It wasn’t easy, but the new second-favorite to win the Wimbledon Championships, Rafael Nadal, got past Francisco Cerundolo in a four-set first round match.
When Nadal got past a tough first set in which he saved numerous break points, it seemed as if the legend was going to cruise to victory. Nadal was finding a rhythm and playing excellent tennis.
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Nadal was such a heavy favorite at that point that oddsmakers didn’t even have a moneyline option on the board.
He got out to a two set and a break lead before things got dicey.
The young Argentine Cerundolo broke back before securing the third set and taking a break advantage in the fourth. Cerundolo also had chances at a double-break lead, but he wasn’t able to find it.
Nadal roared back in the fourth set and dominated from that point on to win the match.
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At the tightest part of the match, when Cerundolo was attempting to secure a double-break advantage in the fourth set, Nadal’s moneyline price dipped below -400.
After Nadal’s win, and more importantly after the news of Matteo Berrettini’s withdrawal from the Championships due to COVID, Nadal has dropped to +500 to win the tournament, per FanDuel.
Nadal is listed only behind Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon, as the three-time reigning champion is dominant on grass.