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Rogers Cup 2019: Rafael Nadal Wins Title vs. Daniil Medvedev in Straight Sets

Aug 11, 2019
MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 09: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits the ball against Fabio Fognini of Italy during day 8 of the Rogers Cup at IGA Stadium on August 9, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 09: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits the ball against Fabio Fognini of Italy during day 8 of the Rogers Cup at IGA Stadium on August 9, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal secured his third title of 2019 with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Daniil Medvedev in the finals of the 2019 Rogers Cup.

After winning this event last year, it was the first time the Spanish star has defended a title not on clay. The win also gave Nadal his 35th career Masters 1000 championship, extending his ATP record.

Medvedev was seeking his first career Masters title, but the 23-year-old came up short Sunday on the hard court in Montreal.

Nadal was extremely accurate with his serve early and then found success defensively against Medvedev where few others have done all tournament:

It was just his fourth time the Russian was broken this week in Montreal.

This was all that was needed for Nadal to secure a 6-3 opening-set win, featuring some incredible winners to end rallies:

A strong start to the second set then set the tone for the rest of the match:

https://twitter.com/ByJillMartin/status/1160657784049942532

The 33-year-old went on to earn two more breaks in the second set before finishing off the 6-0 bagel.

Nadal was nearly flawless with his serve, winning 76 percent of his points, including 82 percent of his first-serve points, per RogersCup.com. However, the difference came on the other end, where he won four of seven total return games in the final.

It was enough to end the match in just an hour and 10 minutes.

These two players had very different paths through this tournament, with Nadal only needing three wins to reach the finals. He escaped a three-set battle against Fabio Fognini in the semifinals before a walkover in the semifinals when Gael Monfils withdrew with an ankle injury.

Medvedev was much more impressive, earning four wins in straight sets, including top-10 victories over Karen Khachanov and Dominic Thiem. This led to plenty of confidence heading into his first head-to-head battle against the superstar.

"I believe if I am able to play like this, it's not going to be easy for Rafa," Medvedev said before the match, per Uche Amako of the Express. "It's going to be a big battle."

Unfortunately, he couldn't keep up with the superior player and will have to make some serious adjustments the next time they match up.

Both players will now turn their attention to the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Rogers Cup 2019: Friday Scores, Results and Updated Canada Open Schedule

Aug 9, 2019

Quarterfinal play for the Rogers Cup opened Friday, with a number of marquee stars fighting for semifinal berths in Canada.

Fans in Toronto got a rematch of the 2018 U.S. Open final as the eighth-seeded Serena Williams met the second-seeded Naomi Osaka in the day's biggest matchup.

Both defending champions remain alive. Simona Halep opposed Marie Bouzkova, while Rafael Nadal took on Fabio Fognini.

Here's a recap of Friday's action.

                  

2019 Rogers Cup Results, Aug. 9

Men's Singles

[1] Rafael Nadal def. [7] Fabio Fognini 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

[8] Daniil Medvedev def. [2] Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-1

[6] Karen Khachanov def. [3] Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3

             

Women's Singles

[8] Serena Williams def. [2] Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-4

Bianca Andreescu def. [3] Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 2-6, 6-4

Marie Bouzkova def. [4] Simona Halep 6-4(ret.)

Sofia Kenin def. [6] Elina Svitolina 7-6(2), 6-4

             

Friday Recap

Williams avoided a repeat of the U.S. Open final, taking down Osaka in straight sets.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion was nearly untouchable on serve. She didn't allow a single break-point opportunity and collected 12 aces with only three double-faults, according to the Rogers Cup's official site.

Osaka saved two break points in the sixth game of the first set but wasn't so lucky two games later, which was the decisive blow Williams needed to take the opening frame. A service break in the third game of the second set helped her secure the victory.

In addition to her overpowering serve, Williams' backhand was a reliable weapon all night:

This was Williams' first win over Osaka, having dropped their first two meetings. Osaka took the defeat in stride:

Halep's night ended early. After dropping the opening set 4-6, she was briefly evaluated by trainers, and it was determined she could no longer continue:

Following her three-set win over Jennifer Brady in the round of 32, Halep revealed she had experienced trouble with her Achilles.

