This version of the present vs. the future has met four times before, and the present—i.e., Djokovic—has won three times. Dimitrov’s only victory came on clay in Madrid last year, a loss that Djokovic quickly and thoroughly avenged a few weeks later in Paris.
Where do we stand now? Has the future arrived, or does the present have a little longer to live? My first instinct is to say that Dimitrov isn’t ready to go any farther, and that a semifinal loss to Djokovic is the logical place for this year’s run to end for him. But I said much the same thing before Dimitrov's quarterfinal, and he played as if he were the dominant, experienced, and composed veteran. Grass suits Dimitrov’s slashing game, but Djokovic is unlikely to play as poorly as Murray did against him. The top seed will bend, as he often does, but I’m not ready to say Dimitrov can make him break. Winner: Djokovic
This version of the present vs. the future has also met four times, and the present—i.e. Federer—has won them all. But three of those matches have been close. Raonic has pushed all of their best-of-three-setters to a decider; two of them, including one on grass in Halle two years ago, have ended in a final tiebreaker. The Canadian’s serve has been effective against Federer, but Federer’s serve has been effective in this tournament. If the match is close, the surroundings may play their part. Raonic says he can ignore the circumstances, but I don't think he's ready to beat Federer in front of this crowd, on this court, at this stage of Wimbledon. Somewhere deep down, the 23-year-old knows there will be more chances; somewhere deep down, the 32-year-old knows there may not be. Winner: Federer