Serena Williams, Djokovic Favored in Wimbledon Finals, But Halep, Federer Won’t Go Down Easy

Posted on: July 12, 2019, 07:32h. 

Last updated on: July 12, 2019, 08:03h.

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Tennis fans will be treated to two exciting finals at Wimbledon this weekend, as Serena Williams takes on Simona Halep on Saturday before Novak Djokovic battles Roger Federer on Sunday.

Wimbledon finals Williams Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is favored to beat eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in the men’s final on Sunday. (Image: PA)

According to Bovada, Williams is a -210 favorite over Halep (+165), while Djokovic (-190) has the advantage over Federer (+150).

Williams Has Chance to Tie Grand Slam Record

Those relatively tight lines aren’t surprising. While Williams and Djokovic are clearly the players to beat in their respective finals, they’re taking on opponents who have done more than their fair share of winning over the years.

Williams is looking for her 24th career Grand Slam title, a mark that would match the record set by Margaret Court. Serena last won a major at the 2017 Australian Open, though she has made two finals since returning to tennis after giving birth to her first child last year.

For the 37-year-old, just being able to compete at the elite level is an achievement worth celebrating, especially after she spent most of the season struggling with a knee injury.

It definitely feels good to be back in the final, especially after my year,” Williams said to the BBC after her semifinal win over Barbora Strycova. “[The knee] is definitely a lot better, I just needed some matches and after every match I’m improving. I just needed to feel good and now I feel good I can play tennis.”

Halep only has one major title to her credit, having won the French Open in 2018. But the former World No. 1 has looked formidable at Wimbledon over the past two weeks. While she has historically been strongest on clay and weakest on grass, Halep says that Wimbledon has helped change her opinion of the surface.

“I’m a different person, everything changed,” Halep said after her quarterfinal win over Shuai Zhang. “I have a lot of experience, I’m more confident. I love grass – it’s the first time when I say that.”

Djokovic, Federer Look to Add to Wimbledon Hauls

In the men’s final, Federer and Djokovic will be meeting for the fifth time in a Grand Slam final. That includes Wimbledon finals in 2014 and 2015, both of which were won by Djokovic.

On Friday, Djokovic defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets to reach the final, before Federer met his eternal rival Rafael Nadal in another classic semifinal. Federer got revenge for his semifinal loss to Nadal at the French Open, beating the Spaniard in four sets to get to his 12th Wimbledon final and have a chance to win the tournament for a ninth time.

It had everything at the end, which was great, I guess,” the 37-year-old Federer said after the match. “I’m just relieved it’s all over at this point. But it’s definitely, definitely going to go down as one of my favorite matches to look back at, again, because it’s Rafa, it’s at Wimbledon, the crowds were into it.”

Despite Federer’s historic success in London, Djokovic will enter the final as a deserving favorite. He already has four Wimbledon titles himself, and has won three of the past four Grand Slam tournaments, including last year’s event at the All England Club.