"I was tired in the third set," she said, per Alex Macpherson of the WTA's official site. "I felt the Achilles since the first point of the match. But it's normal after a break and also coming on the hard courts. It's very difficult for the ankles and also for the knees. But I'm happy to go through, and hopefully tomorrow I will be OK."

Although Halep went on to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round, her Achilles clearly flared up again and prevented her from successfully defending her Rogers Cup crown.

Nadal fared better, though not without some difficulty. He dropped serve twice in the first set to fall behind to Fognini before regrouping and steamrolling the 32-year-old Italian over the remainder of the match.

"I lost [the first set] 6-2 with the feeling I was not playing bad, no negative feelings on the ball, just things [were] going too fast," Nadal said after the match, per the ATP's official site. "Honestly, the beginning of the match [was] difficult because I [was] playing probably a little bit better than him, but then the score was against me. I felt that I had a big chance to be 3-Love for me. Then it was 3-1 for him."

Fognini and Nadal combined for the best point of the tournament. The crowd's reaction grew as the action unfolded, reaching a crescendo at Fognini's drop shot:

Nadal is now through to the semifinals for the ninth time in 10 tournaments.

              

Updated Schedule

Men's Singles

[6] Karen Khachanov vs. [8] Daniil Medvedev (not before 3 p.m. ET)

[1] Rafael Nadal vs. [16] Gael Monfils/[10] Roberto Bautista Agut (not before 8 p.m. ET)

           

Women's Singles

Sofia Kenin vs. Bianca Andreescu (1 p.m. ET)

Marie Bouzkova vs. [8] Serena Williams (not before 6 p.m. ET)

Rogers Cup 2019: Thursday Scores, Results and Updated Canada Open Schedule

Aug 9, 2019
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 08: Serena Williams of the United States waves to the crowd after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia following a third round match on Day 6 of the Rogers Cup at Aviva Centre on August 08, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 08: Serena Williams of the United States waves to the crowd after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia following a third round match on Day 6 of the Rogers Cup at Aviva Centre on August 08, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

The 2019 Rogers Cup pared its field down to eight on both the men's and women's side Thursday, as the Canadian crowd was able to see some of the sport's top names in action.

Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams were atop the marquee, and all three were able to continue making their potential push to the finals. Here's a look at the full results from every match along with a recap of the notable moments. 

    

2019 Rogers Cup Results—Aug. 8

Men's Singles

[1] Rafael Nadal def. Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4

[2] Dominic Thiem def. [14] Marin Cilic 7-6(7), 6-4

[3] Alexander Zverev def. [13] Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(5)

[6] Karen Khachanov def. Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-3

[7] Fabio Fognini def. Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 7-5

[8] Daniil Medvedev def. Christian Garin 6-3, 6-3

[10] Roberto Bautista Agut def. Richard Gasquet 7-5, 7-5

[16] Gael Monfils def. Hubert Hurkacs 6-4, 6-0

Women's Singles

[2] Naomi Osaka def. Iga Swiatek 7-6(4), 6-4

[3] Karolina Plískova def. [16] Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 7-5

[4] Simona Halep def. Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-1

Bianca Andreescu def. [5] Kiki Bertans 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-4

[6] Elina Svitolina def. Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-4

[8] Serena Williams def. Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 6-4

Sofia Kenin def. Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 6-2

Marie Bouzkova def. Jeļena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-2

     

Recap

The men's singles, as has been the case throughout the event, was dominated by chalk. Six of the top eight seeds will head into the quarterfinals, and only two were in any danger Thursday.

Rafael Nadal breezed through Guido Pella in a 6-3, 6-4 romp, and Dominic Thiem edged past No. 14 Marin Cilic in a narrow straight-sets victory. Nadal's win gave him 379 in Masters 1000 events, breaking a tie with Roger Federer for the most all-time. He'll move on to play Fabio Fognini, who looked strong in a 6-2, 7-5 victory over unseeded Adrian Mannarino.

“He's having a great season, one of the best of his career, if not the best,” Nadal said of Fognini. “I need to be playing well. I think today I played better than yesterday, so I hope tomorrow I continue with this improvement. That's what I need if I want to keep having chances to be through.”

