Home
Tennis
Novak Djokovic with the trophy, Wimbledon 2019
Novak Djokovic with the trophy, Wimbledon 2019 | (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)

Tennis | Wimbledon 2021 | Men’s Draw Preview

Tony Fairbairn
Tennis
  • Defending champion Novak Djokovic looks for sixth Wimbledon title and record-equalling 20th grand slam title
  • Top Seeds: Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev
  • British Interest: Dan Evans [22], Cameron Norrie [29], Jack Draper [WC], Liam Broady [WC], Jay Clarke [WC], Andy Murray [WC]
LONDON, ENGLAND – Novak Djokovic returns two years after his fifth Wimbledon title to defend his crown at SW19 as he looks to win a record-equalling 20th grand slam title.

 

[table “ADPDAll” not found /]

 

[1] Novak Djokovic

Best Result: Title (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019)

The world number one arrives at Wimbledon as the overwhelming favourite to win a sixth Wimbledon title having defeated Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas to win a 19th grand slam title at Roland Garros.  

 

Djokovic’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)

  • R1: Jack Draper | First Meeting
  • R2: Kevin Anderson | H2H: Djokovic leads 9-2
  • R3: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina [30] | H2H: Djokovic leads 1-0
  • R4: Gael Monfils [13] | H2H: Djokovic leads 17-0
  • QF: Andrey Rublev [5] | First Meeting
  • SF: Stefanos Tsitsipas [3] | H2H: Djokovic leads 6-2
  • F: Daniil Medvedev [2] | H2H: Djokovic leads 5-3

The World No. 1 couldn’t have asked for a better draw with either players who are unexperienced on this surface or at grand slams or players who he has demanding head-to-head record against. The Serb has only lost on seven occasions combined to his projected opponents and will be confident that he has the game to adapt to all his opponents. The opening match against young Brit Jack Draper will be a test of his temperament and where his consistency is at and from then it should be a straightforward path to at least the semi-finals.

 

[2] Daniil Medvedev

Embed from Getty Images

Best Results: Third round (2018, 2019)

The Russian enters Wimbledon having reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros on his worst surface, now he looks to reach the Wimbledon second week for the first time in his career.

 

Medvedev’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)

  • R1: Jan-Lennard Struff | H2H: Medvedev leads 3-1
  • R2: Tommy Paul | H2H: Medvedev leads 1-0
  • R3: Marin Cilic [32] | H2H: Medvedev leads 1-0
  • R4: Hubert Hurkacz [14] | First Meeting
  • QF: Roger Federer [6] | H2H: Federer leads 3-0
  • SF: Alexander Zverev [4] | H2H: Zverev leads 5-4
  • F: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 5-3

Unlike his draw at Roland Garros, Medvedev couldn’t have asked for a tougher draw with in-form Jan-Lennard Struff awaiting in R1 a player he lost to in Halle a couple of weeks ago. Should the Russian somehow manage to win there then former finalist Marin Cilic, Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz and 8-time champion all stand in his way of reaching the last four. It would seem that Medvedev’s appearance in the second week at SW19 for the first time in his career seems unlikely.

 

Browse the Britwatch Sports Amazon Page for our latest Tennis equipment recommendations

 

[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas

Embed from Getty Images

Best Result: Fourth Round (2018)

After reaching his first grand slam final in Paris and being one set away from winning it, Tsitsipas will look to go one step further at Wimbledon.

 

Tsitsipas’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)

  • R1: Frances Tiafoe | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 1-0
  • R2: Vasek Pospisil | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 1-0
  • R3: Karen Khachanov [25] | Tsitsipas leads 3-0
  • R4: Alex De Minaur [15] | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 5-0
  • QF: Roberto Bautista Agut [8] | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 2-0
  • SF: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 6-2
  • F: Daniil Medvedev [2] | H2H: Medvedev leads 6-2

Despite having a 12-0 head-to-head record against his first five projected opponents at Wimbledon, Tsitsipas has been handed a nightmare draw. All five opponents are comfortable on grass and all posses weapons to test and expose Tsitsipas’ return game on grass. Reaching his first quarter-final on the grass-courts of London will be seen as a success and the Greek will need to be at the top of his game to go deep at SW19.

 

[4] Alexander Zverev

Embed from Getty Images

Best Result: Fourth Round (2017)

After reaching the semi-finals at Roland Garros, the tall German now turns his attention to what is unusually his weakest grand slam of his career.

Zverev’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)

  • R1: Tallon Griekspoor | First Meeting
  • R2: Tennys Sandgren | H2H: Zverev leads 1-0
  • R3: Taylor Fritz [31] | H2H: Zverev leads 2-1
  • R4: Felix Auger-Aliassime [16] | H2H: Zverev leads 3-0
  • QF: Matteo Berrettini [7] | H2H: Zverev leads 3-1
  • SF: Daniil Medvedev [2] | H2H: Zverev leads 5-4
  • F: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 6-2

Zverev has been handed a relatively easy week with Taylor Fritz only just recovering from surgery. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Matteo Berrettini though are brutal matches to try and win in order to reach the last four and Zverev’s lack of aggressiveness and clinical edge on grass could end up costing him against those types of players.

Wimbledon takes place from the 28 June-11 July

 

How to Watch/Follow Wimbledon 2021

TV

Across BBC Channels & Red Button

Live Stream

BBC Sport

Live Scores

Live Scores from Wimbledon

 

 

Support Britwatch – Sign up to PBLC for free to support ongoing contributions from Britwatch Sports