Novak Djokovic continues to win: 20 consecutive victories at Wimbledon since the beginning of 2018, 20 consecutive matches in all Grand Slam matches, and 20 consecutive wins in the 2018 Wimbledon tournament.
Djokovic would be the first man to tie Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal for the 20th major championship.
Djokovic, the top-seeded player, worked his way through trouble against a younger and less experienced opponent until he was eliminated. 10 Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3) 7-5, 7-5, 7-5 to reach final at All England Club
Grand Slams are the most important thing in my career at this point. These are the four most important events in our sport. It has been a privilege to be able to contribute to the history of a sport I love. It fills me with joy every time I hear about something historic. Djokovic, a 34 year-old Serbian, said that it inspired her and motivated her. “But at the exact same time, it is important to keep my focus on the present moment and not wait for the next match.
Each set of his semifinals was intense and tight. Each seemed to be within Shapovalov’s reach — until it was in Djokovic’s.
Djokovic said, “I don’t think the scoreline speaks enough about the performance, about the match,” and saved 5 of 5 breakpoints in the second set. He then saved 3 of 3.
Djokovic, a Canadian 22-year-old, told Centre Court that Shapovalov was a “very important” figure in his future.
Djokovic is the most dominant player in the sport at present.
If he beats another opponent new to these stages, No. Djokovic will win his sixth Wimbledon title against Matteo Berrettini, 7th seed from Italy. This is his third consecutive.
Then there’s the fact that he has already won the Australian Open and French Open in February, so a Wimbledon victory would make him three-quarters of a calendar year Grand Slam player, leaving only the U.S. Open. Since Rod Laver’s 1969 victory, no man has ever pulled it off.
Let’s start with the basics. This will be Djokovic’s 30th major final and Berrettini’s first. As it was Djokovic’s 41st major semifinal match, Shapovalov’s inaugural.
Cries of “Vai!” (“Go! “Vai!” (Go! ), “Forza!” (“Let’s go! And even “Andiamo! Amore mio!” (Let’s go, my love!). Berrettini’s native language support, he rang through the All England Club’s main arena earlier to cheer him on as he became Italy’s first Grand Slam male finalist after 45 years.
The No. 1 seed was a booming serve, delivering 22 aces and powerful forehands, compiling a total 60 winners. Berrettini, 7th seeded, used an 11-game run in order to take a large lead. Then, he held on to win No. 14 Hubert Hurkacz won 6-3, 6-1, 6-7 (3) and 6-4 in the first semifinal.
“Obviously, the job has not been done.” Berrettini, 25, said that he wants to win the trophy “now that I’m here”. He lost his previous Slam semifinal at the 2019 U.S. Open. It’s an incredible feeling, but it’s just.
Now, he’s on an 11-match winning streak, including a title at Queen’s Club tuneup last months, when he became first man since Boris Becker (1985) to win the trophy at that event. Becker won the Wimbledon title that year.
Oddly enough, the semi-final’s key moment came in less than 20 minutes. Hurkacz led 3-2 and held a break. Berrettini, no surprise, erased that lead thanks to a 130 mph service winner punctuated with one of his many shouts of “Si!”
Hurkacz transformed from the man who won the most major wins in his career against Federer (8-time Wimbledon champion) to the No. 2 Daniil Medvedev — the player who arrived in England with a six-match losing streak.
Berrettini (almost), couldn’t miss. Hurkacz (almost), couldn’t connect.
Berrettini finished the final round with 24 wins off his forehand and only 18 unforced mistakes. Hurkacz’s totals Only 27 winners, four on forehands, and 26 unforced mistakes.
Hurkacz, a 24-year-old Polish national, was broken for the first and only time. He sat down for the changeover, and then, between bites from a banana, motioned for Craig Boynton to adjust their seating arrangements in the guest box.
As if that were the problem.
He was accompanied by Ajla Tomljanovic (his girlfriend), who reached the quarterfinals. Mom also recorded his interview on court with her cellphone. Berrettini was just two points away from winning the third set.
Hurkacz won the contest again, but Berrettini won it again.
Shapovalov tried to push Djokovic over the edge, but couldn’t get the job done.
Djokovic lost his first set in this fortnight to Jack Draper, a British teenager — and has since won all 18.
Djokovic’s head-to-head record of 6-0 on Friday didn’t portend a fair fight. Shapovalov, a lefty, has a lively, sometimes violent swing. This includes his one-handed backhand. There is not a trace of safety and subtlety in his play.
The backhand caused a Djokovic mistake to end a 15-stroke exchange, giving Shapovalov a break and an advantage of 2-1. He extended that to 5-3, and was just two points away from winning the set in the next match. But he couldn’t get any closer.
Shapovalov was serving for the set at 5-4. He was pushed by Djokovic’s indefatigable defense.
Djokovic won the tiebreaker, and Djokovic broke. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better.
It was fine to play it safe and let Shapovalov make mistakes. To end the set, Shapovalov double-faulted. To make it 6-5, he did it again. He did it again in the game that left he behind at 6-5 in third.