Alexander Zverev was the victor in the best match of the round of 16, narrowly getting past Nikoloz Basilashvili in a three-set thriller. Zverev survived despite an ugly service evening that saw him double-fault 14 times, allowing Basilashvili to stay competitive in the match. Eight of those double-faults came in the second set, which essentially allowed Basilashvili to force a third.

Zverev will move on to play sixth-seeded Karen Khachanov, who dropped his first set against 19-year-old Felix Auger Aliassime before coming back for a 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-3 triumph. 

On the women's side, things were a little more unpredictable. Five of the top eight seeds remain heading into the quarterfinals, but fifth-seeded Kiki Bertans was the victim of the biggest upset of the evening. Bianca Andreescu continued her strong run in Canada with a three-set upset of Bertans, reaching her first quarterfinals in front of her home country.

"Today, I think I played better than my other matches, especially in the first set. I was on top of the ball, every ball. My serve was really effective as well," Andreescu said. 

Second-seeded Naomi Osaka is the top woman left in the field after a straight-sets win over Iga Swiatek. 

She'll face off against eighth-seeded Serena Williams in possibly the highest-profile match of the entire tournament—even including the finals. Osaka and Williams have not faced one another since their controversial 2018 U.S. Open final. 

Williams defeated qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 6-4 in a tune-up that gave her a bigger test than many expected.

“She played really well. She didn’t really give me any rhythm. I wasn’t sure what was going to come. It was definitely a challenge for me,” Williams said after the match. “I was trying to feel her game out. I knew I could take it to a new level.”

Expect all eyes to be on Williams and Osaka as they headline the quarterfinals Friday.

       

Updated Schedule

Men's Singles

[2] Dominic Thiem vs. [8] Daniil Medvedev (12 p.m. ET)

[3] Alexander Zverev vs. [6] Karen Khachanov (2 p.m. ET)

[1] Rafael Nadal vs. [7] Fabio Fognini (6:30 p.m. ET)

[10] Robert Bautista Agut vs. [16] Gael Monfils (7:50 p.m. ET)

Women's Singles

[6] Elina Svitolina vs. Sofia Kenin (12:30 p.m. ET)

[3] Karolina Plískova vs. Bianca Andreescu (2 p.m. ET)

[2] Naomi Osaka vs. [8] Serena Williams (7 p.m. ET)

[4] Simona Halep vs. Marie Bouzkova (8:15 p.m. ET)

Rogers Cup 2019: Wednesday Scores, Results and Updated Canadian Open Schedule

Aug 7, 2019
MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Daniel Evans of Great Britain during day 6 of the Rogers Cup at IGA Stadium on August 7, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 07: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Daniel Evans of Great Britain during day 6 of the Rogers Cup at IGA Stadium on August 7, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The second round of the Rogers Cup took place Wednesday, with some of the top names in the sport all doing battle in Montreal and Toronto.

Below, we'll break down the day's most notable results and top storylines. And for the full list of men's and women's results and the updated schedule after Wednesday's matches, be sure to check out RogersCup.com.

             

Highlighted Men's Results

No. 1 Rafael Nadal def. Daniel Evans, 7-6 (6), 6-4

No. 10 Roberto Bautista Agut def. Diego Schwartzman, 6-2, 7-5

Richard Gasquet def. No. 5 Kei Nishikori, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-6 (4)

No. 8 Daniil Medvedev def. Kyle Edmund, 6-3, 6-0

Cristian Garin def. No. 12 John Isner, 6-3, 6-4

No. 14 Marin Cilic def. John Millman, 6-3, 6-4

Hubert Hurkacz def. No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

No. 2 Dominic Thiem def. Denis Shapovalov, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Adrian Mannarino def. No. 11 Borna Coric, 6-2, 6-1

No. 16 Gael Monfils def. Ilya Ivashka, 6-3, 7-6 (6)

No. 6 Karen Khachanov def. Stan Wawrinka, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2

Felix Auger-Aliassime def. No. 17 Milos Raonic, 6-3, 3-6 (retired)

                      

Highlighted Women's Results

Dayana Yastremska def. Victoria Azarenka, 7-5, 7-5

No. 11 Belinda Bencic def. Julia Gorges, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4

No. 6 Elina Svitolina def. Katerina Siniakova, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

No. 3 Karolina Pliskova def. Alison Riske, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2

