The trophies keep accumulating for Novak Djokovic, who has levelled up with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slams apiece, and now needs only one more title in New York to confirm his status as the greatest player in the sport’s history.
Matteo Berrettini created a buzz around the crowd, when he roused himself from a nervous start to snatch the opening set against the run of play. But he was only capitalising on Djokovic’s own early anxieties, which we have seen before in this context.
The real Novak Djokovic stood up at the start of the second set and remained immovable until he had sealed his 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory via a Berrettini slice which failed to clamber over the net.
The result was hardly a surprise. Djokovic has been an almost unbackable favourite to win Wimbledon since he lifted the French Open trophy last month. And yet there was intrigue in this final. Djokovic feels the weight of history on his shoulders on these showpiece occasions, especially in the context of the GOAT race (in which GOAT stands for greatest of all time).
When drawn against a less favoured opponent, he often struggles to find his game until backed into a corner. Once he goes behind, though, Djokovic seems to wipe all thoughts about his place in history from his mind. As soon as the crowd starts thrilling to the idea of an upset – for there is usually a substantial anti-Djokovic lobby within the stands – he dials up the defiance and focuses on the hand-to-hand battle in front of him instead.
As we saw during Djokovic’s 2019 Wimbledon final against Federer, his match-management is based around an understanding that his best stuff will show up when he most needs it. His main challenge lies in staying calm when there are patchy periods along the way.
One day, Djokovic will put his foot down – metaphorically speaking – and his internal emotional engine will cough and splutter rather than roaring to his rescue. But that moment was not on Sunday, and one suspects it could be many years in the future, after he has taught this generation of greenhorns a thing or two about competing.
To Berrettini’s credit, he made this an entertaining and memorable match with his brutal serving and venomous forehand. After an error-prone start from both men, the challenger forced Djokovic to lock in and concentrate. And that’s all we can really ask, when there is such a clear gap between Djokovic and the field. At times, it feels as if he could outplay his rivals with a wooden racket.
Berrettini’s fortitude was vital to the occasion, and to the whole tournament. Until Sunday, no-one in the men’s draw had offered Djokovic a sustained challenge. The only set he dropped all fortnight had been his very first, on the opening afternoon against Jack Draper.
When he won Roland Garros last month, overcoming Nadal along the way, it felt as though Djokovic was playing better than ever. Here? It hadn’t been easy to tell, because most of his opponents have gone to pieces at the mere sight of his name.
But Djokovic’s game was there when required. His signature shot, the backhand down the line, was purring. His volleys, once a weaker part of his repertoire, could hardly have been slicker. And his returning game, always a speciality, coped manfully with Berrettini’s 138mph bullets.
There were a couple of defining moments, the most inspirational coming when Djokovic scrambled from full defensive mode in his own deep backhand corner to pick up a neat Berrettini drop shot and angle it across his opponent for a short crosscourt winner. This was a near-impossible feat, and Djokovic responded by beckoning triumphantly to his antagonists in the crowd. He wanted to take them all on, it seemed – not just Berrettini but anyone who had dared to dream that Berrettini might win.
A couple of games later, Djokovic scored his sixth break of serve – a preposterously high number against a man with a cannon like Berrettini’s – to seal victory. His sixth Wimbledon title made him the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to sweep the first three majors in the same season. His only real doubt must be whether to travel to the Olympics next week, given that he has previously lamented the soullessness of playing in front of empty stands.
This is a tricky decision. Should Djokovic turn up in Tokyo, he would have a strong chance of equalling Steffi Graf’s unique “golden slam” – meaning all four majors plus gold in the Olympic singles event – from 1988. But after the match, he admitted his participation was in doubt.
“I hear that there’s going to be a lot of restrictions within the Village,” Djokovic said. “I can’t even have my stringer that is very important part of my team. Right now I’m a little bit divided. It’s kind of fifty-fifty because of what I heard in the last couple days.”
If he takes a rest for the next few weeks, he surely improves his prospects – which are already extremely strong – of winning in New York and completing the calendar slam.
Here is a nice problem to have. During the presentation ceremony, Sue Barker raised the possibility of a clean sweep of 2021’s majors. Djokovic replied: “I could definitely envision that happening. I am hoping. I am gonna definitely give it a shot. I am in great form and playing well and playing my best tennis at grand slams, and this is the highest priority I have right now at this stage of my career. So let’s keep it going.”
