she plays the same consistency of tennis throughout a match... There won't be the same fluctuations in her level of play as Lisicki can be prone to have a real drop in level at times. However, Bartoli could be under pressure by the weight of shot that Lisicki can generate and she uses the same pace of first and second serve which could help the German build up her rhythm on the return of serve.
It was Bartoli that won the first match between the two players, here at Wimbledon in 2008, but she has lost the last three matches. That run includes a three set defeat at Wimbledon two years ago.
I am expecting Lisicki to just force the pressure with her return of serve and also to come through her own service games a little more comfortably and that could lead to a 64, 63 win for the German player and her first Grand Slam title.
MY PICKS: Sabine Lisicki - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Wimbledon Update: 22-14, + 18.02 Units (68 Units Staked, + 26.50% Yield)
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