“Murray Mania” is gathering pace as World No.4 Andy Murray faces his nemesis World No.1 Rafael Nadal, Friday July 1st, for a berth in the 2011 Wimbledon Finals. Nadal leads Murray 11-4 SU. The winner will take on the winner between Novak Djokovic vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Wimbledon oddsmakers have Rafael Nadal as a -225 moneyline favourite to beat Andy Murray who is listed as a +165 underdog. Be sure to get your 2011 Wimbledon Odds: Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray Semi-Final Predictions in early.
Rafael Nadal extended his winning streak at The Championships to 19 matches on Wednesday when he defeated tenth-seeded American Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 for a place in the semi-finals. He hit 43 winners and committed just 13 unforced errors, with 21 of 27 successful forays to the net. At 25 years and 30 days, the Spaniard is the second youngest man in the Open Era (since 1968) to reach 16 Grand Slam championship semi-finals. Only Sweden's Bjorn Borg (by two days) achieved the feat at a younger age. Nadal is bidding to win his 11th major title and become the second player after Borg to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double on three occasions. Last year, Nadal beat Murray 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4 at the All England Club. He has an 11-4 overall record against the Scot, who won the recent AEGON Championships for the second time.
Top seed Nadal will next challenge No. 4 seed Andy Murray in the semi-finals for a second successive year. "The match will be very difficult for me. I think he's playing at very, very high level," believes Nadal. "He's having a very successful season, in my opinion. So he's with big confidence… it will be a big challenge for me, and I'm going to try my best."
Andy Murray dismissed the unseeded Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the third year in a row. Murray heads into the semi-finals on a nine-match winning streak, having prepared for the grass-court major by winning the 2011 AEGON Championships (d. Tsonga) for the second time in three years. Murray will have the chance to avenge last year’s defeat when he faces Rafael Nadal again in the semi-finals. The hopes of a nation rest on the Scot as he looks to become the first British male winner at The Championships since Fred Perry in 1936. He was beaten at the semi-final stage in 2009 (l. to Roddick) and 2010 (l. to Nadal).
"I believe I can win against him. I had chances last year," said Murray. "I just have to have a better game plan. Sometimes it comes down to strategy. Sometimes it comes down to having more experience. Just have to go out there and play well and serve well and believe and I'll have a chance."
Head to Head in Majors: Nadal leads Murray 11-4 overall
2011 Roland Garros France Clay S Nadal, Rafael 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
2010 Wimbledon Great Britain Grass S Nadal, Rafael 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4
2008 US Open NY, U.S.A. Hard S Murray, Andy 6-2, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4
2008 Wimbledon Great Britain Grass Q Nadal, Rafael 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
2007 Australian Open Australia Hard R16 Nadal, Rafael 6-7(3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray
When: Friday July 1, 9:30 AM ET
Pick: Nadal -225
Point-Spreads.com recommends you check out Wimbledon Odds before the Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray match.
The Bottom Line: It will be the match of this Wimbledon, and Nadal will prevail. Be sure to get your 2011 Wimbledon Odds: Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray Semi-Final Predictions in early.