As the fans filed out of Centre Court, Federer was ready with a tweet to commemorate his rival’s achievement. “Congrats Novak on your 20th major. I’m proud to have the opportunity to play in a special era of tennis champions. Wonderful performance, well done!”
Both Federer and Nadal should be ready to log the 21st title before long, because logic and intuition both suggest that it is only nine weeks away.
Underdog Matteo Berrettini wooed the SW19 crowd – this could be the beginning of a fine romance
by Kate Rowan
Matteo Berrettini may have been slumped in his chair as Novak Djokovic ecstatically flung his shirt and tennis shoes into the crowd after sealing a sixth Wimbledon victory, sitting in a pose more akin to Rodin’s The Thinker than the proud Roman statue he had been compared to since lifting the Queen’s title on debut, but for most of the match it was the underdog who had the crowd in raptures.
British fans had their first real flirtation with the 25-year-old Italian when he beat Andy Murray in West Kensington and then victories over home favourites Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie may have slightly dulled his appeal. But Sunday on Centre Court was the moment the No 7 seed truly wooed not only the Wimbledon crowd but also the sporting world.
For the past few years there has been much ringing of hands and gnashing of teeth when it comes to the next generation of male tennis players who will follow Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Given that trio’s supremacy at 20 major titles apiece, a dethronement is now highly unlikely, but there has been a desperate search for a young star who cannot just win in tennis but possibly transcend the sport. There have been contenders such as Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas but the former has had high-profile issues in his personal life and the latter has yet to command on grass and truly win over SW19.
That is where Berrettini has succeeded. With a big serving game, he may have been perceived once as a one-dimensional player but what he proved yesterday was that his increased variation, more willingness to come to the net and excellent movement on grass could mark him down as a future champion – and entertainer.
Nowadays, in a media landscape where one mention of an athlete’s looks can lead to uproar for the crime of objectification, Berrettini’s physical perfection had been more whispered guiltily. But any reservations about too loudly calling out Berrettini’s matinee idol good looks were binned thanks to the multitude of catcalls the Centre Court crowd sent his way.
The other key ingredients to crossing into the mainstream consciousness are personality and mentality. Berrettini has both on and off-court charisma and showed his bloody-mindedness as a competitor to come back and win the first set on a tie-break having been 5-2 down is what caused Centre Court to fall in love with the Roman.
At first, the romance may have been a little unsure as one well-oiled young man enthusiastically roared: “Vamos Matteo,” as he drew level 5-5, but the crowd learnt and although the correct andiamo was adopted more as the match went on, the continued chanting of: “Matteo, Matteo, Matteo,” is not usually reserved for a debutant finalist. Perhaps the best complement Berrettini could have got came from a London accent that proclaimed: “Italy now, England later!”
Chair umpire Marija Cicak had to call firm instructions of “quiet” on numerous occasions such was the excitement every time he struck one of his trademark forehands.
It was not just the player who was charming the crowd but his animated family – mother Claudia and brother Jacopo showed their love but it was father Luca who stole the show, vaping anxiously after he had spent his son’s semi-final with his hands clasped in head.
However, in the end Djokovic was the winner and in the final few games, he had reignited his spark with the Centre Court crowd showing that true tennis love has to come with trophies. However, one gets the feeling that this was just the beginning of Berrettini and Wimbledon’s romance.
05:59 PM
That’s all folks
On that note, we will sadly conclude another brilliant two weeks at Wimbledon.
In the end, the two world No 1’s – Ashleigh Barty and Novak Djokovic – are the champions.
The next time we will see tennis players is the Olympics in Tokyo, so join us for that.
In the meantime, if you haven’t heard, it’s coming home. Follow our Euro 2020 final live blog here.
05:36 PM
Is Djokovic the GOAT?
05:31 PM
Laver tribute
05:30 PM
Djokovic salutes the crowd
05:13 PM
Federer reacts
04:57 PM
Thoughts from our chief sports writer
04:55 PM
Classy stuff from Djokovic
Djokovic runs over to a little girl in the crowd and gives her one of his rackets.
A very nice touch.
04:54 PM
Djokovic makes a Euro 2020 final prediction
You’re putting me in a very awkward position right now. I’m a huge football fan. I will enjoy football tonight.
04:53 PM
Djokovic speaks
That was more than a battle. Congratulations to Matteo for a fantastic tournament. It was a tough match today. He’s a true Italian hammer.
