Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev Odds & Prediction – Olympic Men’s Tennis Semifinals
By Stephanie Myles in Tennis
Published:
- 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.
Down to the final four in the #Tokyo2020 men's singles…
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev
Karen Khachanov vs Pablo Carreno Busta🥇 ___________________
🥈 ___________________
🥉 ___________________#Tennis | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/v8ItJYiGOq— ITF (@ITFTennis) July 29, 2021
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.
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
| 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.
The first player – male or female – to reach three #Olympics singles semi-finals 🇷🇸@DjokerNole races past Kei Nishikori 6-2 6-0 and will get a third shot at making the gold medal match after Beijing 2008 and London 2012#Tokyo2020 | #Tennis
— ITF (@ITFTennis) July 29, 2021
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.
Perfect day for Novak Djokovic. Lost just 5 games in 4 sets across singles and mixed doubles with Nina Stojanovic. SFs in both. @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/RSAthQrLLj
— . (@tennisgifsmedia) July 29, 2021
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.
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)
Sports Writer
Stephanie gets the straight dope from the tennis insiders. On court, she has represented her country internationally. A BA in journalism led to years on the MLB beat and a decade covering tennis globally. She's written for Postmedia, the Guardian, the New York Times and also publishes OpenCourt.ca.
