Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Semifinals on ESPN: Federer-Nadal XL and Djokovic vs. Bautista Agut

Tennis

Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Semifinals on ESPN: Federer-Nadal XL and Djokovic vs. Bautista Agut

  • #2 Federer vs. #3 Nadal for a 40th Meeting
  • #1 Djokovic vs. #23 Bautista Agut
  • Breakfast at Wimbledon: Focus on the Rivalries of the Big Three, Look Back at Federer-Nadal 2008 Masterpiece
  • Nadal-Federer 2008 Wimbledon Epic on ESPNEWS Tonight, also On Demand on ESPN+
  • Saturday’s Ladies’ Championship: #7 Simona Halep vs. #11 Serena Williams

 The 40th meeting in what many consider the greatest rivalry in tennis history — #2 seed Roger Federer vs. #3 Rafael Nadal in their first Wimbledon meeting since their epic 2008 championship match – headlines the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Semifinals on Friday, July 12.  In the first match, #1 Novak Djokovic, the defending champ, plays #23 Roberto Bautista Agut.  ESPN’s exclusive coverage continues, starting with Breakfast at Wimbledon at 7 a.m. ET and the Gentlemen’s Semifinals at 8 a.m.:

  • #2 Roger Federer: The 37-year old Swiss holds the records of 20 Major titles and eight at Wimbledon.  He has been ranked #1 more weeks than any player in history.  His semifinal victory was his 100th at Wimbledon, more than any man at any Major.

Vs.

  • #3 Rafael Nadal: The lefty from Spain, 33, has won 18 Major championships including two at Wimbledon.  He has won a record 34 ATP Masters titles.  He won the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal in Singles and was part of Spain’s Davis Cup-winning team four times.

Nadal leads the matchup 24-15 although Federer leads on surfaces other than clay (13-10) and 2-1 on grass (all at Wimbledon).  This will be their first meeting on the lawn of Centre Court at the All England Club since their epic 2008 Championship match won by Nadal 6–4, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7.

That match will be preceded by:

  • #1 Novak Djokovic: The 32-year old top-ranked player from Serbia seeks his fifth Wimbledon title and 16th Major overall.  He has won seven of his 10 matches with Roberto Bautista Agut.

Vs.

  • #23 Roberto Bautista Agut: At 31, the Spaniard is playing in his first Major semifinal.  He has been ranked as high as #13 (2016) in his career.

ESPN+ on the ESPN App; 2008 Championship on ESPNEWS Tonight

Beyond Centre Court, more courts are available on the ESPN App with ESPN+ covering Doubles, Juniors, Wheelchair and Invitational (seniors) beginning at 6 a.m. (No. 1 Court at 8 a.m.).

In addition, ESPN+ has available on demand the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Championships between Federer and Nadal from 2006, 2007 and 2008.  The 2008 five-hour marathon will be aired on ESPNEWS tonight at 1 a.m. (10 p.m. PT).

Breakfast at Wimbledon at 7 a.m.

The two Gentlemen’s Semifinal matches will be preceded by Breakfast at Wimbledon at 7 a.m., hosted by Chris McKendry.  The show will include:

  • A look at the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry, one of the greatest in all of sports history
  • A look at Novak Djokovic’s place in the Big Three in the prism of that rivalry
  • A feature on the 2008 Wimbledon Championship masterpiece between Federer and Nadal
  • A preview of the day’s Gentlemen’s Semifinals and a look ahead at the Ladies’ Championship.

“Wimbledon Multicam” on ESPN3 Returns for Semifinals and Championships

ESPN3 – online and streaming live on the ESPN App – will once again add an additional feed – “Wimbledon Multicam” – for the semifinals.  It has three boxes – the primary TV view, plus two more, each focusing on one player.

Ladies’ Championship Saturday – Serena Goes for History

Saturday’s Wimbledon Ladies’ Championship will begin at 9 a.m., preceded by Breakfast at Wimbledon at 8 a.m.:

  • #7 Simona Halep will seek her second Major title against #11 Serena Williams who is aiming to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Major titles (seven of her 23 are at Wimbledon).

 

-30-

 

Dave Nagle

As I write this on 11-11-21, it's now 35 years for me at ESPN, the only real job I’ve ever had. I joined merely to help with the upcoming America’s Cup in Australia. I was told it would be for three months at all of $5.50 per hour. I like to say I simply kept showing up. I’ve worked on almost every sport, plus answered viewer calls and letters (people used to write!), given tours, written the company newsletter and once drove NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon to the local airport. My travels have been varied…I’ve been to Martinsville, Darlington, Indy and Super Bowls; the America’s Cup (all 3) in San Diego and College GameDay in the sport’s meccas such as Eugene, Auburn, Lubbock, Stillwater and more; the NBA Finals, Wimbledon (16 times and counting) and the “other Bristol,” the one with a race track in Tennessee. These days, my main areas are tennis, UFC, boxing, network-wide ratings (by month/quarter/year), and corporate communications documents, including fact sheets, chronologies, lists and nearly 35 of the Year in Review press releases. UPDATE EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER: Today, November 11, 2022, I am retiring from ESPN -- 36 years to the day I began. As I ride off into the sunset – top down and E Street Radio blaring – I do so with so many wonderful memories, proud of my contributions and a heart full of gratitude for the opportunity. 
Back to top button