No. 4 Simona Halep def. Jennifer Brady, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5)

No. 2 Naomi Osaka def. Tatjana Maria, 6-2, 6-0

No. 8 Serena Williams def. Elise Mertens, 6-3, 6-3

No. 16 Anett Kontaveit def. Carla Suarez Navarro, 7-5, 3-1 (retired)

              

Recap

Rafael Nadal hasn't been in action since losing to Roger Federer at the semifinals of Wimbledon in July, but he told reporters after his victory over Daniel Evans that he was trying to return to his winning ways, per ATPTour.com:

"Always is tough, first match on hard court after such a long time. After Wimbledon, the mind always goes down a little bit because I have been playing a long clay-court season, then grass, so you didn't relax. Then when you finish Wimbledon, it's like your body loses a little bit of that tension, so it needs little bit of time to recover.

"Today, as I said before, the main thing is win. I know with victories that other things should be coming slowly. I have been playing and practising more or less well. Now is the moment to compete. Today I competed enough well to be through. Tomorrow is another challenge."

The next challenge will be facing Guido Pella on Thursday. Don't expect Nadal to take him lightly.

"Today was a good victory that allowed me to be back on court again tomorrow," he said. "Tomorrow [I play] against a player who is playing great. He's having the best year of his career. He's super dangerous, winning great matches. I need to be ready for tomorrow."

While most of the top seeds advanced on the men's side, No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, No. 5 Kei Nishikori and No. 12 John Isner saw their tournaments come to a close.

On the women's side, chalk mostly held, with No. 8 Serena Williams handling her business against Elise Mertens.

Her win included a few brilliant highlights, including some powerful winners:

Meanwhile, No. 2 Naomi Osaka put on one of the day's truly dominant performances before her opponent, Tatjana Maria, retired in the second set. That set the stage for either Osaka or No. 3 Karolina Pliskova to move into the top overall spot on the WTA rankings when the new set is released Monday.

Osaka spoke about her performance after the match, per WTATennis.com:

"I thought I played really well despite the fact that we only played one set. I think that I was able to do what I wanted, which was go for the shots that I had the opportunity to. And, of course, there were, like, a couple unforced errors, but I think that's part of the process. For me, I'm just happy that it was my first match in a while and I was able to get in the groove of things quickly."

Back in the groove, indeed. Osaka is one of the favorites in this tournament, though Williams' strong showing Wednesday was a reminder that she's always lurking as a threat.

Look: Rafael Nadal Buys Custom 80-Foot Yacht Featuring Garage and Multiple Decks

Jul 24, 2019
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates during his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during Day 11 of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates during his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during Day 11 of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

It's out with the old, in with the new for Rafael Nadal.

After putting his current yacht, Beethoven, on the market for $3 million, the 33-year-old tennis star is in the process of acquiring another luxurious watercraft. According to TMZ Sports, Nadal has purchased an 80 Sunreef Power catamaran. 

TMZ Sports noted the spacious yacht features multiple sun decks, a garage, a bar and has room for 12 guests.

"As someone from an island as I am, the sea is part of our lives and it’s not a secret that I love the sea," Nadal said, per Laura Nicholls of SuperYacht Times. "Every time I am at home in Mallorca I try to go out and find that time where I can just enjoy my time on a boat. I am very happy to be on board of this Sunreef Yachts family and would like to thanks Mr. Francis Lapp for making this possible."

No price tag was listed for the new yacht. But considering the 18-time Grand Slam champ has racked up more than $110 million in on-court earnings during his career, he should have some money to work with.

Unfortunately for Nadal, he will have to wait a bit before he will be able to take his new yacht out on the water. It is not expected to be delivered until 2020.

Wimbledon Tennis 2019 Men's Final: TV Schedule, Start Time and Live Stream Info

Jul 12, 2019

Novak Djokovic will play Roger Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final on Sunday.

The Serb will battle the Swiss in the perfect finale for the London crowd and fans watching at home.

Federer will attempt to win his ninth Wimbledon title, with Djokovic on the verge of becoming a five-time champion in SW19.

                                     

Date: Sunday, July 14

Time: 2 p.m. BST/9 a.m. ET

TV Info: BBC One (UK), ESPN (U.S.)