Winning Wimbledon was always the biggest dream as a kid. I have to remember how special this is and not take it for granted and be aware this is a huge honour and privilege.
From being a seven-year-old constructing a trophy out of raw materials to standing here with a sixth trophy. It’s incredible.”
On drawing level with Nadal and Federer, he added: It means none of us three will stop!
I have to pay a great tribute to Rafa and Roger. They are legends of our sport. The two most important players I ever faced.
They are the reason I am where I am today. They made me realise what I had to do to improve. The last 10 years has been an incredible journey that is not stopping here.
04:51 PM
The 2021 Wimbledon champion
04:47 PM
Berrettini speaks
Novak’s a great champion. Well done once again. He’s writing the history of this sport.
Such a great two weeks, also at Queen’s. I couldn’t have asked for more. Well, maybe a little..
04:41 PM
All time Grand Slam list
Novak Djokovic moves level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic had one grand slam title when Federer had 16. Now they both have 20.
The three of them have won 60 of the last 72 men’s Grand Slam singles titles.
04:37 PM
Djokovic wins
Djokovic picks up grass from the court and eats it. He then goes to his support box in the stands.
04:34 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 Berrettini*
Djokovic defensive backhand long, 30-15. Berrettini forehand into the net, 30-30. Berrettini forehand just long, CHAMPIONSHIP POINT.
Berrettini forehand volley winner, deuce. Deep breaths everyone. Aggressive point by Djokovic and he finishes with a backhand volley winner. Second championship point. Huge forehand winner into the corner from Berrettini, 101mph.
Berrettini forehand into the net, third championship point. Berrettini backhand into the net.
GAME. SET. CHAMPIONSHIP!
04:28 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 5-3 Berrettini
Berrettini backhand long as he dragged wide by Djokovic, 15-15. Off balance Djokovic flies wide, 30-30. Huge point coming up.
Djokovic stands strong to move one game away from victory.
04:21 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 4-3 Berrettini*
Nonchalant Djokovic backhand volley winner. So good, 15-30. Big Berrettini first serve, 30-30.
Djokovic forehand winner, 30-40, break point. Berrettini double fault. Oh no. Worst possible time for it.
Djokovic breaks.
04:17 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 3-3 Berrettini
Djokovic backhand into the net, 0-15. Tremendous speed by Berrettini to reach a Djokovic drop shot and he flicks a backhand winner onto the line, 0-30.
Berrettini backhand return long, he had to get that back in play. Stunning point and Djokovic comes out on top as he flicks a forehand winner into the corner, 30-30.
Djokovic backhand deep into the corner, draws the error from Berrettini. And the world No 1 holds as Djokovic puts a backhand long. That could be a crucial game in the context of this match.
04:10 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-3 Berrettini*
Djokovic’s slice has caused Berrettini problems all match. The Italian has had to generate his own speed and it’s led to errors.
But a drop shot winner by Berrettini makes it 40-15. He then nets a volley on the stretch. But holds with a big wide serve.
04:07 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-2 Berrettini
Djokovic holds to 15. Another comfortable service game by the Serb.
04:03 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 1-2 Berrettini*
Djokovic forehand return winner off a 116mph Berrettini serve to start the game. Outrageous.
Credit to Berrettini though as he responds and moves to 40-15 with a forehand winner. Then an ace to finish.
04:01 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 1-1 Berrettini
Djokovic is not happy with the crowd and speaks to the umpire. He then puts a drop shot into the net, 30-30.
Berrettini backhand return into the net, 40-30. Then a backhand long by the Italian. We remain all square.
03:56 PM
Fourth set: Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 0-1 Berrettini*
An ace to start by Berrettini. Brilliant forehand winner on the run by Berrettini, 30-15. Djokovic return into the net, 40-15. Berrettini drop shot into the net, 40-30. A
Djokovic backhand long and Berrettini hangs on. But for how long?
03:51 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 Berrettini
Berrettini forehand error, 15-0. Another poor forehand error, 30-0. Djokovic’s turn to make a forehand error. This match hasn’t been of the highest quality.
What a point and Berrettini nets with a forehand on the run. Two set points. Djokovic forehand long.
Berrettini forehand wide. Third set to Djokovic. He’s one set away from Grand Slam title No 20.
03:45 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 5-4 Berrettini*
Berrettini sliced backhand winner at the net but on the next point he nets a simple forehand drop shot, 15-15.
Berrettini forehand winner, 30-15. ‘Matteo, Matteo’, chants the crowd as Berrettini moves to 40-15.
