 "R Vaishali makes history at FIDE Grand Swiss as Arjun Erigaisi misses out on Candidates spot")
 "With 25th Grand Slam looking increasingly uncertain, Novak Djokovic could fulfill another dream next year")
Preview: Novak Djokovic will face Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon final with a chance to win a record-tying 20th Grand Slam title. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal share that men’s mark. The top-seeded Djokovic’s 30th major final will be the seventh-seeded Berrettini’s first — and the first at any major for any man from Italy since Adriano Panatta won the 1976 French Open. The key to the title match could be Berrettini’s massive serves against Djokovic’s best-in-the-business returns. It also could come down to how Berrettini handles the occasion. Djokovic recalls not having enough self-belief when he lost his first major final to Federer at the 2007 U.S. Open. Berrettini remembers being wowed by Wimbledon when he played in the junior event as a teenager. “For me, it was just absurd. I asked myself, ‘Who knows if one day I’ll return and play in the main tournament, even just in qualifying? I have no idea.’ And now I’m in the final,” he said with a laugh. And then the 25-year-old added: “So it’s all a bit strange. But what’s beautiful … is that I’m much more aware of what I can do now. I know I can do this, because I’m here.” He has won 11 matches in a row, all on grass courts, since losing to Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals on clay last month. Djokovic enters Sunday with winning streaks of 20 matches at Wimbledon, dating to 2018, and 20 matches at Grand Slam tournaments this year. With inputs from AP.
Wimbledon 2021 Highlights, men's singles final: Novak Djokovic beats Matteo Berrettini to claim 20th Grand Slam title
Catch all the latest updates and check out the live score from the Wimbledon men’s singles final on Firstpost.com’s LIVE blog.
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And we part with a photo of Novak Djokovic, now a six-time Wimbledon champion, on the South West balcony. It’s been a pleasure covering these Championships. Stick with Firstpost for our coverage of Euro 2020 final and just noticed India women beat England women in the second T20I . With that, it’s a goodbye from the All England Club.
His name on the winner’s board for a SIXTH time
Roger Federer applauds Novak Djokovic’s 20th Grand Slam win
Since 2011, to be honest, it’s been all Djokovic in this Big 3 rivalry
He has good reason to celebrate.
Classy moment as Djokovic gives his racquet to a young girl. He did so at French Open as well.
Novak Djokovic gets to kiss the trophy
Djokovic: “It was more than just a battle! Congrats to Matteo for the last two weeks. Hope there’s a great career ahead of you. You’ve got a great game, I felt the ‘Italian hammer’ on my skin in Paris and today”
“Winning Wimbledon was always a big dream as a kid. I have to repeat it to remind myself and not take it for granted. This is a huge honour and privilege. I constructed a Wimbledon trophy in my room as a 7-year-old. To stand here with this trophy is incredible.”
20th Grand Slam title: “It means none of us will stop! I have to pay a tribute to Rafa and Roger. They’re legends of our sport and two of the most important players I faced. The reason I’m today, to improve, when I broke into top-10 and lost against these guys, something shifted end 2010, beginning 2011. Last 10 years have been an incredible journey that is not stopping here.”
Calendar Grand Slam: “I could definitely envision that happening! I will give it a shot. I’m in great form. Playing my best tennis at Slams is priority. So, let’s keep it going!”
“To my team, my friends, my family – particularly my wife, kids, brother, parents – to witness this is a great moment. They see me in a different colour everyday, I really appreciate their patience and devotion to this sport.”
On Euro 2020 final: “You’re putting me in an awkward position. I’m a huge football fan, so I will enjoy football tonight”
Matteo Berrettini: “It is an unbelievable feeling! Novak was better than me. Well done! He’s writing history for this sport. I’m happy for the finals, hope it is not my last one here. Such an honour to be here. Great run during Queen’s and these two weeks. Maybe lacked a little!”
“Congrats to Novak’s team. They’re doing something unbelievable. I want to thank my team, my friends, it has been a long journey. Hopefully it is the beginning of a great career and not the end. Without this all this won’t be possible. Let’s just keep trying. Grazie!”
One lucky kid gets a selfie with the newly-crowned champion!
SIX WIMBLEDON TITLES!
Grass still tastes pretty sweet, we bet!
How it ended! SW19? More like SW20!
Scenes!
Scenes!
Scenes!
WIMBLEDON WINNER: Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic beats Matteo Berrettini 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for his sixth Wimbledon crown and 20th Grand Slam title. He is now the fifth man to have won the first three Grand Slams in a year.
