The final of the 2019 Mubadala World Tennis Championships will feature the defending champion, Kevin Anderson against the World No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
Watch & bet on Novak Djokovic v Kevin Anderson live in the Mubadala World Tennis Championships with bet365 here* on Saturday, December 29 The match begins at 7:00 pm local time (3:00 pm GMT).
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Anderson is coming into this fixture after delivering one of the most stunning upsets in the pre-season preparations. The South African No. 1 defeated his Spanish counterpart Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. It was certainly an intriguing turn of events given that up until that point, Nadal held an insurmountable 5-0 lead over Anderson.
With that win, Anderson is now a win away from successfully defending his title at Mubadala.
On the other hand, Djokovic defeated the young Russian Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-2, without facing any difficulties. It was a clinical performance by the Serbian who avenged his shocking defeat against Khachanov in the final of the Paris Masters last season.
Anderson v Djokovic Head to Head
Anderson and Djokovic have met each other a total of nine times on the ATP Tour so far. The Serbian leads by 8-1 and has won all of their last eight encounters. The last time Anderson registered a win over the World No. 1 was in the second round of the 2008 Miami Masters.
In 2018 alone, the two players met thrice – all three of which were on major occasions. They locked horns in the final of the Wimbledon, the quarter-final of the Shanghai Masters, and the semifinal of the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Anderson’s Chance to Make an Impact
Anderson staked his claim as one of the top players on the tour in 2018 when he rose to prominence and reached his career-best singles ranking as the World No. 5. Even though he won only two titles, it was his tenacity that took him into the top 10.
He reached the penultimate rounds at many tournaments, including the Wimbledon, Miami Masters, Madrid Masters, and the Rogers Cup. Along the way, the 32-year-old defeated many top players like Dominic Thiem, Grigor Dimitrov, Roger Federer, and Sam Querrey.
He has been playing some brilliant tennis of late and Djokovic needs to keep that in mind for this game, as well as for the rest of the season.
Can Djokovic Defend his Crown in 2019?
In many ways, this match will serve as an important prologue to the challenges that Djokovic may face in 2019. Having recovered from his injuries only last year, his real task now will be to carry that momentum forward into the new season.
However, it is going to be far more tricky than that, considering that there are many players on the tour who are capable of upsetting the top order. From Khachanov to the likes of Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev, there is a definite list of players who can very well give the Serb a run for his money.
At the same time, he has proven time and again why he deserves to be the World No. 1. This was particularly seen last year when he started the season outside of top 10 and finished it on the top.
In this match, the bookmakers will favor the Serbian to win. However, considering Anderson’s imperious form, he is in for a tough battle.
You can watch Novak Djokovic v Kevin Anderson match in the Mubadala World Tennis Championships live on bet365. It will be played on Saturday, December 29, at 7:00 pm local time (3:00 pm GMT).
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