And he finishes off the game with a backhand volley winner. Djokovic will serve for the set next.
03:42 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 5-3 Berrettini
Djokovic backhand into the net, 0-15. A Berrettini forehand drops shot and Djokovic punishes him with a forehand winner into the corner. 15-15.
Berrettini backhand into the net, 40-15. Djokovic backhand wide, 40-30. Big Djokovic serve and Berrettini nets the return. Important hold.
03:37 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 4-3 Berrettini*
Another bad bounce catches out Djokovic again, 30-0. Back to back forehand winners by Berrettini to hold.
03:35 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 4-2 Berrettini
Berrettini powers some forehands at Djokovic and gets the error from the Serb, 15-30. Djokovic forehand error, 15-40.
Berrettini has a chance with a forehand pass but puts the ball wide, 30-40. Berrettini backhand into the net, deuce.
Djokovic ace to hold. Big time tennis by the world No 1
03:27 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 4-1 Berrettini*
The crowd continues to cheer for Berrettini and he moves to 30-0 with a couple of big serves. Djokovic backhand winner, 40-15. And he holds with another big serve.
03:25 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 3-1 Berrettini
Berrettini forehand into the net, 15-15. Djokovic ace, 30-15. Berrettini forehand long, 40-15.
Bad bounce catches out Djokovic, 40-30. Djokovic comes to the net but Berrettini passes him with the forehand, deuce.
Djokovic sneaks in behind a deep backhand and finishes with a volley winner. Nice. Big Djokovic serve and he consolidates.
03:18 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 2-1 Berrettini*
Berrettini double fault on the opening point. Can’t afford those. Berrettini forehand long, 0-30.
Djokovic backhand down the line is just long, he won’t be happy about that, 15-30. Berrettini overhead winner, 30-30. That was not an easy shot.
Berrettini nets a drop half volley, massive miss, break point Djokovic. Berrettini backhand slice into the net and Djokovic breaks. The Serb points to his head.
03:13 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4, 1-1 Berrettini
Berrettini backhand slice long, 30-0. Berrettini forehand long, 40-0. Djokovic holds after another Berrettini error.
03:11 PM
Third set: Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 0-1 Berrettini*
Both players went for a comfort break before the set. First point – Berrettini ace.
Berrettini forehand winner, 40-0. And an ace to close out. Good start.
03:03 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 6-4 Berrettini
Business like game from Djokovic. An ace makes it 30-0. Berrettini forehand return wide, three set points.
Berrettini return long and it is one set all.
03:00 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 5-4 Berrettini*
Classic response by Djokovic as he immediately gets three break points. Berrettini saves the first. And the second.
And the third as Djokovic puts a forehand wide. Deuce.
Back to back big first serves and Berrettini holds. Djokovic to serve for it again.
02:57 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 5-3 Berrettini
Better from Berrettini as he gets to 15-40. Two break points. Djokovic saves the first but not the second as Berrettini flicks a forehand for a winner. Game on?
02:51 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 5-2 Berrettini*
Berrettini is still hanging in the set and gets to 40-0 when Djokovic’s forehand down the line is wide.
Tweener lob from Berrettini gets the crowd on their feet. Great point. Berrettini holds.
02:48 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 5-1 Berrettini
Berrettini takes Djokovic to 40-30 but puts a poor forehand return long to concede the game.
02:43 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 4-1 Berrettini*
Wow. Djokovic drills a backhand winner down the line. Trademark stuff and ominous for his opponent. 0-15.
Berrettini ace then a forehand volley winner, 30-15. Stunning Djokovic forehand return catches out Berrettini, 30-30. Trouble for Berrettini?
Djokovic forehand wide, bad miss. Berrettini ace to hold.
02:40 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 4-0 Berrettini
Djokovic is back in cruise control again. Holding serve easily and consolidating the double break with a forehand winner.
That game took just 68 seconds.
02:37 PM
Djokovic 6-7, 3-0 Berrettini*
Djokovic forehand return long, 30-15. Berrettini double fault, 30-30. Berrettini forehand into the net, break point Djokovic.
What a point. Djokovic peppers the Berrettini backhand but the Italian stays strong and gets the error. Berrettini error, break point.
Lovely Berrettini drop volley, deuce. Berrettini backhand slice into the net, third break point for Djokovic.
Berrettini forehand into the net. Djokovic double break. Set over?
