ATP Wimbledon Semifinals– Men’s Friday Preview

Novak Djokovic vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Tsonga might be heading toward the Wimbledon final as the Frenchman owns a convincing heads-up record against Djokovic.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is considered an underdog as he heads into his first Wimbledon semifinal match, with Novak Djokovic the Frenchman's opponent.

Djokovic did win the biggest match between the two players as the Serb defeated Tsonga in the final of the 2008 Australian Open. However Tsonga beat Djokovic in the Australian Open quarters (2010), the Paris Masters in 2008, and in the Bangkok final in 2008 as well.

Djokovic, unlike Tsonga, has a recent history of under-achievement at Wimbledon as the Serbian has suffered losses to players ranked lower than him in three straight years. Last year Tomas Berdych beat Djokovic in the semis, in 2009 34th ranked Tommy Haas beat the Serb in the quarters, and in 2008 Marat Safin, ranked 75th at the time, beat Djokovic in the second round.

Djokovic has no grass court titles even at the ATP level as he lost both the 2009 ATP Halle final to Haas and the London's Queen's Club final in 2008 to Rafael Nadal.

Tsonga beating Federer, a six time Wimbledon champion, after being down two sets to love in the quarters is more impressive than anything Djokovic has ever done on the grass court surface.

If you want to get serious about Djokovic and his Wimbledon credentials here's an important statistic: playing in his seventh All England Club this year he's only ever beaten one top ten player, just Tommy Robredo, and while Tsonga is only ranked 19th at the moment, he's playing his best right now and that makes him as good as a top eight player.

Don't be at all surprised if Djokovic takes a tumble against Tsonga with everyone, incorrectly, calling it an upset.

Tsonga's a marginal true favorite with Djokovic's chances redeemed due to the fact Wimbledon is different this year for him compared to the past as the Serb is on top form this season. Additionally the Frenchman could be more fatigued following a hard working 5 set match against the player considered to be best ever.

Tsonga will definitely have a psychological edge going into the semifinal, having won so many matches against the Serbian star previously. However, most of those losses came before Djokovic's ominous form that began last year itself. The Serbian star will hope to settle scores with the Frenchman with a singleminded approach to keep Tsonga engaged in long baseline rallies, rather than letting him come to the net which cost Federer too much on Wednesday evening.

After analysing all the aspects of this thriller in the offing, Djokovic's mental strength and ferocious play seems to much to handle for anybody at the moment, including Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Rafael Nadal vs. Andy Murray

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray set up a semifinal showdown at Wimbledon as the two players will meet for the right to play in this weekend's championship match.

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray both advanced through the Wimbledon quarters on Wednesday as Nadal had a bit of trouble with Mardy Fish in a four setter while Murray defeated Feliciano Lopez with no bother.

Nadal and Murray will meet in the semifinals on Friday for the right to advance to the final against either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Novak Djokovic, the semifinalists on the other half of the draw.

Nadal is 11-4 against Murray heads up with Murray's only victories coming on the hard court surface. The two players have met twice from Wimbledon with Nadal winning both matches and both times in straight sets.

While the head to head record and the tournament history definitely imply a Nadal victory in the semis, Murray has looked strong in recent matches.

The Scot barely gave recent opponents Richard Gasquet and Lopez much of a look at a set while Nadal dropped sets to both Juan Martin Del Potro and Mardy Fish.

Murray's confidence has to be higher than it has been in the past and with Roger Federer out of the tournament, the Scot has to want a crack at the Wimbledon final more than ever.

Early odds make Nadal the favorite. This match will take place on Friday and Murray does not appear to be the underdog, rather the match should be regarded as a near pure coin toss.