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Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev Odds & Prediction – Olympic Men’s Tennis Semifinals

Stephanie Myles

by Stephanie Myles in Tennis

Updated Jul 29, 2021 · 1:24 PM PDT

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, right, and Alexander Zverev, of Germany, walk off the court after their practice for the men's tennis competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
  • Novak Djokovic has rolled into the Olympic semifinals without the loss of a set
  • Alexander Zverev also hasn’t dropped a set heading into his showdown with Djokovic
  • Djokovic is a strong favorite heading into Saturday’s clash (approximately 5 am EDT). Is an upset in the cards?

Novak Djokovic arrived in Tokyo without either of his two coaches.

He’s enjoying his time with other athletes, absolutely killing it in the mixed doubles so far with fellow Serb Nina Stojanovic, and basically looking like the strong favorite he is to win gold.

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev Odds

Player Spread Moneyline Total
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) -4.5 (-140) -650 O 21.5 (-115)
[4] Alexander Zverev (GER) +4.5 (+105) +425 U 21.5 (-115)

Odds as of July 29 at DraftKings

From Tokyo Practice to Semifinal in Eight Days

A week ago, Djokovic and Zverev, neighbors in Monte Carlo, were having a pre-Olympic practice on the Tokyo courts.

At the time, they likely already knew that if form held, they would be battling for the right to vie for an Olympic gold medal some eight days later.

After eight meetings – most of them on hard courts – and innumerable practices, there wasn’t much left to worry about keeping secret.

But they also knew that they both had to get there.

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev Match History

Year Tournament Surface Score Winner
2021 Australian Open (QF) Outdoor Hard 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (5) Djokovic
2021 ATP Cup (RR) Outdoor Hard 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-5 Djokovic
2020 ATP Four Finals (RR) Indoor Hard 6-3, 7-6 (4) Djokovic
2019 French Open (QF) Outdoor Clay 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 Djokovic
2018 ATP Four Finals (F) Indoor Hard 6-4, 6-3 Zverev
2018 ATP Four Finals (RR) Indoor Hard 6-4, 6-1 Djokovic
2018 Masters Shanghai (SF) Outdoor Hard 6-2, 6-1 Djokovic
2017 Masters Rome (F) Outdoor Clay 6-4, 6-3 Zverev

At 6-2, Djokovic’s Head-to-Head is Intimidating

The majority of the matches between Djokovic and Zverev have taken place on hard courts, and all of them at big tournaments.

But save for the 2018 ATP Tour finals, when Zverev played arguably one of the best matches of his career, the German hasn’t been able to get to him. He had lost nine consecutive sets coming into that one.

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In 2021, down in Australia, Zverev made a few dents in the Djokovic armor. But he still went 0-2.

He took a set from him in the ATP Cup and made it close. And in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, he won the first set in a tiebreak and came close to winning a fourth-set tiebreak that would have taken it the distance.

The fact that Djokovic was visibly suffering with an abdominal issue in Melbourne – and appears to be healthy at the moment – is only bad news for Zverev

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev Head-to-Head

Novak Djokovic
VS
Alexander Zverev
34 (May 22, 1987) Age 24 (April 20, 1997)
Belgrade, Serbia Birthplace Hamburg, Germany
6-2 Height 6-6
85 Career ATP Singles Titles 15
No. 1 (July 4, 2011) Career High Ranking No. 3 (Nov. 6, 2017)
No. 1 Current Ranking  No. 5
$151,876,636 Career Prize Money $25,171,770
37-3 2021 Won/Loss record 31-11
6 Career ATP Head to Head 2

Djokovic and Zverev Both Efficient in Victory

At -2000, most expected Djokovic to make quick work of home-country hero Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals Thursday.

And while the 6-2, 6-0 score doesn’t truly reflect the competitiveness on display during portions of the match, it remained an emphatic win.

Make that four emphatic wins for Djokovic. His “toughest” test came in the second round, a 6-4, 6-3 over Jan-Lennard Struff.

He has averaged one hour and 12 minutes per match over his first four matches. Zverev has averaged just one minute more: one hour, 13 minutes.

The German has lost 24 games total; Djokovic has dropped just 17.

Meanwhile, Zverev and Stuff were eliminated in the men’s doubles quarterfinals on Wednesday. Djokovic, who is not playing doubles, followed up his singles wins on Wednesday and Thursday with emphatic wins in mixed doubles.

He’ll have to do the same on Friday.

Djokovic a Wall of Superiority

Djokovic possesses the finest return of serve in the world, one that can neutralize Zverev’s biggest weapon.

He can target the German’s shakier forehand with precision. And he can make Zverev pay for missing his first serve.

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The (admittedly a little dodgy) official Olympic statistics have Zverev with … zero double faults through his first four matches.

That number is sure to change on Friday.

The Serb is steamrolling, and not wasting any energy along the way, as he looks for a pair of golds.

The first set could be close; Draftkings has +105 odds for only one break of serve.

Best Bet: Djokovic in two sets (-260)

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