02:31 PM
Djokovic* 6-7, 2-0 Berrettini
Ideal service game for Djokovic as he races to 40-0. Berrettini then hits an overhead winner.
Berrettini nets a forehand and Djokovic holds. A momentum shift on Centre.
02:28 PM
Second set: Djokovic 6-7, 1-0 Berrettini*
Berrettini ace makes it 40-15. That’s his fifth of the match. But Djokovic pulls him back to deuce. Berrettini dumps a backhand into the net. Poor shot. Break point Djokovic.
And the Serb breaks. Great speed to reach a Berrettini drop shot and he reads the Italian’s forehand pass to finish with a volley winner.
02:20 PM
Djokovic 6-7 Berrettini – TIEBREAK
Djokovic backhand into the net, 0-1. Djokovic backhand wide, 0-2. Djokovic forehand return well wide, 0-3. Djokovic forehand clips the line and Berrettini can’t get the ball back in play, 1-3. Berrettini return long, 2-3. Berrettini forehand into the net, 3-3.
Berrettini forehand winner, 3-4. Another Berrettini forehand winner, 3-5. Berrettini forehand long, 4-5. Great hustle by Berrettini to reach a Djokovic drop shot and he flicks a forehand down the line and the Serb can’t get it back, 4-6. Berrettini ace, 4-7.
Wow!
02:11 PM
Djokovic 6-6 Berrettini*
Back to back forehand errors by Berrettini, 15-30. Berrettini serve and volley winner, 30-30. With the power of his first serve, he should do that way more often.
Djokovic sliced backhand wide, 40-30. But Berrettini slices into the net, deuce. Brave forehand down the line winner by Berrettini. Just clipped the line. Defensive Djokovic backhand long and we have a tiebreak.
That didn’t look like happening earlier.
02:05 PM
Djokovic* 6-5 Berrettini
Normal service resumed on the Djokovic serve as he moves to 40-0 in no time at all. And he holds to love when Berrettini puts a backhand return long.
02:03 PM
Djokovic 5-5 Berrettini*
Errors starting to flow for Djokovic. Berrettini body serve puts Djokovic down and he finishes with a forehand winner, 40-0.
Djokovic doesn’t go away yet as he drags his opponent along the baseline and draws the error. But another big serve by Berrettini and he holds.
02:00 PM
Djokovic* 5-4 Berrettini
Berrettini forehand winner to start the game. He’s certainly got the fans on his side. Berrettini drop shot in the net, poor shot selection there.
Berrettini backhand wide, 30-15. Berrettini forehand is called out but he challenges and the ball was in, 30-30.
Djokovic forehand wide, just his seventh unforced error of the match, break point Berrettini.
Djokovic forehand winner, deuce. Djokovic forehand into the net, second break point.
Rally of the match sees Djokovic hit a nice angled drop shot but Berrettini reaches it and flicks it down the line for a winner. Centre Court erupts. Back on serve. Game on?
01:52 PM
Djokovic 5-3 Berrettini*
Berrettini overhead into the net, 0-15. Djokovic then outfoxes him at the net, 15-30. Berrettini ace, 30-30.
Another big serve makes it 40-30. But another error takes the game to deuce. Berrettini backhand into the tramlines, set point Djokovic.
Djokovic forehand return long, deuce, a let-off for Berrettini. Djokovic is seeing the ball like a huge beach ball on Berrettini serve. Getting the ball back with ease at the moment. Longest game of the match as Djokovic refuses to give up the game.
But after 12 minutes Berrettini finally holds. He’s not serve and volleyed once in the match.
01:39 PM
Djokovic* 5-2 Berrettini
After a shaky start, Djokovic is imperious right now as he cruises to 40-0. He then gets a drop shot just wrong but holds after Berrettini hits a forehand return long.
01:36 PM
Djokovic 4-2 Berrettini*
Berrettini holds to 30. An important hold given Djokovic is moving through the gears at the moment.
01:32 PM
Djokovic* 4-1 Berrettini
Berrettini inexplicably puts a forehand wide, 30-0. Berrettini with back to back returns into the net.
Djokovic holds to consolidate the break.
01:29 PM
Djokovic 3-1 Berrettini*
Djokovic is already targetting the Berrettini backhand and draws another error, 15-15. Berrettini forehand into the net, 15-30. Big first serve by Berrettini, 30-30. Longest rally of the match ends with Berrettini putting a lob wide, break point.
