Novak Djokovic’s quest for his elusive 25th Grand Slam picks back up on Monday as he takes on Yibing Wu of China in Round 1 of Wimbledon.

Djokovic is a massive -3500 favorite on the moneyline, with Wu paying out 12/1 on the upset.

With Carlos Alcaraz still injured and Jannik Sinner’s fitness in doubt after he was upset in Round 2 of the French Open, Djokovic will know this could be a golden opportunity to grab No. 25.

Wimbledon: Djokovic vs. Wu odds, prediction

It’s obvious to say, but it’s crucial for the 39-year-old Djokovic to stay fresh if he’s going to have a chance of making a deep run at the All England Club.

That means getting off the court as quickly as possible in the early stages is critical for the Serb if he’s going to stick around in this tournament.

The good news is that she should have a great chance of doing that against Wu.

Wu can be a tricky opponent on his day, but his record on grass does not inspire confidence. The 26-year-old has just one win in seven career matches on the lawn, and he’s only played one match at Wimbledon, a straight-set loss to Frances Tiafoe in 2023.

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Now, he’ll take on an all-time great on Centre Court in the headliner on Day 1.

If everything is clicking, Wu’s offensive toolkit could overwhelm a lesser opponent on the grass, but Djokovic is one of the best defensive players in the history of the sport, and his experience with these conditions is a massive edge in this matchup.

It’s hard to see how Djokovic has any issues in this matchup, and he’ll want to get it over as quickly as possible to save his legs for the business end of the fortnight.

The Play: Under 28.5 games (+205, FanDuel)

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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.