Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray will meet in blockbuster semifinal from Wimbledon on Friday. Nadal leads on head to heads but Murray has to have confidence.
Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, the top seed and the fourth seed respectively at the All England Club, both advanced through the Wimbledon quarters on Wednesday as Nadal had a bit of trouble with Mardy Fish in a four setter while Murray defeated Feliciano Lopez with no bother.
Nadal and Murray will meet in the semifinals on Friday for the right to advance to the final against either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Novak Djokovic, the semifinalists on the other half of the draw.
Nadal is 11-4 against Murray heads up with Murray's only victories coming on the hard court surface. The two players have met twice from Wimbledon with Nadal winning both matches and both times in straight sets.
While the head to head record and the tournament history definitely imply a Nadal victory in the semis, Murray has looked strong in recent matches.
The Scot barely gave recent opponents Richard Gasquet and Lopez much of a look at a set while Nadal dropped sets to both Juan Martin Del Potro and Mardy Fish.
Murray's confidence has to be higher than it has been in the past and with Roger Federer out of the tournament, the Scot has to want a crack at the Wimbledon final more than ever.
Early odds make Nadal the favorite at 4/9 with Murray coming in at 7/4 (
both bet365). This match will take place on Friday and Murray does not appear to be the underdog, rather the match should be regarded as a near pure coin toss.
Prediction: Murray in four or five.