Big first serve by the Italian, deuce. Djokovic forehand winner, second break point. Berrettini forehand wide and Djokovic breaks.
01:23 PM
Djokovic* 2-1 Berrettini
Djokovic dropshot into the net and then a third double fault, 0-30. Berrettini backhand into the net, 15-30.
Berrettini forehand long, 30-30. Djokovic ace, his first of the match. Another big serve down the T and Djokovic holds.
01:20 PM
Djokovic 1-1 Berrettini*
Berrettini gets to 30-0 then puts a forehand long. He then nets a forehand. Djokovic is of course the better player from the baseline.
Berrettini overhead winner after a big wide forehand, 40-30. And he holds to level the set. Confident start.
01:16 PM
First set: Novak Djokovic* 1-0 Matteo Berrettini (*denotes server)
Double fault by Djokovic on the opening point. Nervous Novak? Then a forehand into the tramlines, 15-30.
Berrettini must make the most of every chance he gets. Berrettini backhand into the net, 30-30.
Another Djokovic double fault, break point Berrettini. Big first serve from Djokovic, deuce.
Limiting the errors on his backhand side will be key for Berrettini. He nets another to concede the game.
01:08 PM
Coin toss
Djokovic will serve first. Meanwhile, there is strapping on Berrettini’s left thigh. That wasn’t there before today…
01:02 PM
Here we go
Huge reception for both players as they walk onto Centre Court.
12:59 PM
Djokovic backing Italy over England in Euro 2020
“Football and tennis, Mamma Mia Italia, it’s fantastic!” Djokovic told Sky Sport Italia.
“Berrettini doesn’t have much to lose against me, perhaps Italy have more to lose with England. “I hope it’s a wonderful couple of matches and that Italy only win in the evening!”
12:57 PM
Will Djokovic win a 20th Grand Slam title?
Well, it would mean everything. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m playing. I imagined myself being in a position to fight for another Grand Slam trophy prior to coming to London. I put myself in a very good position.
Anything is possible in the finals. Obviously experience is on my side. But Berrettini has been winning a lot of matches on grass courts this year, winning Queen’s. He’s in great form. He’s serving big, playing big. So it’s going to be a very tough match I think for both of us. But I’m looking forward to a great battle.
12:53 PM
Back for more Tom?
12:46 PM
Tale of the tape: Berrettini
Age: 25
Nationality: Italian
Height: 6ft 5in
World ranking: 9
Career singles titles: 5
Career prize money: $6.5million
Grand Slam titles: 0
Wimbledon best: Final 2021
12:40 PM
Tale of the tape: Djokovic
Age: 34
Nationality: Serbian
Height: 6ft 2in
World ranking: 1
Career singles titles: 84
Career prize money: $149.8million
Grand Slam titles: 19
Wimbledon best: Winner 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
12:35 PM
Berrettini fairytale
“I’m just so, so happy for everything,” he said. “My year started in a good way, with the finals in ATP Cup. Then I got injured again. I kind of saw those ghosts again of my body kind of struggling.
“Again, I came back stronger. I think I fully deserve to be here. I want to enjoy my first final. “Obviously the job is not done yet. I want to get the trophy now that I’m here. But it’s really an unbelievable feeling.”
12:22 PM
Players warming up
12:15 PM
Serving wars
Berrettini has been serving like an Italian God in the tournament but he now comes up against the best returner in the history of the sport.
“With big weapons in serve and forehand, he can play well, which he has proven, on any surface,” said Djokovic of Berrettini. “We played against each other in the quarters of Roland Garros, which was a very tight and very tough four-setter. Obviously grass favours him even more, favours his game. If he serves big, as he did throughout the entire tournament, it’s tough to break his serve, it’s tough to go into the rhythm, to find a good positioning to return, make him play.
“But I believe in my return. I think return has served me very well throughout my career. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a lot of those serves back and wait for my chances. I will have to also serve myself efficiently. It’s the final. It’s really anybody’s game. He’s arguably the guy who has been in the best form on grass courts this year, winning Queen’s. He’s red hot. It’s going to be a great battle.”
12:01 PM
Wimbledon history
Marija Cicak will be the first ever female chair umpire for a Wimbledon men’s singles final. The tournament, first played in 1877, has never had a female officiate but the 43-year-old from Croatia, will be in charge today.
