Damien Kayat previews selected Wimbledon 2021 men's quarter-finals featuring Karen Khachanov vs Denis Shapovalov and Novak Djokovic vs Marton Fuscovics.
2021 ATP Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
Wimbledon Tennis Championships
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England
Selected Men’s Quarter-finals – 7th July
Karen Khachanov 21/10 | Denis Shapovalov 7/20
It was only a matter of time until Canadian Denis Shapovalov broke through on this surface. His huge serve and powerful forehand make him a brilliant fit for grass. It’s been an interesting tournament for the Canadian. He almost fell at the very first hurdle, pushed to five sets by pugnacious veteran Phillip Kohlschreiber. But he hasn’t dropped a set since, capturing the hearts of the Wimbledon faithful with his pulsating brand of fearless tennis (he was also aided by a timely 3rd round walkover). He accounted for home favourite Andy Murray in a resounding straight sets victory. He was equally devastating against the usually competitive Robert Bautista Agut. He managed to fire down 16 aces in comparison to the Spaniard’s meagre 1. We all know he has the power. What has surprised me is the relative grace of his movement. The 22-year-old seems to have finally come to grips with the very specific demands of this surface. Shapovalov has once again demonstrated that he has the ability go deep in a slam (he reached the quarterfinal stage of last year’s US Open).
Shapovalov will next face the similarly aggressive Karen Khachanov. Seriously, these guys are going to be hurling bombs at each other. Khachanov is almost the forgotten man of Russian tennis. He burst onto the scene with that fabulous Paris Masters title in 2018. He then reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros in 2019. The hugely talented baseliner seemed destined for greatness. But things have stalled significantly for Khachanov, with the likes of Medvedev and Rublev usurping him in the Russian hierarchy. 2021 has offered some slight glimmers of hope. He reached the semi-finals of the Great Ocean Road Open and Lyon Open. But his grass-court preparation wasn’t ideal, with early exits in Halle and Mallorca. But he has managed to navigate a fairly favourable draw: he is yet to play a seeded player. But he needed every ounce of his renowned energy reserves to outlast the lanky American Seb Korda. Perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised by this performance. The Russian reached the 4th round here back in 2018. But will he be able to lift himself again after that herculean match against Korda?
Verdict: Shapovalov to win at 7/20
These two have met once before, in the similarly pressure-fuelled cauldron of the Davis Cup. Shapovalov won that match in three tight sets. I think that the Canadian will benefit enormously from that 3rd round bye, especially with the Russian surviving that epic Korda meeting. Shapovalov just has more variety than the Russian and he should outclass him. I’m even tempted to back the Canadian to win in straight sets at 31/20 (though that does seem a bit risky).
Novak Djokovic 1/100 | Marton Fucsovics 12/1
What a Wimbledon this has turned out to be for 29-year-old Hungarian Marton Fucsovics. Fucsovics is a supreme athlete who has started to reap some success of late (he reached the final in Rotterdam earlier this season). But few would have foreseen a quarterfinal run in this stacked men’s draw. He has always possessed the ability to thrive on grass-courts (he was the 2009 junior Wimbledon Champion). He has had to negotiate perhaps the toughest draw of any player remaining. He defeated rising star Jannik Sinner in the opening round before a 3rd round meeting with Diego Schwartzman. The Hungarian then faced 5th seed and Halle runner-up Andrey Rublev in the 4th round. Just to give some context: Rublev had won their last five encounters. But the Hungarian managed to defy the odds and conquer his nemesis in five gruelling sets. While this may be a step too far, you can’t help but admire his genuine fighting spirit.
You would think that going for the ‘Golden Slam’ would be difficult. Nerves would be shredded. But Serbian World Number One Novak Djokovic has really waltzed into this year’s quarterfinals. Sure, he dropped a set in his opening match against Jack Draper. But he has been ruthless since, easily dismantling the challenges of Anderson, Kudla and Garin. The double defending Wimbledon Champion is chasing a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam. There’s not really much else to say. He seems to be thriving as crowds are being reintegrated into the sport. I don’t think that Djokovic is unbeatable. It will just take something very special to beat him. Federer and Medvedev possess the kind of variety and power that can destabilise the Serb. Not Fucsovics.
Djokovic to win in four at 26/10
The Serbian leads the Hungarian 2-0 in their head-to-head record. That includes a first-round victory at the 2018 US Open. Significantly, the Hungarian managed to nick a set on both occasions. And I think that’s the only play here. Djokovic will win this match. There are few certainties in sport, but this comes close. But there’s definitely value in the indefatigable Fucsovics picking up a set. Djokovic to win in four at 26/10.
