Kevin Anderson v John Isner Betting Odds & Predictions
This is a surprising line up for the semi-finals of Wimbledon 2018 and even more so when you consider just how it is that Anderson arrived in the final four. The big-serving South African wasn’t given too much of a chance as he was up against Roger Federer in the quarter finals. With Federer ticking along metronomically at the tournament, looking dominant in reaching the quarter final, Anderson found himself two sets down against Federer.
Most would have thought that it was all over for Anderson at that point and Federer missed a match point in the third set. But Anderson came back and he really stepped up the levels, as he fought his way back into the match and it will probably go down as being one of the matches of his life as he took a 3-2 win in four and a quarter hours. There was a big test of nerve for Anderson on Court One against Federer and he came through it. That was his first win over Federer in five attempts, taking the deciding set 13-11 in the end. With so much serving-power happening in his semi-final we are looking towards five sets at 2/1 odds with BetVictor* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July, 2018 at 6:12 p.m.).
Big-Serving Semi Final Ahead
He will now take on John Isner in the semi finals, who like him has a massive serve as a weapon. American Isner found himself in a tussle with Milos Raonic in the quarter finals. His serve has been working so well again for him which helps him out so much. He has racked up 160 aces at the tournament so far. That is a huge advantage, a lot of free points. 160 served aces equates to 40 games won. Still, he has dropped sets and had a five-setter against Ruben Bemelmans in the second round.
The slower surface at Wimbledon with its higher bounce this year is perhaps helping him out. Isner had to fight back from a narrow first set loss against Canadian Raonic to book his place in the final four. Like Anderson this will be the first time in a semi final match at Wimbledon for Isner. In fact this is Isner’s first Grand Slam semi-final coming at the age of 33. His previous best Grand Slam result was a quarter-final at the 2011 US Open. But he has carried form this year with his win in Miami for example, the biggest title of his career.
Head to head
These two are familiar with each other as they have met eleven times before. Isner has a big advantage from those previous meetings as he is up 8-3 over Anderson. This will be their first meeting since 2005 though when Isner won at Indian Wells. The American has won the last five meetings now. Just one of their previous meetings has been on grass, was back at Queens 2008 which again, Isner won.
Prediction
These are two big men with similar games. Anderson is 6’8” while Isner is 6’10”. You know what to expect in this game. A lot of aces. A lot of service games held. Of the two, Anderson is the more well rounded of the two, and overall is having a better season than Isner in terms of match wins. But Isner seems to have him figured out from previous meetings and he has had big game experience this season with that run to the Miami title. We are going with Isner in our prediction.
