Jannik Sinner leads Novak Djokovic 6-5 in their personal series going into their Wimbledon semi-final, but while the Italian defending champion is the man to beat he may have gone off the boil a little since reeling off five successive Masters Series triumphs in the spring.
With Carlos Alcaraz absent due to injury and Sinner possibly not at his peak, Djokovic is sensing a rare chance to add to his haul of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
And so punters may wish to consider the possibility of this last-four encounter being closer than their meeting at the same stage of the grass-court Slam last year, when Sinner prevailed in three sets.
Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic Tips Summary
Best Bet - Jannik Sinner to win & both players to win a set @ 11/10
Alternative Bet - Novak Djokovic +5.5 games handicap @ 8/11
Bet Builder - Jannik Sinner to win in four or five sets; Novak Djokovic +5.5 games handicap; Novak Djokovic over 1.5 breaks of serve @ 5/4
Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic Prediction
Best Bet: Jannik Sinner to win match & both players to win a set @ 11/10
Sinner is still likely to be difficult to dislodge - his bench may help remind him of the importance of winning this clash - but do not be surprised if Djokovic offers more resistance than some are anticipating at Wimbledon.
The pair met in the last four at the All England Club 12 months ago and Djokovic barely raised a fist against Sinner, leading many to think that the 39-year-old Serb should seriously consider retirement sooner than later.
But the grand old man is back this year and, lo and behold, he actually looks more of a force again. Of course, if he fails to find a way to dethrone Sinner, then pretty much all will have failed - it is all about the majors for Djokovic at his advanced age.
But it is just possible that the outsider is playing well enough, at a time when focus may be slightly lacking for Sinner, for this encounter to be more closely fought, so much so that punters can consider backing Djokovic to win at least a set.
He is 1/2 to do that so there looks to be better value in backing both players to win a set with Sinner progressing to the final at 11/10.
Clearly, the oddsmakers reckon that the longer the match goes on, the likelier Djokovic is to cause an upset. But the legendary Serb may be feeling the pace after his five-setter against Felix Auger-Aliassime and so the chance can still be taken.
Alternative Bet: Novak Djokovic +5.5 games handicap @ 8/11
Whatever the result, if punters feel that Djokovic is capable of troubling Sinner more this year than he did last season, then they should probably consider aligning themselves with the outsider on the total-games handicap.
Djokovic is 8/11 getting a handicap pull of 5.5 games, but Sinner may do well to prevail, for example, 6-4 6-4 6-4. So with the Serb given a chance of winning at least one set, this punt can be chanced.
Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic Bet Builder Tip
Jannik Sinner to win in four or five sets
Novak Djokovic +5.5 games handicap
Novak Djokovic over 1.5 breaks of serve
Pays 5/4
The first two variables in our Bet Builder have been discussed earlier, but punters can add Djokovic breaking Sinner’s serve on at least two occasions for the final part of the punt.
It is quite feasible that Djokovic could prove a different player than the one who surrendered so meekly to Sinner in the last four at SW19 last year, especially after his superb semi-final triumph over the Dolomites native at Melbourne Park in January.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Five of the last 10 sets Novak Djokovic has contested at Wimbledon have ended in tiebreaks
In their only previous meeting this year Djokovic defeated Sinner in five sets in the Australian Open semi-finals
Djokovic has won the first set in each of his five singles matches at Wimbledon this year
Sinner won five successive Masters Series tournaments - Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome - between March and May
Djokovic is without a title success this year and won only two smaller tournaments, in Athens and Geneva, last season
Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