Live Stream: BBC iPlayer, ESPN Player

                             

Preview

Once Djokovic had beaten Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-finals, he had the opportunity to sit back and wait to see which iconic talent would be his opponent on Sunday.

Federer prevailed against Rafael Nadal, and his last-four victory in four sets was impressive against one of his greatest rivals.

Nadal did not perform badly, but the Swiss rolled back the years to provide a complete performance.

Federer has always been a master on grass, and his years of success on the surface were evident in the semi-finals.

Nadal was excellent throughout the first two sets, but the eventual winner hit a wonderful groove to grab control of the match.

Destiny was in Federer's hands, and the Swiss booked his place in the final to face Djokovic.

Federer hit 51 winners in the match compared to Nadal's 32, and the Spaniard was squeezed out in the last two sets.

Djokovic appeared frustrated at times in his match with Bautista Agut, but the top seed regained his composure just as opponent began to perform at his maximum.

After winning the first set, Djokovic suffered a dip, opening the door for the 31-year-old.

Like Federer, Djokovic excelled in the latter stages of the match. Three further breaks of serve allowed the Serb a chance of defending his title in the final.

The shape of the draw dictated this was the final tennis fans wanted to see. The top two seeds have been in excellent form over the past two weeks, but Federer's amazing display against Nadal will have raised eyebrows.

Djokovic would be the overwhelming favourite against any other opponent, but Federer has a special relationship with Centre Court and its most famous competition. 

Wimbledon 2019 Results: Friday Winners, Scores, Stats and Singles Draw Update

Jul 12, 2019
Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates winning a point against Spain's Rafael Nadal during a men's singles semifinal match on day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates winning a point against Spain's Rafael Nadal during a men's singles semifinal match on day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer both prevailed in the 2019 Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday.

Djokovic defeated No. 23 seed Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets, and Federer eliminated classic rival Rafael Nadal on Centre Court.

Djokovic lost the second set to the Spaniard, but the top seed was efficient during a convincing 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

Federer and Nadal entertained the crowds in a compelling match, and it was the Swiss who advanced to his 12th Wimbledon final, 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

                     

Friday's Results

(1) Novak Djokovic bt. (23) Roberto Bautista Agut: 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

(2) Roger Federer bt. (3) Rafael Nadal 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4

                         

Friday Recap

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his Men's Singles semi-final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during Day eleven of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2019 in Lond
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his Men's Singles semi-final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during Day eleven of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2019 in Lond

The London crowd were expectant before Federer and Nadal took the court, and the two men did not disappoint in a battle that initially swung back and forth.

Federer edged a tiebreak in the first set, but Nadal was rampant in the second set, levelling the match after breaking the Swiss player's serve twice.

However, the swing in momentum motivated the eight-time Wimbledon champion to pick up the pace, and a break of serve gave him a 3-1 advantage in the third. Federer closed out the set 6-3, with Nadal beginning to lose the vital points.

Federer continued to apply pressure in the fourth, and the Swiss once again broke the Spaniard's serve to make it 2-1.

The 37-year-old remained at the height of his powers as he made it 4-2, and the final was in sight for the icon. Nadal continued to fight in his usual manner, but Federer's variation was too much for the 18-time Grand Slam winner.

Federer finished in style as he served for the match, and veteran booked his spot in the final after delivering 14 aces during the encounter.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Novak Djokovic(R) of Serbia greets Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain after their Men's Singles semi-final match during Day eleven of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2019 in
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Novak Djokovic(R) of Serbia greets Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain after their Men's Singles semi-final match during Day eleven of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2019 in

It appeared Bautista Agut might test Djokovic further after a second-set comeback, but the Serb recovered from a difficult period in order to prevail. Djokovic was quickly out of the blocks to claim the opener, but his opponent dug deep and offered a credible challenge until the latter stages.

The reigning champion broke Bautista Agut's opening service game in the first and remained in control throughout the set. However, 31-year-old was resolute, breaking the four-time champion's serve to win the second.

Djokovic improved and took over once again. The top seed hit 42 winners in the contest as he closed out the match over the final two sets.

According to BBC Sport's Katie Falkingham, Djokovic paid tribute to his beaten semi-finalist.