Cicak is a gold badge chair umpire and a member of the WTA Elite Team since 2012. She was the chair umpire for the 2014 Wimbledon women’s final and the women’s doubles final three years later. Cicak also officiated the women’s singles gold medal match at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
She has worked at 15 consecutive Wimbledon tournaments.
11:46 AM
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The abiding image from Matteo Berrettini’s semi-final victory on Friday was the despairing body language of his father Luca, who sat hunched over in the player’s box like a man suffering from acute seasickness.
But if Luca found it difficult to watch his son ease past Hubert Hurkacz in four relatively serene sets, how will he cope today? From 2pm on Centre Court, Matteo will try to do something that no man of his generation has done before: defeat Novak Djokovic in a major final.
This is the tennis equivalent of crossing the Atlantic on a lilo. Djokovic’s record tells us that he is all but invincible in the big matches, and at Wimbledon too. The last man to beat the Serbian here when he was fit and firing was Andy Murray, all the way back in 2013.
Nobody has a great deal of faith in Berrettini’s chances. Perhaps not even his father. But as the first Italian to reach a Wimbledon final, he has already exceeded expectations.
“They always said, ‘When the going gets tough, the Italians go shopping,’ ” quipped Pat Cash, the 1987 champion here. “Not in this guy’s case. He’s a great competitor.
“I do think Berrettini has a shot at this,” the Australian added.
“He’s not as complete a player as [Stefanos] Tsitsipas but the grass just gives him another leg up. I mean, his serve and forehand are monster shots, like [Andy] Roddick, but this is almost another level. I can’t think of a better one-two combination.”
At 6ft 5in, Berrettini fits into a pattern of modern Wimbledon finalists. Over the past decade, only four men from outside the “Big Four” have played a trophy match, and each one has been a giant with a cannon for a right arm: Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic, Kevin Anderson and now Berrettini. In the tournament to date, he has pinged down 101 aces – 36 more than Denis Shapovalov in second place – and given up only five breaks of serve.
This is the same sort of alpha-male tennis that carried him to the title at Queen’s three weeks ago. If anything, though, his return stats are even more striking. Berrettini is winning 28 per cent of games on his opponent’s serve, only a tick behind Djokovic’s 29 per cent.
And Djokovic – who is going for a 20th major title today to draw level with the tallies of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – is renowned as the greatest returner the game has seen. Are there any chinks in the Djokovic armour? Not in a technical sense.
“The only small element of vulnerability is sometimes when he feels the crowd is against him,” said Wimbledon legend Tim Henman yesterday.
“There have been times when that frustrates him. That goes back to his desire to be loved as well as the best player that has ever lived.
“I commentated on his third-round match against [Denis] Kudla,” Henman added. “He was up a set and a break, and suddenly he was raging at the crowd. The only way that Berrettini could win is that Djokovic has to get distracted and frustrated. That would have a detrimental effect on his performance.”
Although Djokovic remained calm and controlled during his own semi-final against Shapovalov, managing the big points with his usual clinical efficiency, he certainly became riled up against Kudla – who admitted afterwards that “it was part of the tactics, to use the crowd and try to get him flustered” – on the first Friday of this tournament.
And that was against a man ranked outside the world’s top 100. Berrettini will be a different proposition. He discomfited Djokovic enough in their recent French Open quarter-final to draw another of those bug-eyed roars of defiance from his opponent at the conclusion of their four-set match.
And that was on a surface that drains much of the energy from his 139mph serve and blood-curdling forehand. On grass, these shots skim through much more quickly, like stones skipping over the pellucid surface of a lake. Even Djokovic, whose flexibility and sliding movement allow him to retrieve balls that other players would give up for lost, is likely to be stressed by Berrettini’s relentless bombardment.
There might even be a case for Luca to suppress his queasy anxiety and rise to his feet every time his son fires down an ace, whipping up the crowd in the hope of upsetting Djokovic’s fabled concentration. In a rare exception to the national stereotype, Berrettini is not a football enthusiast.
But he had a nice answer ready on Friday, when asked about the synchronicity of today’s match with the final of the European Football Championships.
“I will tell them [fans at home] to buy a nice TV if they don’t have one already because I think it’s going to be a special Sunday for all of us. “It’s something crazy. In tennis, because it’s never happened [an Italian in a Wimbledon singles final]. Then for football, we didn’t qualify for the World Cup, so after the effort that the team put in, I think they really deserve this final.
“Obviously I’m going to think first about mine. Then probably, if I have the chance, I’m going to watch them.”
By Simon Briggs