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini serving to stay in the match. Starts off smoothly with a one-two punch. Smacks the net on the second point with the forehand. The side has been his ally this tournament – just not worked smoothly today. Djokovic tries to send a deep slice return but puts in too much on it. This time the backhand slice is on point and Berrettini tries to snatch at it but gets the net. 30-30. Berrettini overcooks a forehand and it is CHAMPIONSHIP POINT. Saved! Berrettini with bold decision to move up and then stays confident with a volley winner. Djokovic creates one more. Side-to-side and then moves up to the net for a high ball and plays it softly for a winner. SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP POINT. Saved! Berrettini with confident, bold tennis to smack not one but two big forehands. The second, at 101mph, goes for a winner. Berrettini finds the top of the net and that’s THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT. Berrettini almost clips the net once but finds it clean on the second attempt. Djokovic goes down in a heap!
20 in sight but it’s not over until it’s over. And Goran, of all people, knows that.
‘Did you see that’ worthy tennis!
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 4-3 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Some of the shot making today from Djokovic has been astounding. For the good. And most of them have been at the net. Once again, he gets down low for a dipping ball and gets plenty of side spin on it for a winner. Crowd cheers for Matteo once again as Djokovic seethes after a miss. Quickly gets into perfection mode with a inside-out forehand winner. Break point for Djokovic. Uh-oh! Berrettini double faults. His second of the match. BREAK!
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 3-3 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic with a well-placed drop shot and Berrettini with an even better return to it. Moves up, hits a cross court winner. 0-30! Djokovic makes it 30-30 with the second probably the point of the match. Novak with a scrambling shot on the baseline and then moves up to a drop shot to flick it for a winner. Gets the sideline, Cms! How did he get those balls up and over!? Djokovic holds from 0-30 down as Berrettini’s backhand sails long. What a hold!
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-3 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini with a divine drop shot to bring up game point. Almost gets a stiff volley back but it stayed up and then hit the net. Another chance to hold. Does so this time with a MASSIVE serve.
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-2 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Neither player pushed to start the fourth set. Two games going to 30 at the start and then at 15. Given how tricky this match his been, simpler games like that.
Ane Mintegi del Olmo is the girl’s singles champion
Joint-record in sight
Set 3 in numbers
Third set: Novak Djokovic 6-4
Novak Djokovic wins the third set by holding his serve. He is now two-sets-to-one and a set away from his sixth Wimbledon crown and 20th Grand Slam title. All to do for Matteo Berrettini if he is to join Marin Cilic in Slam winners in debut finals
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic serving for the third set. Djokovic with EXCELLENT volley at 30-15. Stayed low for a dipping slice from Berrettini, got it up and over with great control and sees the ball hit the net from Matteo’s racquet. Two set points. One squandered by the Serb as he goes for too much on the forehand, Berrettini with a wide forehand and Djokovic takes it!
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 5-4 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Matteo serving to stay in the set. Slaps a forehand passing winner with Djokovic at the net to make it 30-15. And then a big serve to bring up game point. Holds! Seems to catch the line with one deep shot, Djokovic almost considered challenging before continuing, Berrettini moves up to the net and kills the point off with a volley winner
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 4-3 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Matteo Berrettini with a love hold. The game point a winner with Berrettini backpeddling a bit. Little gap between body and ball and smacks a down the line winner. Djokovic applauds. Meanwhile, Tom Cruise poses for numerous photos in the crowd.
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 4-2 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic saves two break point chances with some typical confident play. Moves up to the net on both and dares Matteo into finding a pass. The Italian is unable to do so. The loud “Mat-te-o” “Mat-te-o” chants becomes “Nol-e”, “Nol-e” chants. Djokovic holds with an ace! The crowd are making a LOT of noise as this match gets tougher for both players.
Two Wimbledon finals and a European Championship final for your weekend? Super sweet!
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 3-1 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic leaves door ajar for Berrettini to try and pass him. Not the best approaches and Matteo has plenty of time, lots of court available to smack a winner and bring the game to deuce. Djokovic with soft hands as he moves up to bring up game point again. Holds with a big and an unreturnable serve
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 2-1 Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Berrettini withstands pressure to overturn a 0-30 deficit to make it 30-30 with a resounding smash. At 30-30, he has Djokovic rushing to the backhand side, Berrettini moves up for the volley but the half volley attempt is into the net. Break point for Novak. Berrettini tries to slice his way to safety – it has worked for the two weeks and a bit today, too. But not this time. Djokovic clenches his fist, points at his head and his box is up in applause!
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 1-1 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Comfortable holds for both players at the start of the third set. ‘Mat-teo’, ‘Mat-teo’ chants ring around Centre Court. His girlfriend Alja Tomljanovic is in attendance. She had made the quarters in the women’s singles draw (lost to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty)
WHAT. A. SHOT!
Second set stats
2nd set: Novak Djokovic 6-3
Novak Djokovic makes it one set all. He started this set better with an early break. And then made it a double break. Was broken while serving for the set but got the job done on the second opportunity.
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4 *Berrettini (* denotes next server)
Djokovic serving for the set once again. A good start this time around. An ace down the T to make it 30-0. Sees Berrettini miss a serve return and that’s three set points. Once again, Berrettini tries to divert the serve return into the corner but it is into the tramlines.