"I had to dig deep. It's the semi-finals and Roberto was playing his first Grand Slam semi-final. He was not overwhelmed.

"He played really well. He was managing his nerves in the first set but later on he established himself and started to play better.

"I got a bit tight. It was a close opening four or five games of the third set - that's where the match could have gone a different way. I'm glad it went my way."

Djokovic has the chance to win his 16th Grand Slam title on Sunday, but Federer appeared to be at his best against Nadal.

Despite a stumble of form in the second set, it was vintage Federer all the way, and Djokovic will need to produce one more exceptional display at SW19.

                 

All statistics via Wimbledon.

Roger Federer Beats Rafael Nadal to Book Novak Djokovic Clash in Wimbledon Final

Jul 12, 2019
Spain's Rafael Nadal and Switzerland's Roger Federer, left, pose before a men's singles semifinal match on day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Spain's Rafael Nadal and Switzerland's Roger Federer, left, pose before a men's singles semifinal match on day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Roger Federer will meet Novak Djokovic in the 2019 Wimbledon final after beating Rafael Nadal in a four-set clash on Friday.

The two rivals needed a tiebreak to separate them in the first set. While the third-seeded Nadal dominated the second set, it was No. 2 Federer who had the upper hand the rest of the way, winning 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

No. 1 seed Djokovic beat No. 23 Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets in Friday's first semi-final.

Before the match, sportswriter Bill Simmons couldn't believe the two rivals would come face-to-face again at Wimbledon:

It was their first meeting on the hallowed London lawns since 2008. Initially, the two were just as evenly matched on Friday as they were in that epic final, won by Nadal in five sets.

Both men had their serves clicking, leading to few lengthy rallies and plenty of alternating dominance.

The two rivals had their chances at a break, but whenever one went close, the other had an answer ready. Per tennis writer Christopher Clarey, it didn't feel like a classic Federer-Nadal battle:

A tiebreak seemed inevitable, and even then, there was little to split them during the first six points. Nadal bagged the first mini-break, but it was all Federer after that, as he won the set to claim the early advantage.

Per tennis writer Ben Rothenberg, winning the opener was crucial:

The two continued to go blow for blow early in the second set, but then Nadal struck, taking the first break of the match to love.

The Spaniard found a rhythm Federer couldn't keep up with, dominating the middle portion of the second set:

Aggression was key, as he hit his groundstrokes much longer and deeper than he did in the first set. It led to a second break of serve and an easy set win for the Spaniard.

Avoiding mistakes was a big part of his success:

Federer's poor play in the second set turned out to be an aberration, however, as he went right back to the strong forehand play and serving that won him the first set. He bagged his first break of serve in the fourth game, and despite facing three break chances in the following game, he held for a 4-1 lead.

The 37-year-old had momentum fully in his corner. After cruising through the third set, he pushed right on in the fourth with another break in the third game.

Nadal wasn't done yet, pushing the veteran in every rally. Basketball great Kobe Bryant was impressed with the tennis on offer:

But Federer ground out serve games at a steady pace. While Nadal did have a break point in the final game, it was the Swiss star who booked his ticket in the final.

Wimbledon 2019 Men's Semi-Final: TV Schedule, Start Time, Live-Stream Info

Jul 10, 2019
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his victory over Kei Nishikori of Japan during Day 9 of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 10, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 10: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his victory over Kei Nishikori of Japan during Day 9 of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 10, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will meet at Wimbledon on Friday for the first time since their epic final encounter in 2008.

This time it will be at the semi-final stage after both got through their last-eight clashes on Wednesday. Nadal beat Sam Querrey 7-5, 6-2, 6-2, and Federer overcame Kei Nishikori 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. 

In the other men's singles semi-final on Friday, top seed Novak Djokovic will face Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, who had never previously made it past the fourth round at Wimbledon.                                   

Date: Friday, July 12

Time: From 1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET on Centre Court

TV Info: BBC One and BBC Two (UK), ESPN (U.S.)

Live Stream: BBC Sport website, BBC iPlayer, ESPN Player

Nadal and Federer have met three times at Wimbledon in the 2006, '07 and '08 finals.

