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Wimbledon 2018: Novak Djokovic and Kevin Anderson battle for glory after epic semifinals

Both Djokovic and Anderson are coming off after long and tiring semifinals.

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When Novak Djokovic takes the court against Kevin Anderson in Wimbledon men's final on Sunday, it would not have been even 24 hours since the conclusion of his five-set thriller against Rafael Nadal. 

Still, he will be the overwhelming favourite to secure a fourth Wimbledon title as his opponent is expected to be even more tired after a gruelling run of matches. 

Anderson is coming off a 6 hour 36 minute win over John Isner, while Djokovic is coming off a 5 hour semifinal against Rafael Nadal. It was the Anderson's epic battle with Isner that forced Djokovic v/s Nadal to be extended to the next day, thus robbing Djokovic of the day of rest. 

It does not mean Anderson's job is any easier. The big man has spent 10 hours and 50 minutes on the court in his last two matches. The match before that was also a five-setter.

In the semifinal, Anderson covered a distance of 4.44 kilometres. In his quarter-final against Roger Federer, the 202 cm tall South African covered a distance of 3.46 kilometres on court.

The last two matches have been perhaps the two most impressive wins of Anderson's career. However, he will need to raise his game higher to beat Djokovic. 

 

Anderson may have slayed Roger Federer and matched John Isner with his big serve but he will need to do much more against Novak who is a great returner of the ball. 

Djokovic, whose career nosedived over the last two years, has been looking like his old self in this tournament. The 31-year-old former world No.1 was the big-hitting, chest-pumping star of old as he defeated old rival Rafael Nadal 6-4 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 3-6 10-8 in an epic semifinal on Saturday.

At Wimbledon this year, he has battled unruly crowds, claiming elements of Centre Court were “unfair” to him in his win over home hope Kyle Edmund, and bizarre scheduling. He even suffered the indignity of being exiled to Court Two for his second round match.

But he has also played his best Tennis in the last two years. He has looked hungry. 

 

And as both men take the Centre Court at 6.30 pm IST on Sunday and take us to another five-setter, it may come down to hunger, afterall.

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