In two very crucial matches at the 2019 ATP Tour Finals on Wednesday, November 14, the Group Bjorn Borg will see its semifinalists decided when Novak Djokovic takes on Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem plays Matteo Berrettini. Get the tips and predictions for these matches below.
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Novak Djokovic v Roger Federer Predictions & Preview
The last time that Novak Djokovic met Roger Federer, it turned out to be a thrill-a-minute classic. The 2019 Wimbledon final could have gone either way but in the end, Djokovic held his nerves – and as tough as it sounds, Federer didn’t – to clinch the title. Federer had those two Championship points he didn’t convert and Djokovic took the final set tie-breaker after 24 games of exhausting but dazzling tennis had resulted in a deadlock.
They meet again and they meet in a match which is another virtual knockout in a round-robin competition. The equation is simple in their ATP Finals group. The winner goes through, the loser is left to go back home, and whichever way you look at it, it’s interesting to note that one of Federer or Djokovic won’t be playing in the semifinals of the ATP Finals.
Djokovic started off with an impressive rolling over of debutant Matteo Berrettini but was stunned by Dominic Thiem in his second match. Stunned because he was 3-0 against the Austrian on hard court, and was 4-1 up in the final set tie-breaker only to go down 7-5.
A win would have sealed his place in the semifinals, instead he will now need to do that against his biggest rival.
Federer’s not had the sharpest of starts after he went down 7-5, 7-5 to Thiem and was then pushed to the brink in the opening set by Berrettini. He did finish things off in straight sets but the big question is whether he can challenge Djokovic with the kind of form he has been in. The champion in him has been known to turn things around quickly, shrug off early tournament rustiness but this is Djokovic we are talking about.
Tip: Djokovic to win: 8/11 (Click here to get these odds with Unibet)
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Dominic Thiem v Matteo Berrettini Predictions & Preview
This looks to be a far easier contest to call on paper. Thiem has been in explosive form, having not let the early exit at the 2019 Paris Masters affect him too much following his Vienna Open triumph. It was at that very Vienna Open, he had gotten the better of Berrettini too, beating him in a tough, three-setter to make it to the final and take a 2-1 lead on head to head.
And he has followed that up with two wins, wins that have been sterling in nature against Federer and Djokovic. What’s even more stunning is his record against Federer and Djokovic in the last eight matches he’s played against them – an unbelievably awesome 7-1.
Berrettini can take heart from the fact he defeated Thiem and not so long ago. That win for the Italian came as recently as the Shanghai Masters earlier this year when he needed just two sets to get past the Austrian before he lost in the semifinal. Still, that was Berrettini’s best ever performance at a Masters, having never even made it to the last-eight stage before that.
Thiem will start off favourite but will he be able to maintain that intensity having already qualified for the semis is the question. Could still win in three.
Tip: Three sets in the match: 8/5 (Click here to get these odds with Unibet)
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