In the latter, the Spaniard prevailed in the most memorable of the three, when the duo played out five extraordinary sets in almost five hours, securing his maiden Wimbledon title in his fifth appearance at the Championships:

His victory also prevented Federer from winning a sixth Wimbledon in a row.

Since that remarkable clash in 2008, Nadal and Federer have continued to dominate the tennis landscape along with Djokovic, and the trio now have 53 Grand Slam titles between them.

At Wimbledon, Federer has eight titles, Djokovic four and Nadal two.

The only other player who has won the Wimbledon men's singles title since Federer's maiden triumph in 2003 is Andy Murray, who lifted the famous trophy in 2013 and 2016.

What is perhaps more remarkable is there is no end in sight for the trio's dominance:

Bautista Agut is enjoying a brilliant season. But he will be playing in his first-ever Grand Slam semi-final on Friday against a player who has now reached his 36th.

Djokovic and Bautista Agut have played 10 times. The Spaniard has won just three of those, although two of those have come this year.

But if the No. 23 seed gets a fourth on Friday, it would be a remarkable shock. 

As such, the final looks set to be Djokovic, the defending champion, against either Nadal or Federer.

Nadal has looked in fine touch at the 2019 tournament, but he does not have the most impressive recent record on grass:

Federer, meanwhile, has reached three of the last five Wimbledon finals, winning in 2017, and he claimed his 10th victory at the Halle Open in the buildup to this year's Wimbledon.

Come Friday, though, form may be irrelevant in a clash between arguably the two greatest players to ever wield a racket.

If it is anything like their 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 meeting at Wimbledon in 2008, it will be another contest for the ages. 

Wimbledon 2019 Results: Wednesday Winners, Scores, Stats, Singles Draw Update

Jul 10, 2019
Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates beating Japan's Kei Nishikori during their men's singles quarter-final match on day nine of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 10, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates beating Japan's Kei Nishikori during their men's singles quarter-final match on day nine of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 10, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

It has taken over a decade, but Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will finally meet at Wimbledon again this year for the first time since their epic 2008 final.

The superlative duo will clash in Friday's semi-finals after Nadal beat Sam Querrey and Federer downed Kei Nishikori in Wednesday's quarter-finals.

Top seed Novak Djokovic is also into the last four after beating David Goffin in the quarters, and he will face Roberto Bautista Agut, who got past Guido Pella in three hours and seven minutes. 

Here are Wednesday's results in full:

                       

Men's Singles Quarter-Finals

(1) Novak Djokovic bt. (21) David Goffin: 6-4, 6-0, 6-2

(2) Roger Federer bt. (8) Kei Nishikori: 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

(3) Rafael Nadal bt. Sam Querrey: 7-5, 6-2, 6-2

(23) Roberto Bautista Agut bt. (26) Guido Pella: 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

                

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have won 14 of the last 16 Wimbledon titles—the absent Andy Murray won the other two—and it would be a huge shock were one of them not to win it again in 2019.

All three enjoyed largely routine victories in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic, 32, went a break behind early on against Belgium's Goffin, but he duly won 10 games in a row to completely turn the match on its head.

The Serb eventually won his quarter in just under two hours, and he will be a heavy favourite against Bautista Agut:

The other semi-final, on the other hand, is less easy to call.

Nadal was largely imperious against Querrey, eventually running away with victory after a 58-minute opening set in which the American matched his auspicious opponent blow for blow.

Federer, 37, actually lost his opening set on Wednesday to Nishikori.

As with Querrey against Nadal, though, the Japanese player simply could not keep up the level of performance needed to compete with Federer, and the Swiss legend eventually turned the match around:

https://twitter.com/DavidLawTennis/status/1148993324080123904

Which of Federer or Nadal will fare better in the semi-finals is almost impossible to predict.

Nadal has not enjoyed much success on grass in recent years, but he has arguably looked the most impressive of the three top seeds so far at Wimbledon 2019.

In the duo's head-to-head, Nadal leads Federer by 24 wins to 15, but the eight-time Wimbledon champion has won five of their last six meetings.

Nadal eventually won that famous 2008 final in London, but Federer has the edge in their matches played at Wimbledon:

It should be a match of supreme quality, with the winner likely to then have to beat Djokovic in order to win another Wimbledon crown. 

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