Wimbledon surface will ‘favour Rafael Nadal’ should he meet Novak Djokovic in final, says analyst

Shahida Jacobs
July 2, 2022

Former world No 1 Mats Wilander believes a “drier, worn out” Wimbledon surface will favour Rafael Nadal should he face Novak Djokovic in the final.

Djokovic is the clear favourite to win a seventh title at SW19 next week and the defending champion progressed to the fourth round with an excellent display against fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Friday.

Nadal will be hoping to follow suit when he takes on Lorenzo Sonego on Saturday and, if he continues his current Grand Slam form, then he is likely to be the man across the net from Djokovic in the final.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander says while Djokovic has looked the more impressive in the first week, Nadal will eventually up his game the longer he stays in the tournament and the grass on Centre Court should suit him by the time the final arrives.

“It’s completely irrelevant what you look like and what you feel like after two matches because they are only going to play in the finals,” he told Eurosport. “They are both going to get four more matches to get there.

“The court here at Wimbledon is going to be completely different if they play in the final. It’s going to be drier, worn out. It’s going to play out more like a clay court so if they were to play today or Friday first week then yes so far Djokovic has maybe looked a little bit better.

“But the longer the tournament goes the more the surface starts to favour Rafa Nadal.

“It doesn’t mean I think Nadal is going to beat Djokovic in the final necessarily but like I said before they are just winning matches and peak at the right time. So far they haven’t had to peak.”

Mats Wilander Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal